Strange Behavior in Layers Panel

[Rich54]

I've been using PS version 27.7.0 for a few months with no issues. But an odd thing has now happened twice in a few days and I can't figure out why. It just happened again with this file.

My normal PS desktop has the Adjustments panel docked to the upper right and the Layer/Path/Channel panels docked immediately below, as in the first image. Yet somehow, when I open random (different) files, the Layer/Path/Channel panel sometimes collapses down to the bottom, as shown in image 2. In the collapsed state, I thought that I could simply grab the top border of the panel and drag it upward to restore its size, but that doesn't work. I also thought the panels had somehow become undocked, but that doesn't seem to be the case, either. Not knowing what to do, I double-clicked on the collapsed panels, which magically restored them. But I have no idea why that worked.

Any ideas on what this might be?

Rich

 

[Akshat]

Have you tried saving your Workspace?

Window > Workspace > New Workspace - 🗹 Check 3 options under the Capture box and save the workspace with a new name.

You can also Lock Workspace to prevent panels from being accidentally moved, dragged, or undocked.
Go to Window > Workspace > Lock Workspace

 

[Akshat]

Other possible reasons/solutions could be -

1. Changing display resolution or scaling -
if Photoshop is launched on a lower-resolution monitor/laptop screen where scaling is set to 100%, and then switch to a higher resolution where display scaling is 150%.

2 .Turn off Large Tabs and Ui scaling -
Edit > Preferences > Workspace - uncheck - Large tabs and Align UI according to OS settings.

3. Auto-Collapse Iconic Panels Setting -
Edit > Preferences > Workspace and uncheck Auto-Collapse Iconic Panels

3. Corrupted Workspace or Preferences File -
Delete current workspace and create a fresh one - Window > Workspace > New Workspace
Reset Photoshop preferences - hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift and launch photoshop

 

[Rich54]

@Akshat , thanks for the suggestions, but none of them worked. The problem now happens every time I open Photoshop. PS opens with the layers panel collapsed and I need to double-click to expand it back again. I found an Adobe Community thread from a few years ago where others are having the same problem. For me, this all started about a week ago. Before that, everything was fine. The only thing I haven't tried yet is resetting all my preferences. I've been trying to avoid that, but I'll give it a shot.

Layers Panel Keeps Starting Collapsed | Community

This only started happening I think with the previous (25.4?) update, or at least a couple months ago. Basically the Layers panel always starts collapsed after opening a new blank document. See screenshot below. I have to double click it to expand it. At first I thought it was an issue with my...

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