Layer Styles --> Style Settings Not Working

Even when you apply a layer style using the trick above, Layer>Layer Style>Style Settings is still greyed out

on the layer with the layer style. Only if one uses one of the premade styles does that menu item become available in photoshop elements 6.

If one applies a premade style, then the Style Settings becomes available.

I believe photoshop elements 8 was the first version to be able to use the Layer>Layer Style>Style Settings without having already applied a layer style from the Effects>Layer Styles panel.

One trick you can use to get the Layer Styles settings dialog without first applying a premade style is make a text or shape layer then Alt double click on the text/shape thumbnail in the layers panel to bring up the Style Settings dialog, apply a stroke or other setting. Then right click on that layer and Copy Layer Style. Go back to the layer you want to actually put the style on, right click and Paste Layer Style.

The alt double click on the layer thumbnail to bring up the Style settings dialog only works with text, shape

and adjustment layers in photoshop elements 6.

Moved to the Photoshop Elements forum

Could you please post screenshots with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, …) visible? 

What kind of Layer is selected at current?