Solved: Photoshop 2020 Blank work-space issue: Black Scree... - Adobe Support Community

Report · Nov 14, 2019

I can't seem to open any files or start any new docs in the new update, I had no issues with the previous version and now that I updated I have this plain black screen regardless of what I do? How do I get my art board and images back?

{Thread renamed by moderator}

Report · Nov 14, 2019

I can't seem to open any files or start any new docs in the new update, I had no issues with the previous version and now that I updated I have this plain black screen regardless of what I do? How do I get my art board and images back?

{Thread renamed by moderator}

Report · Nov 14, 2019

Hi Shanan,

That shouldn't be happening, let's make it right.

Could you please try resetting the preferences of Photoshop and let us know if it helps

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

Note: Make sure that you back up all your custom presets, brushes and actions before restoring Photoshop's preferences. Migrate presets, actions, and settings

Regards,
Sahil

Report · Nov 14, 2019

Ok thanks I tried that but it didn't work so I have just uninstalled the new photoshop and put the older version back in and it's fine now.

Report · Nov 15, 2019

I'm having the exact same issue. I also just updated to photoshop 2020. On an older iMac running high sierra.

Report · Nov 19, 2019

Solved: Go to Prefrences> Performance> Advance settings> then uncheck 'use graphics processor'

Report · Nov 22, 2019

Brilliant I have to say I was getting quite annoyed that nothing would display. Think Adobe could do with having a popup suggesting this when you first open the software after the update and save people a headache!

Report · Nov 24, 2019

You're the best. Thank you!

Report · Dec 18, 2019

Same problem. Thanks immensly, this worked!!

Report · Jan 01, 2020

ugh thank you sooooo much I was getting so annoyed and was about to reinstall the old version but wanted to check to see if I was the only one having issues!

Report · Jan 07, 2020

Thanks a bunch, it solved it for me

Report · Jan 15, 2020

Thank You! and thank goodness for this support community! I really get annoyed every time I update, anticipating what changes will mess up my flow...and this saved me. 😃

Report · Jan 19, 2020

Brilliant, worked for me. Adobe are the masters of putting out a broken product, can't believe it's been 2 months since this was first brought up and me having downloaded 2020 yesterday is not getting a version with a fix.

Thanks for wasting more of my time Adobe, I think I'll be switching soon.

Report · Jan 20, 2020

Thank You so much!
Saved my project and timeline 😄

Report · Feb 08, 2020

This worked for me, but I'd rather like Photoshop to be using my graphics card as it's far more powerful than my processor, so is there a way I can not have the blank screen while being able to use my GPU? Thanks a lot.

Report · Feb 16, 2020

Brilliant thank you!

Report · Feb 17, 2020

Thank you! xxx

Report · Feb 18, 2020

I would like to track down the specifics that trigger this issue for engineering. For the folks who are disabling the Graphics Processor, what specific version of macOS are you on? What graphics card/model? What is it specific to a certain type of document (artboards?16-bit vs 8bit? Color mode?) The more specific the better. Feel free to post system info (Help > System Info) and a link to a file you're having trouble with.

Report · Mar 03, 2020

thank you!!!!!!!!!

Report · Mar 08, 2020

Have also just sorted my problem with this! Thanks so much, you are so helpful.

Report · Mar 13, 2020

This right here is the best solution. Thanks! What an annoying issue.

Report · Mar 24, 2020

thank you!

I tried downloading 4 different images of basically the same thing because I thought PS was encountering some encrypted-copyright restriction on the files. You very well may be my new favorite person.

Report · Mar 28, 2020

Absolute Legend, thank you! 🙌🏾

Report · Mar 29, 2020

You are brilliant! Thank you.

Report · Mar 31, 2020

It worked! Nice, but now that we uncheck this, what was it for?

Report · Apr 15, 2020

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! You're a lifesaver!!

Report · Apr 18, 2020

dude! you're my prophet!

Report · Apr 20, 2020

OMG, I thought I'd to have to spend hours and irritate my tech friends with this problem . . phew, worked like magic..

Report · May 04, 2020

Hi Jeffery. I just bought a new Macbook Air 2020 with every single upgrade possible. And updated Photoshop today just shows black documents unless you turn of graphics processor. Is that expected? BTW, I worked on Acrobat for many years so hope Adobe is treating you well! Allan

Report · May 05, 2020

I would expect that to work. Let me shoot you a private message so I can get specific system info from Photoshop.

Report · May 30, 2020

I can't tell if my problem is the same as everyone's problem here but what's happening to me is my documents are blank everytime PS gets focus. So if I flip off of PS to another program and then back to PS the docuement is blank. Lots of clicks bring it back. Some of the toolbar icons (not all). Hiding or unhiding guides. One you click something the image appears. Quite annoying. Yes I've restarted both PS and my computer. I have 16 gigs ram. Doesn't have to be large file. Thanks in advance! - Blu

Report · Jun 08, 2020

I have the same issue! As soon as I click off Photoshop to access another program this happens. Have to hide/unhide a layer to get everything back 😕

Report · Jun 24, 2020

Yes! This is exactly what's happening to me.

Report · Jul 08, 2020

Same thing happening to me and it's infuriating. Not only does this happen every single time I switch/flip to another application (like a Finder window); but text areas go black momentarily when I attempt to edit text. I've tried every solution on this thread that I could find and nothing works. This is killing my efficiency and workflow. In order to get PS to render my workspace I have to zoom in/zoom out to make everything reappear, or do some other random action. This means if I'm trying to drag/drop files onto an Artboard, when I flip to the Finder window, and then come back, I can't see where I'm dropping anything, it's gone.

I've never had any problems running anything on this Macbook Pro, not in 5 years. It runs everything I can throw at it and it's meticulously maintained. Here are the specs:

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
2.5 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
AMD Radeon R9 M370X 2 GB
Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB

At this point I have no idea how to troubleshoot something as large as Photoshop. Everything just always works on this system. Should I just uninstall the latest version? This absolutley sucks.

Report · Nov 19, 2019

Check on "Legacy Composting" in Performance > Preferences

Sometimes the new compositing engine doesn't work too well on some systems and you see that blank screen as a result.

Report · Nov 26, 2019

This worked for me, thanks!

Report · Dec 18, 2019

This corrected that issue for me. I was setting up a new MacBook with Catalina and was getting frustrated that problems would arise after finally moving on from an older (and now slower) MacBook. Thank you for posting!

Report · Jan 29, 2020

This is the solution that worked for me too.
Thanks!

Report · Jul 20, 2020

The other solutions in this thread didn't work for me, but this one did! Thank you!!

Report · Dec 15, 2019

Go to Preferences and reset your Interface Color Theme to clear or white, whatever is the last one on the right.

Report · Feb 25, 2020

This worked for me - MacBook Pro 2015 running High Sierra (10.13.6) with 16MB RAM and Intel Iris Graphics 6100 GPU. I was using Photoshop CC 2018 prior to upgrading to Photoshop 2020 (Feb release).

Also, after clicking the lightest theme, I was able to go back to a darker theme and everything remained visible. Best part is that the I was able to retain the GPU acceleration (including advanced).

A note to Adobe engineering - this seems like a first-time initialization problem after a new installation or upgrade from CC 2018 (don't know about 2019 - I skipped this release) to 2020. This is a poor "first impression" experience of a new version - suggest figuring this one out soon if you want users to migrate to 2020.

Report · Apr 28, 2020

Seconding this as a solution. On a brand new 16" Macbook Pro running Catalina 10.15.2. Was able to revert to original theme and all worked.

Report · Apr 30, 2020

Are you saying toggling between these appearance options fixed it for you?

Report · May 30, 2020

yes! it works for me. i use dark mode and i change it to auto, i tried opening it and it work normally. i tried closing the program and change it back to dark mode and it still work.

Report · Nov 04, 2020

This did NOT work for me.

Report · Jan 24, 2020

I'm having the same problem. It usually occures when I open a second file or project and then go back to the original I opened. I then have to try to save my progress and shut down PS then reopen it.