Photoshop vanished from Tools in Bridge 2023?

[julias1741454]

Hello, 

Many people have written on why Bridge 2023 is a mess, but I couldn't find anything on this particular issue: I want to open multiple pictures as layers in Photoshop. This option could be found under tools > Photoshop > open as layers. As you can see below, this option doesn't exist in Bridge 2023. Beind fed up with it, I reinstalled 2022, but apparently it doesn't recognize PS 2023 and asks me to install the newest version of PS. 

Honestly, I can't tell you how many days this update has cost me so far. Each picture takes more than a second to load in Bridge now, just to skip from one picture to the next. I have to cull about 5000 pictures per wedding and it has become an ordeal now. 

[gary_sc · Accepted solution]

Hello @julias1741454 

And here's my screenshot inside Bridge 2023

What I believe happened is that you installed Bridge AFTER you installed Photoshop. The scripts you see in the Tools menu are installed not by Bridge but by Photoshop. However, if you installed Bridge AFTER PS, when PS was installed there was no Bridge 2023 installed so it couldn't insert the scripts into Bridge.

To fix this, uninstall PS and then reinstall PS. That "should" fix it. SOMETIMES, you have to reboot your computer before reinstalling PS but this has not been consistent. So, I do not want to say this is something you need/must do.

Please let us know if this solves your issue.

[julias1741454]

Hi Gary, 

I tried that solution, but sadly, it didn't work. I've uninstalled photoshop a few times now, but that hasn't solved the problem, sadly. 

[Lumigraphics]

Check your Startup Scripts (under Edit->Preferences) and make sure all the scripts are activated.

[gary_sc]

What Lumigraphics said and a question: are you mixing release versions? For example, are you using the newly released Bridge with an older version of Photoshop? They need to be parallel releases. 

[DavD]

Well, it's not only Julias with this issue but mine is the same.  Everything he's said I'm experiencing.

[DavD]

Computer restarted after deleting PS and prior to reinstalling 2023, thanks.

[karlac34365297]

Can you explain further, I am having the same problems but have not changed anything.

[Billy248976646g8d]

Thank you! I thought I was going crazy. This fixed it and works now. I thought I was going to have use the older versions, which is ok. I just hate it when things like this happens and its difficult to get answers on how to fix. 

[nemcova_kate]

This was very helpful! Thank you 🙂

I installed Bridge 2023 after Photoshop 2023 and had the same issue..

To fix it I uninstalled PS 2023, restarted my computer and installed PS 2023 back again. Now it works 🙂

[default6acfgw0f0wmk]

I uninstalled both bridge and photoshop. Install Bridge again, restart my Mac and install Photoshop. It finally works!

[ShumanD]

Hello, this may my issue, I just removed Bridge, Photoshop, restarted my PC and reinsalled Bridge, THEN PS, and ia all works now. With all of these updates to PS every few weeks and rmy use of PS Beta I believe what you describes is why my Process in Phoroshop > Photmerge was missing.

-Thank-You!

[JonasB833]

Thank you Gary. That saved me a lot of time trying to figure out why the option was no longer present. Worked perfectly in my case.

[redcrown on guard]

Ditto here, Windows 11 and all Adobe versions current. Tried to load files as layers for the first time in a long time apparently and found the Tools/Photoshop menu missing. But I kept the old Bridge and Photoshop installed and the Tools/Photoshop is missing there too. I swear it used to be there in the old versions. Maybe installing 2023 messed things up?

[gary_sc]

Hi, @redcrown on guard This is NOT a Bridge issue but is the order of installation issue.

The scripts for Photoshop Tools in Bridge are installed by PS. During installation, PS looks to see if a compatible version of Bridge is installed (not PS 2023 with Bridge 2022). If not, than the tools are not installed. If you install Bridge first, then PS can see it's there and install the tools. 

If you do not see the PS Tools in Bridge, uninstall both. Install Bridge, then install PS. That should solve your problem.

[redcrown on guard]

Thanks, but I fixed mine by poking it in the eye with a sharp stick. In both Bridge 2022 and 2023, I went to Preferences/Startup Scripts and disabled everything. Shut down, restarted Windows. Back in to Bridge Preferences/Startup Scripts and enabled everything. Close, re-launch Bridge, and Volia!, the Photoshop Tool is back and Load files into Layers is there.

So, basically, I tricked Bridge into reloading startup scripts. YMMV. 

[FauxtoGuy]

I tried your procedure redcrown on guard, but no cigar. After restart, older version of PS were startup script  options but not the CURRENT working version which is now PS 24.5.0 I'm guessing I'll need to reinstall PS, but that is an annoying & time consuming process as there is no automated way to restore the many PS settings that must be MANUALLY enabled. The prefs restore and this issue are in need of a more effective & efficient fix. 

[ianp79797328]

Thanks Gary, did as you suggested, reloaded Br first, all now working with the latest versions of Br and PS  as it did before. Again, thank you.

[Cynthia219276721rkp]

this worked for me too! thank you so much! 

[Dan Greyhound]

If I have to uninstall PS how do I keep all my actions, etc? I seem to remember it deletes them all which is really annoying.

[Dan Greyhound]

Ah, save put them in a set and then you can save them

[brianh9]

I believe Adobe has removed the option Bridge/Tools/Photoshop in Bridge version V13.  One needs to load V12.  I, like others make much use of this option in Bridge Tools yet Adobe, as far as I know, has never mentioned this change.   I do hope they can restore it.  Brian

[swati1234]

Hi @brianh9 ,
Thank you for reaching out with your concern. It looks like you're encountering an issue with the Tools -> Photoshop options missing from Adobe Bridge 2023 after installing the latest Photoshop beta build. We understand how important this functionality is for your workflow. We have internally raised a ticket and tracking that with the Photoshop team.
To address this, here's a workaround that should help resolve the issue:

• Uninstall the current Photoshop 24.x version.
• Reinstall Photoshop 24.x.
• Launch Adobe Bridge.

This should restore the Tools -> Photoshop options in Bridge 2023.
If you're interested in using the Photoshop Beta build, we recommend installing the latest Bridge Beta build (14.0.0.57). This should ensure smooth interoperability between the Photoshop beta build and the updated Bridge beta build.
We appreciate your patience and hope this solution resolves the issue for you.

Best regards,
Bridge Team

[adriennelongo]

I'm trying all of these methods and none are working. I'm currently going back and forth between PS2023 and Beta. Still can't get PS back in tools. 

[gary_sc]

Hi @adriennelongo, there is a bug in the latest beta version of PS that causes the Tools in Bridge to not display the PS Tools. To fix this, uninstall the release version of PS 2023 and then reinstall it. 

That should fix the issue, please let us know.