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Nick2049
Inspiring
August 17, 2021
Answered

Panels are always collapsed upon launch - Workspace ignored

  • August 17, 2021
  • 3 replies
  • 6688 views

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)

Correct answer Nick2049

@Jeremy259041676ecb@SpingogogoI think I have discovered the cause and possibly the solution to this bug.
It appears to occur when your restored/non-maximized window state is small enough that the toolbars cannot be expanded (see attached) so they are all minimized (even if you reset your profile). You can then go maximized and restore your profile, but then next time you launch PS it appears to remember the collapsed state that those toolbars were in (even if it launches maximised). I'll try and explain, see if you guys can recreate the same:
1 - Open PS and click on the 'restore' button (top right, next to close) and see if the PS window is now so small that the toolbars are all minimised (like the attached)

2 - Drag this out further and then reset your profile (your toolbars should all now be as expected)

3 - Close PS

4 - Relaunch PS, it should open with the same window size as it did when you closes it, now maximise the window and reset your profile again

5 - Close and Re-open PS. It should now open fullscreen with your saved layout!

Let me know if that works for you

Cheers

3 replies

Trevor.Dennis
Community Expert
Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 18, 2021

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

N
Nick2049Author
Inspiring
August 19, 2021

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.

    N
    Nick2049AuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    January 5, 2023

    @Jeremy259041676ecb@SpingogogoI think I have discovered the cause and possibly the solution to this bug.
    It appears to occur when your restored/non-maximized window state is small enough that the toolbars cannot be expanded (see attached) so they are all minimized (even if you reset your profile). You can then go maximized and restore your profile, but then next time you launch PS it appears to remember the collapsed state that those toolbars were in (even if it launches maximised). I'll try and explain, see if you guys can recreate the same:
    1 - Open PS and click on the 'restore' button (top right, next to close) and see if the PS window is now so small that the toolbars are all minimised (like the attached)

    2 - Drag this out further and then reset your profile (your toolbars should all now be as expected)

    3 - Close PS

    4 - Relaunch PS, it should open with the same window size as it did when you closes it, now maximise the window and reset your profile again

    5 - Close and Re-open PS. It should now open fullscreen with your saved layout!

    Let me know if that works for you

    Cheers

      Michael Bullo
      Community Expert
      Michael BulloCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      August 18, 2021

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

      N
      Nick2049Author
      Inspiring
      August 19, 2021

      This is unchecked and to my knowledge always has been.

      S_Gans
      Community Expert
      S_GansCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      August 18, 2021

      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?

       

      Adobe Community Expert / Adobe Certified Instructor
      N
      Nick2049Author
      Inspiring
      August 19, 2021

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

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