Toolbox is Gone

[cmontgomery1054]

I understand that this might be a stupid question but I'm new to using the program and I'm still figuring out how to make it work. I was using my tablet today and I guess I accidently pressed something because all of the tabs disappeared. The drop-down menu that allowed you to see and change your tools is gone and the box on the right that listed your layers is also gone. All that I see when I open an image is the ruler and the menu bar. I've looked at tutorials and clicked on just about everything, but nothing seems to be working. I'm wondering if it's a glitch with the program or is there something that I am not seeing. Please help.

[Ofnuts]

Maybe you just want Windows > Single window mode (at the bottom of the drop own).

Otherwise Edit ➤ Preferences ➤ Interface ➤ Window management ➤ Window positions and hit Reset saved window positions to default values

This and this could be worth reading, too.

[H.Seldon]

(01-23-2023, 12:16 AM)cmontgomery1054 Wrote: I understand that this might be a stupid question but I'm new to using the program and I'm still figuring out how to make it work. I was using my tablet today and I guess I accidently pressed something because all of the tabs disappeared. The drop-down menu that allowed you to see and change your tools is gone and the box on the right that listed your layers is also gone. All that I see when I open an image is the ruler and the menu bar. I've looked at tutorials and clicked on just about everything, but nothing seems to be working. I'm wondering if it's a glitch with the program or is there something that I am not seeing. Please help.

The TAB key toggles them on and off.

[cmontgomery1054]

(01-23-2023, 12:36 AM)Ofnuts Wrote: Maybe you just want Windows > Single window mode (at the bottom of the drop own).

Otherwise Edit ➤ Preferences ➤ Interface ➤ Window management ➤ Window positions and hit Reset saved window positions to default values

This and this could be worth reading, too.

This worked. Thank you so much.

[pavelSK]

(01-23-2023, 06:46 AM)H.Seldon Wrote:

(01-23-2023, 12:16 AM)cmontgomery1054 Wrote: I understand that this might be a stupid question but I'm new to using the program and I'm still figuring out how to make it work. I was using my tablet today and I guess I accidently pressed something because all of the tabs disappeared. The drop-down menu that allowed you to see and change your tools is gone and the box on the right that listed your layers is also gone. All that I see when I open an image is the ruler and the menu bar. I've looked at tutorials and clicked on just about everything, but nothing seems to be working. I'm wondering if it's a glitch with the program or is there something that I am not seeing. Please help.

The TAB key toggles them on and off.

Yes, many thanks. I find it ridiculous that when the user presses TAB accidentally, they do not get the toolbox by the menu command Windows - Toolbox. I always waste 10 minutes when this happens three times a year until I find this kind of answer in some online forum just to get the sick toolbox back! :-)

[Ofnuts]

(08-22-2025, 07:21 PM)pavelSK Wrote: I find it ridiculous that when the user presses TAB accidentally, they do not get the toolbox by the menu command Windows - Toolbox.

In Single-window mode, there is a  Windows > Hide docks entry which is checked and that you can uncheck to restore the visibility (works like the View > Show ... menus.

   

In addition, in multi-window mode, you get a menu entry for each dock:

   

[rich2005]

It is possibly a language issue and what a dock is and means.  Hide Docks does just that, ToolBox (New Toolbox in Gimp 2.10) adds a new tab. Possibly improved by adding the "Tab" to the menu as in Gimp 2.10.

Some better indicator might be considered. There are icons at each corner for some actions, Does anyone ever use them ? Maybe have one of those change colour when Hide Docks is on.

   

Personally, I wish Gimp came with a default beginner mode, fewer tabs in the docks, no remember previous settings, Start Gimp up in a new session and it reverts to default.  (I have done this to my desired setup since Gimp 2.8 came along) Once the user understands how Gimp works then use a regular mode.