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Known Participant
April 18, 2023
Question

Adobe Bridge - can't drag and drop folder to open in Bridge

  • April 18, 2023
  • 7 replies
  • 4078 views

When I have a folder with images that I want to open in Bridge, I used to be able to drag and drop the folder on the Bridge icon in the dock. This would launch Bridge and open to show all the images in that folder. This no longer works. Instead I have to launch Bridge, navigate to my external drive and then browse down until I get to the folder I want.
I have a Mac computer running Ventura MacOS version 13.2.1. My Bridge version is 13.0.3. I have granted Bridge Full Disk Access in System Settings Privacy and Security.
Does anyone know how I can get back to dragging and dropping folders onto Bridge?

7 replies

michellek100782
Participant
November 17, 2025

I have the problem with Bridge 2026, which makes the app kinda useless for me ! ADOBE, blese can this be fixed!!!

Participating Frequently
November 14, 2025

Same here - latest versuion of BRIDGE 2026, MAC OS  SEQUIOA 15.6.1 (24G90), cant drag and drop folders or files on the APP symbol anymore - very annoying - what can I do?

Participant
November 14, 2025

As per reply message from gary_sc - hold Command key while dragging and dropping on the Bridge icon. It works for me 🙂 

Known Participant
November 17, 2025

Doing this opened it, but on a separate workspace, even though I have workspaces turned OFF. So it was not at all workable solution. I have since changed the preference in Bridge that does that. And it's working! 

Peter Villevoye
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 1, 2025

Well, with the new and improved Bridge 2026 (16.0.0) it is again not possible to drag/drop a folder onto the icon in the Dock (on a Mac). And YES, I did reset the Preferences, and checked if Bridge 2026 had full access to Files & Folders, but nothing helps... Adobe developers are really sloppy in intregrating standard registries and permissions. Just like Adobe Photoshop 2026 is still clueless about opening WEBP files through the Open with... menu in the Finder.

Participant
November 1, 2025

I have exactly the same isue. This is such a workflow slow dawn ! I can't believe that as with every update Adobe fixes something and breaks something else at the same time - this ritual is happening for years now. Since they moved to subscription plans quality of updates went down.

Peter Villevoye
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 1, 2025
quoteSince they moved to subscription plans quality of updates went down.

 

Hmm... I wouldn't state it that way. There have always been bugs and flaws, no matter if apps are free, sold for a fixed price, or on a subscription fee. 

Participating Frequently
January 29, 2024

Uninstall the latest version of Bridge and then upload the version before and it goes back to working by drop and drag.

 

Adobe ... quit fixing what's no broken and works better for fast designing.

Participating Frequently
January 29, 2024

I have the same issue since I upgraded to the last Bridge upgrade. I haate it and it takes so long to do my work now.

 

Participant
September 15, 2023

This is happening again in the latest version of Bridge on the Mac, Running Ventura 13.1. The solution below does not work.

Participant
September 15, 2023

I stand corrected it works it just takes it longer to open.

gary_sc
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 16, 2023

Hi, @stburnette, not sure if this would make a difference, but the most recent version of Ventura is 13.5.2

 

If you have a chance to update and let us know if that makes a difference, it would be helpful.

gary_sc
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2023

Hi, @marjgreen, Hmmm, I'm not sure what to tell you because I do this exact same thing almost every day, and I'm not having ANY issues with it.

 

[Note: there is a bad actor out there that can affect Macs. It is strongly recommended you upgrade to 13.3.1. Please do this soon.]

 

Meanwhile, thank you for letting us know you've done Apple's wishes and granted access and all, that saves time.

 

My first suggestion would be to reset Bridge's Preferences, so let's start there:

Quit Bridge (if running). Just before clicking on Bridge in the Dock or double-clicking the application for the Mac, press Command-Option-Shift. For PCs, press Control-Alt-Shift. Then open Bridge BUT KEEP your fingers on those keys until you see a window pop up. From the window, choose “Reset Preferences," "Entire Thumbnail Cache,” and/or "Reset Standard Workspaces.” In your case, choose "Reset Preferences."

 

Let us know if that does anything,

Participant
February 27, 2024

Hi Gary_sc. I am on Mac Sonoma 14.3.1  Bridge 14.01.137  I cannot drag  and drop the folder on the Bridge icon in the dock to OPEN the folder.  I  reset Bridge's Preferences as per your earlier post.  Stil not wrking.  Within an open Bridge window I scroll down to open items on my dektop. Bridge only displays individual PSD or Word files.  It does not display any of the folders on my desktop. On the bottom of the Bridge winow it says "No items, 25 hidden"  Can you help.. Ths so much in advance.

gary_sc
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 27, 2024

Hi, @dpmldpml, I have yet to update to Sonoma (I have some projects that need to be done before the software that is required ceases to work in Sonoma). Nonetheless, I can take some guesses here.

 

Issue #1: Opening a folder by dragging the folder to Bridge's icon in the Dock. There was an issue if you had Bridge open but no windows open, this dragging did not work to open the folder. That has been fixed, update to Bridge 14.02+

 

Issue #2: Not seeing folders on your Desktop, only psd, and docx files. Normally when one cannot see files on the Desktop, it's because the user has not given permission to Bridge to see those files. But, you are seeing "some" files there. Maybe you need to try resetting your permissions again; let's try that first. Here are the instructions:

 

Go into the System Preferences and select the Privacy & Security tab on the left. Note that there are two options on the right you'll need to deal with: "Files and Folders," and "Full Disk Access."

 

First, going into Files and Folders, note that in various years of different releases of Adobe Bridge, different needs are needed. I do not know why this is, but it's always better to check and make sure that just because you did it for one release, you may or may not need it for a subsequent release.

 

 

Lastly, go into the Full Disk Access option. If you do not see your application in the list, click on the "+" symbol at the very bottom of the window. This will bring up a standard Finder window. Navigate to your Applications Folder, find Adobe Bridge, and add it to the list (You will need to add your Administrator's password to do this.). Then you can "switch" it to the "ON" position.