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

[marjgreen]

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?

[gary_sc]

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,

[marjgreen]

I followed your instructions and it worked! I updated MacOS and reset both Bridge Preferences and Entire Cache. It's working! Thank you!

[gary_sc]

I am delighted to hear of your success.

Can you please click the "Correct Answer" option underneath my answer? That way, if others have the same issue, this will help them find the solution.

Thank you!

[dpmldpml]

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]

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. 

[dpmldpml]

Hi Gary-thanks SO much.  These fixes worked.  Thanks so much for taking the time to full write them out and include the screen shots.  One thing to note,  under Files and Folders  it did not show various years of different releases of Adobe Bridge.  But I am not botherd by this. My main thing was getting files to open up in the Bridge window.  Which I now can do.  Many thanks!

[stburnette]

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

[stburnette]

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

[gary_sc]

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.

[Barbara24208542vpai]

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.

[Barbara24208542vpai]

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.

[Peter Villevoye]

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.

[morbiusz]

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]

Since 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. 

[gary_sc]

As has been stated by others on the same subject (different threads), if you hold the Command key when dragging it does work.

But, this side step does not explain the change. Why? For what reason? If there was a valid reason, I could go, "oh well," but there's been nothing from Adobe about this change.

Working with software, we know that things change. But when small, simple things that have been used forever change with no new functional reason, this is bad, simply bad.

[morbiusz]

Yes, it does work when you hold the Command key!!! Thank you!!! Life saver!! 
But I ask the same question: WHY on all the creativity gods change something that wasn't broken! And without notifying! You can still drag and drop a folder onto the Lightroom icon, and it imports files, as is in many other Mac apps. It is almost a global Mac feature to drag a folder to take actions on a certain app. So why would Bridge require something extra to do the same thing that worked for 20 or more years! Such a simple thing but it annoys me, because I do this drag and drop task every day hundreds of times, now I have to change my habits. Maybe to some it is not a pain, but for me, it is - and if someone explains this logically I hold my statement that Adobe does stupid things for no reason.

[Peter Villevoye]

Well, it sure is on the radar now, so we can rest assured that it will be tackled – again.

My layman's guess is that certain integrations with the Finder are 'slapped' onto the app in some final wrapping-up stage. Just like. So when a new version is being compiled into new app versions, they migth overlook such last tweaks. Just like when you glance at a PDF of a re-re-re-edited version of a publication, and notice you forgot – again – to switch on the Page Navigation tab in Acrobat afterwards (because InDesign doesn't do that...)

[johnd59898678]

Command + Dragging does work in the Menu Bar (thanks for the tip!). However, I work on a Mac Pro with (3) 27" ASD monitors connected. I always have (3) Bridge aliases on the desktop - one each in the lower left corner of each monitor for quick access (my workflow for over 15 years). Unfortunately this does not work on a Desktop Alias of the app apparently (only in the dock)? I was forced to upgrade my OS from Ventura to Sonoma yesterday in order to install the latest version of certain Adobe Apps and that trashed that procedure. REALLY wish they would fix this as I used to use this several times daily!

[VarunVarshney]

Hi @Peter Villevoye @gary_sc @Barabara24670335ipqy @morbiusz ,

Thank you for reporting this. We apologize for the inconvenience caused. This is not an intended change, rather a known issue in Bridge 2026 version.

Bridge team is investigating this and will keep this thread/forum updated with a release update which fixes this issue.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Thanks,

Bridge team