Opening documents without them docking in each other using the newest PS

[bromley2]

I can't believe I am asking this question.  I have worked with PS since the 1990's.......I just opened up the latest version of PHotoshop (2025 I think ).....and I have a weird rookie problem.  I have Windows 11......just downloaded the latest PS. 

I have never wanted my images Docking in the workspace, so I turn it off in Preferences.....Since, I have done that...now when I open a image it is appears in the workspace not docked to the top.  HOWEVER!.....when I open another image it is docked to the first image.....how in the world do I stop that??  What is it called in Preferences so I can stop it?  Believe me I found a lot of help for "how to open multiple images".....nothing about the images docking themselves in the document.  Anyway, I can't use PS as it is now....or someone has to explain to me (or send a link) how to layer and blend multiple images.  I must have been doing it wrong after all these years.

Thank you so much...this has been a huge frustration.  (i hope I have been able to explain it....not sure of the terms)

Carolyn

[AxelMatt]

Try to reset the preferences of Photoshop using the steps described here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#reset-preferences

It's recommended to backup your settings before resetting the preferences.

See here:  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#backup-photoshop-preferences

Which Photoshop version do you use? Is your system up-to-date? Do you have installed all recent updates and patches for the operating system and the device drivers, especially the graphic driver. If you have a NVidia graphic card installed, make sure that you are using the recent Studio version of the driver, not the Game Ready version.

[bromley2]

Thank you....i had gone to that preferences page, but maybe didn't spend enough time there?  Thank you....I will try again. 

I am running the latest version.  My system is up to date.  my laptop is just a year old....I think the drivers are not the problem.  Thank you for your time and help it is so appreciated.

[melissapiccone]

Have you tried arranging your windows? You can tile them so they are not on top of each other. 

 

[bromley2]

Ok, I will try that....but i have never had to do that before....but, who knows?!!  Thank you

[Trevor.Dennis]

About ten or more years ago, Michael Ninnis did a Power Shortcuts session at MAX.  Unfortunately, some of its content became erroneous when changes were made to the Camera RAW filter, so it was taken down. However I still use some of Michaels Windows Arrange shortcuts.

As a long time user, you'll have spotted that the Free Transform Step & Repeat shortcut would no longer work, so I have thhem saved to my default workspace, and swap to Essentials when I need Step & Repeat.

[Conrad_C]

Maybe you already did this, but just making sure…have you disabled the Preferences / Tools setting Open Documents as Tabs? (see picture below) That’s what’s supposed to control whether new document windows open docked as tabs, or floating separately.