The Contextual Task Bar disappears in Photoshop version 27.5.0

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
April 7, 2026
11 replies
352 views

To get it back, I have to use the menu Window > Uncheck CTBar, and then use Window > Check CTB. Every time I get the CTB back, I pin it. This only happened when version 27.5.0 was released.

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Correct answer bellevue scott

Mac, Tahoe 26.5.2, PS 27.8.0, yes my contextual task bar was missing too. Just turned it back on. In Window → “contextual task bar” was checked. I unchecked it and checked it again and it came back.

bellevue scottCorrect answer

Inspiring

Mac, Tahoe 26.5.2, PS 27.8.0, yes my contextual task bar was missing too. Just turned it back on. In Window → “contextual task bar” was checked. I unchecked it and checked it again and it came back.

J

Julie38165033b1fm

Participant

I reset my preferences but that did not work. When I opened a new document it was there, but when I opened an existing .psd it disappears….back to the new doc, it’s there...back to the old doc– POOF!

MacBook Pro / Tahoe 26.5.1 / PS 2026 27.8.0

swrutherford

Inspiring

27.8.0

Having the same issue. After I make a selection (lasso, object selection, etc. - not in Quick Mask mode), the Contextual Task Bar disappears. It disappears regardless of whether it is pinned or not.

I’m able to get it back by selecting Window, unchecking “Contextual Task Bar”, then selecing Window again, and checking “Contextual Task Bar”. It will return then.

Expected behavior: Contextual Task Bar persists
Observed behavior: Contextual Task Bar disappears

Stephen

K

Ken CurtisAuthor

Inspiring

I may have found a solution, but not sure until I use if for a few days. Click on menu item Edit > Menus … > Window > Contextual Task Bar. Click the eye off and then on. Next, save the workspace (or save as new workspace with same name as your current workspace, overwriting the current).

Claire H.

Community Manager

@Ken Curtis Thanks for letting us know that this is working for you. Keep us updated on how it’s going, and we can continue to troubleshoot if needed. ^CH

K

Ken CurtisAuthor

Inspiring

@Claire H. I have been using PS a lot after having done the above and the fix seems to work. I have not had the CTB disappear once, except when it should be off screen. Hopefully, Adobe can use this to track down the bug. Good luck.

CMass

Community Manager

Hey! @Ken Curtis,

Does this happen anytime you open Photoshop for the first time that day? Have you tried saving a workspace with it pinned, if so, does it still disappear?

^CMass

K

Ken CurtisAuthor

Inspiring

Yes, it seemed to happen when I used Photoshop for the first time for the day. But then again it also appears to be random when it occurs. I did try saving the workspace with the CTB pinned where I wanted it, but that had no effect.