A gradient fill layer doesn't have properties

[Thomas33923257cb6x]

I have 2 gradient fill layers. The first one I made and am able to customize in properties. The other one is a duplicate of the first one and I can't customize it in properties. The first one has 2 tabs within the properties tab, "Gradient Adjustment" and "Masks", but the second one only has "Masks". How do I fix this?

  

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

If you double-click the gradient fill icon from that layer, does Photoshop open the Gradient Fill dialog for you where you can modify the gradient?

[Thomas33923257cb6x]

Yes, but it's inconvenient and I know that it could show up in properties because it does for the other layer.

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Have you updated Photoshop? I ask because the layer mask icon has changed in the most recent update from what you show in your screenshot. When I try duplicating a gradient fill, I can see both the gradient option and the layer mask option in the Properties panel for both the original layer and the duplicated one.

[Thomas33923257cb6x]

I am on 25.2.0, which I believe is the latest version

[Conrad_C]

I am able to reproduce the problem, and it seems really weird. See if it also happens to you in these three ways:

• If the Gradient tool is selected when you create a gradient fill layer, the Properties panel will show gradient properties for that layer. 
• If any other tool is selected when you create a gradient fill layer, the Properties panel will not show gradient properties for that layer. 
• If the Properties panel does not show gradient properties, select the Gradient tool and edit the gradient using the on-canvas gradient editor, just drag any of the controls. For me, that made the gradient properties suddenly appear. 

So my theory is that your gradient fill layer that does not display gradient properties may have been created when a tool other than the Gradient tool was selected.

If you confirm this, it should be reported in the Bugs section of this community, because what I just described is probably not how it’s supposed to work. The Properties panel should make gradient properties available in the Properties panel regardless of what tool is selected when you create it, and also when a gradient fill is selected in the Layers panel.