Panels are always collapsed upon launch - Workspace ignored

[nickw55748230]

Recently Photoshop has started ignoring my custom workspace and launches with all panels collapsed.

This is extremely frustrating as I have to reset my workspace each time I open PS.

I have tried creating a new workspace, using defaults, resetting prefs.. nothing so far seems to prevent all panels on the right being collapsed on launch.

Does anyone know what is causing this?

(v 22.5.0 / Windows 10 64 Pro)

[S_Gans]

Hmmm... if you've already tried resetting preferences, the only thing I can think of is if you're using a monitor with a low screen resolution - PS will try to conserve space when that happens (either by collapsing panels to tabs, or to buttons). Can we please know your screen resolution?

[nickw55748230]

This is not the issue I'm afraid, it's a 27" 4K display: 3840x2160

[Michael Bullo]

Within the Workspace tab of the Photoshop Preferences is the option Auto-Collapse Iconic Panels. Does that help?

[nickw55748230]

This is unchecked and to my knowledge always has been.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Nick, can you show us a full res screen shot of your workspace showing which panels are proving problematic?

Does Photoshop shut down OK?  (That's when the current state of the workspace is saved.)

Check out the root directory of your primary Scratch drive for orphaned Photoshop temp files.  If there is a problem with shutting down, you'll find a bunch of them with old dates on them eating up drive space.

Mine is a couple of days old, but that's because Photoshop has not been closed since the 17th.

Make sure that Hidden Files are viewable in File Explorer, and check this folder

C:\Users\[your user name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2021\Adobe Photoshop 2021 Settings\WorkSpaces

Do the dates coincide with when you saved those workspaces?

Select the files, right click and choose Properties.  Is Read Only unchecked?  This is only the state you saved the workspace at of course, and not how you last closed Photoshop.

Now check

C:\Users\[your user name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2021\Adobe Photoshop 2021 Settings\WorkSpaces (Modified)

Close Photoshop and refesh the above folder. Your selected workspace shoul now show the current date and time. Note I am in New Zealand where it is Thursday 19th at 11:37am

If all that checks out then things should be working OK.  So is it to do with collapsed sub panels (my name for them)?

I just tested mine, and reopening Photoshop shows those panels in the same state 

Check all that out, and give us more info with screen shots if we are not on the right track.

[nickw55748230]

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for the detailed response.

I have attached a screenshot as requested from when PS is first opened. My custom workspace is actually selected but I have to reset it to expand all panels. I have also attached a second screenshot showing how the panels should appear, this is once I have reset the current workspace.

With regards to temp files, it appears there are no issues here, there is only one file and this has the current date and time, this is then deleted after PS has closed.

In the 'Workspaces' folder the date and time does indeed match up. This is not read only.

In the 'Workspace modified' folder the date and time also matches up with last opened/closed.

I just tried switching to one of the default workspaces as a test, I used 'Essentials'. All panels were expanded, I then closed PS and re-opened. It did open with the Essentials workspace selected, but again all panels were collapsed.