Fix for empty Mini Bridge
Does your Photoshop display empty Mini Bridge panel? Here’s a simple solution to fix the bug. Below the instructions, you may find my comment on this issue.
Here’s the solution applicable to problems with MiniBridge, Kuler, GuideGuide and many other plugins for Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and others.
•
Windows
(click here for the MacOS solution)
— open registry editor (press Win+R, type in regedit and press OK)
— navigate in the tree structure, to entry depending on your CS version (see screenshot for CS6)
| Version | Registry path |
|---|---|
| CS6 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Adobe / CSXS.3 |
| CS5.5 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Adobe / CSXS2.5Preferences* |
| CS5 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Adobe / CSXS2Preferences |
| CS4 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Adobe / CSXS1Preferences* |
— right-click on the right pane and insert a String value
— name it PlayerDebugMode and set its value to 1
— restart Photoshop/any application with Mini Bridge
* if you are using a version other than CS6 or CS5 and you cannot find proper registry entries, please comment, we will figure it out
•
MacOS
— run terminal (press Command+Space, type terminal, press enter)
— copy the line below changing the # according to your CS version
(use 3 for CS6, 2.5 for CS5.5 or 2 for CS5)
defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.# PlayerDebugMode 1
— press Return on your keyboard
For example, if you are using CS6, it should look like this:
defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.3 PlayerDebugMode 1
Since 31.10 all the Photoshop CS6 instances I have been working with – at my home and at my workplace – have sadly stopped properly opening the content panel for Mini Bridge. I have tried most of the suggestions posted over the internet but none seemed to work. But finally, a good fellow, Ten A, posted the solution (link) on the Adobe forums. Also, as Joschi has observed, this fix works for other plug-ins or addons for Adobe applications. Thanks to Mark H., the post has been updated with proper registry paths for CS5 version, my regards!
It is only temporary as it enables debugging option for extensions – which is not recommended for a regular user, but let us hope that Adobe will patch the issue.
Thank you!!!! You saved me hours of frustration again tonight! I appreciate your easy instructions!
does this still working because i just try now and it not openning please helppp
Yes, it works. Did you try applying the fix described above?
Yes , it works , thanks a lot 🙂
You are the best! Saved me a lot of trouble and frustration.
Wish you all could see the smile on my face right now. IT WORKING. thanks all I have to do this time was to not copy and past the words PlayerDebugMode but to type it and it went well
Thank you SO MUCH!!!
Works like a charm ….Thumbs Up….!!
This did not work for me. Anyone else have this issue?
Hi. Does your Mini Bridge still not display anything, i.e. it is an empty panel, not even “Waiting for bridge” popup? What OS, Photoshop and Windows do you use?
Thank you so much, this worked and even I understood how to do. I had searched for hours to figure out why this happened and how to get it back. I just wish I could browse thumbnails in file explorer as it would be so much easier sometimes.
Hello there, glad it has helped you. Do you mean you would like to see PSD/AI etc. files’ thumbnails in regular Windows Explorer? There are several ways to do it and I could write a simple tutorial on how to achieve it, if you wish.
Hi tried.it and never work
Thank you so much!! This fix worked for me, you are amazeballs!!
Many thanks for this info..It got my mini bridge back up..
My CS6 was the same, and it got fixed, by adding the string to both CSXS.3 and.6 as well. Mini Bridge launched in an instance…My OS is Win7 64bit. Thanks for the solution
Thank you so much for this information! It works!
I am running iMac OS Sierra, and have used CS6 with Bridge and Mini Bridge for 4 years. Something happened recently that caused Mini Bridge not to work. I’m thinking it could be the Adobe Creative Cloud free account with sync? It frightens me to run this solution link on my iMac. It did not work on my MacBook Pro, now it says “waiting for Bridge cs6. I also deleted the Switchboard Folder and it has not created new files yet. Very frustrated, hoping to contact Adobe, any suggestions? I am hobbyist, not comfortable with messing with the Terminal.
Summing up, you have two workstations with CS6 of both Bridge and Photoshop? In one of them, your MiniBridge does not show anything and in the other one there’s Waiting for Bridge… notification after using the terminal command? Have you tried fixes from this page? If you have and you simply wish to revert the changes done by the terminal command, I guess it’s enough to use
defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.(your#) PlayerDebugMode 0
to reset the parameter to normal.
Could you go to this directory
/Users/Your_username/Library/Preferences/
And check if you have any plist file named com.adobe.CSXS.3.plist or with some other number instead of 3?
Thank you for your speedy reply. Yes, on iMac, the directory shows plist file named com.adobe.CSXS.7.plist and plist file com.adobe.CSXS.3.plist. On MacBook, the directory shows only com.adobe.CSXS.3.plist. Yes I have deleted the SwitchBoard on both Mac’s.
So let’s first try fixing MacBook. Before running the command, your MiniBridge showed nothing, right? Or has it already shown Waiting for Bridge…?
Could it have anything to do with installing Adobe Photoshop CC 2017. I installed it and then uninstalled it, still prefer the stand alone programs. I use Photoshop CS6, Bridge, Lightroom 5 and Elements 14. Should I delete all files and folders that show Adobe Photoshop CC 2017?
Excellent – thanks!
The MacBook shows waiting for Bridge…
I have contacted you via email, we will try to solve it outta there. Latter, I will update the article on what we have found out to be the culprit.
It works! I’ve been struggling for hours… You’re my hero, thanks !
Terrific, I ran the Terminal again on the iMac and this time hit RETURN key, it worked like a charm!! I know this is crazy, but I did not hit the Return key on the first try.
The MacBook shows Waiting for Bridge. I deleted the SwitchBoard folder, and then ran the Terminal same as on the iMac, but it still shows Waiting for Bridge.
dude you are a legend!!!
Hahaha, I’m glad it has helped!
Giant thanks and appreciation to you for posting this fix! I am enjoying having the Mini Bridge back and running in Photoshop on my iMac. I had to get tech support for the error of “waiting on Bridge” on the MacBook Pro. They had to reinstall the CS6 program, and now it also has Mini Bridge back in the panel. It’s crazy what happened to Bridge in both of my programs two weeks ago!
thank you! it worked!
Great Post! THX! 🙂
I just noticed that a lot of some free other PS6 panels doesn’t work too! With this fix all the other extension like GuideGuide, ScriptBay, LayersGuide and other stuff with empty panels will work again. Hooooray! 🙂
Good to hear it helped. Also, thanks for the heads up, I (and most probably many more!) appreciate that. I will do a small update to the post right away.
Fantastic fix – and thank you for the specific, yet easy instructions! Worked like a charm.
Wonderful! Thank you. The fix also restored kuler. Great work.
Thank you so much!!! It worked and I did not have to reinstall anything! Your the best!
I’m glad it has helped! Have a good day!
Well done, from Australia
Hi there, regards from Poland!
My registry does not have a CSXS line. It had a CSXS2Preferences line. I’m using CS5. Any ideas?
Hey there. What operating system do you use? If Windows, which version?
I’m using windows 7 pro 64bit
I have CS5, but I do not see the folder csx5. The closest I see is CSXS2Preferences, CSXSPreferences, or Bridge CS5. Is there someplace else I am suppose to create this file?
Currently, I’m trying to solve it 🙂 I’ll let you know via here and/or email address when I do it and later will update the article.
Hi there again. You may apply the fix according to the post with the only difference that you need to use the CSXS2Preferences entry. I have updated the manual, in case you wanted to do it all again.
The folder is “CSXS2Preferences” not “csx5”. I have CS5 on windows 7 and minibridge is working again. Thanks grzeniu.
thanks.. It worked for me also. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing, mine was also not working! You are simply the BEST!!!
This is not working for me sadly. I have Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended. What value should I use? I tried 2 and it did not work 🙁 Thank you
also which folder should I use? I tried with CSXSPreferences and also CSXS2Preferences. Should I try Bridge CS5?
I switched the value from 2 to 1 and it worked!! For anyone using Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended, set the value to 1 (not 2). I added the registry to the 3 folders: CSXSPreferences, CSXS2Preferences and Bridge CS5. Thanks a lot!
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) T H A N K Y O U ! ! !
Hello, thanks for the info. I have tried all of these and still not working. Any help is greatly appreciated. Not a huge Mac user, hubby has the Mac. Ps 5 extended, Mac osx. No error trying to open mini bridge, just doesn’t even seem to look for it. Cannot find any folders for mini bridge either. It’s there in the panel on Photoshop, but no thumbnails, and File , browse in mini bridge does nothing. Happy New Year. Will check for info in the new year.
Sounds like my situation with PS 6 Extended, Mac OSX. I finally contacted Adobe tech support, they backed up Settings (named to OLD, Plug-ins, and Presets to desktop. Then uninstalled the program and reinstalled it. Adobe keeps your registered products and serial numbers, if you can’t find your program download. Their tech help was wonderful.
I should have stated I have done 2 complete, full uninstalls, and reinstalls. Updated Raw plugins as well as those files stopped being recognized. I have done almost every adobe fix to fix the issue, no resolve. Was hoping that this terminal command would have fixed it.
Sounds like your program may have issues. Have you contacted Adobe tech support, I think they can fix it. I let them view and control my screen. They instructed me to download a new program. Started with a chat, Garima Khanna was the tech.
My friend, you are a genius ! I have tried various ways to fix this issue, and your method did it in ten seconds. Thanks a million, now I can work again !
Thank you for the fix. This works great.
it does work! make sure you enter the parameter in the Adobe folder.Thank you!
that is the folder named CSXS.3, if you have CS6
Thanks so much! It works!
Thanks! Worked great!
Thank you so much for that. Frustration was creeping in with a lengthened workflow, but this worked and I got mini bridge back.
Wow, thank you so much!! It works and mini bridge is back!!! 🙂
Hi, I have cs6 extended, my mini bridge is empty, where do I find the registry editor?
Thanks. It’s work.
thank you very much; It works great
Please help me, If posible
This worked for me – thanks!
THANK YOU SO MUCH <3
You are amazing! I haven’t needed to use CS6 for a few months, so never knew there was a worldwide problem! I googled the issue, found you, and within 30 seconds, your steps got it working! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
This was the only one of several solutions suggested on the internet that worked in my case. CS5 Extended Windows 7 64 bit. Many thanks.
Your work around was awesome. CS6 mini bridge is back. Windows 7
Thank you for your instruction 😉 – CS5 Extended Windows10 64bit
Thank-you, have been so frustrated with mini bridge and its disappearance, followed your instructions and its now back, up and running.
I can’ figure out how to hold command shirt and type terminal in without siri popping up and messing it up. I have macOS Sierra 10.12.6
My mini bridge does show in Photoshop but can’t load or add anything. Any help would be amazing!
got it, thank you!
Awesomeness. Thank you so much.
could you please send me a screenshot, how to do for PS 6 extended, as I´m not firm in
in computer matters and I don´t want to disturb anything or to crash Photoshop
Thank you SOOO much for this mini bridge fix. I used it to fix PS CS6 extended. Worked like a charm. Did I already say ‘thank you’…not often enough.
oops, my mistake I have the Design & Web Premium version of CS6. Sorry.
In win 7 my mini bridge is still empty and I did the regedit entries. Can you help?
I’m using CS5 – sorry forgot to mention
I finally got it to work. I entered the String incorrectly. Thanks so much.
Thanks man! You are awesom! Respect!
You are my hero!! I have seen other people recommending this, but none with such clear directions!
Thank you! Thank you! Works great. = )
Worked like charm!
I used this fixed and it works like a charm. Are there any downsides to doing this. You would think Adobe would do a fix on this and tell everyone. As with everyone else really appreciate it.
Thanks!
Thank you very much … It works.
That’s what I call helping a stranger out! Thanks!! You are awesome.
Glad to hear that. Best regards to you!
Thank you for your excellent fix! I am not the most computer savvy and with your screen shot I was totally able to complete this and fix my Mini Bridge for my online class! Thanks so much!
THANK YOU! I had just kind of accepted it as being gone so I’m extra pleased how it easy it was to fix with your excellent instructions ♥
Thank you very much for this fix.
Thank you!!! For my version of CS5, it worked when I added the string to the CSXS.2.5 subfolder.
Great to heat it has worked, my reagrds. Thanks for the extended comment!
It works. Thank you so much!!
Thank you! works for windows cs6
It works.Thank you so much Sir.
Didn’t work for me 🙁
Hello there, can you elaborate on what your system is and is the problem exactly as described?
Did the job. Thanks!
Thank you worked for me
does this still works?, i don’t think mine have been worked :'(. please help. it did not display anything like my kuler, i try to do it again/ restart and nothing happen.
Nevermind, it alreay works 🙂 <3
Thanks for updating! Regards!
Brilliant …. worked great
You are BRILLIANT – Thank YOU sooooo much for making this available!!! Have to admit I was scared as hell to tinker in my regedit, but damn – well worth it and it was easy. Thanks again!!!
I am really glad to hear it has helped. Regards!
me funciono ya se enlaza de nuevo photoshop con el minibridge, gracias.
Sorry tried this and my mini bridge is just blank, it has never worked since the day I bought CS5 or even when I upgraded to CS6.
What does this panel look like for you? Is it empty completely or some error message shows up?
Thank you!
thank youuuuuu
Oh.! it is working. Thanks alot
Great, thank you so much. Now Mini Bridge works fine again after having just a gray panel
It is amazing! Thank you!
Nie ma problemu, Agato 🙂 Pozdrawiam!
Absolutly Amazing!!!!!
Hi, I recently purchased PS CS6 extended on Ebay. It’s working fine except Mini Bridge is empty. I’m running win 7 Professional, 64bit. In the registry I have CSXS.3 and CSXS.7. I added the string to both, but no change. Can you still help?
Sure! If you could, contact me at hello(a)igment.com – I at quite busy right now, but we will try to solve it out soon. I cannot promise I will be able to look into it today or tomorrow, but we will solve the problem till the end of the week 🙂 Regards, Janet!
it does not work, i use windows 10, anybody can help
Sure, can you elaborate on what version of Photoshop do you have and if the Bridge panel is empty or has some error message?
Yeeej! Big software company piece of software. Many people with the same problem. Answers on Adobe website start with please tell me everything about your superparticular situation so I can provide an answer that doesn’t work.
Steps in : Grzeniu !
Answers in simple words, with few short sentences, as clear as a bell.
Problem fixed. Big 🙂
Thanks!
Yeeej!
Hey there. Thanks for the kind words. Well, companies are supposed to care about money, and not people. People care about people and not money. That”s how it works for me 😉 Glad it has helped, have a fine Christmas!
Thankyou, it work for me too?. I use CS6 32 bit
In HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Adobe / CSXS.3, I am seeing two registrys.
One is (Default) and another one is Loglevel.
Which one should be change?
You have to add new entry, so that it looks like that:
You add new entries by right-clicking on empty space on the right panel, somewhere under the Default and Loglevel
I have win10 64 bit and cs3 master coll and cs6 premium prod. I’ve tried to put that in a few places and kuler doesn’t work. I didn’t have a problem with br, but only with kuler. And it’s still not connetcting to internet.
Does Mini Bridge work fine for you? Or is it also empty? I mean Mini Bridge extension, not Bridge. Pozdrawiam 😉
Mini bridge is ok. Only Kuler not connecting to internet. Still. Pzdr
Has it been working properly till now? And do you use original version of Photoshop?
Original CS6 Production Premium. Kuler didn’t work for a longer time but did,t use it till now. I’ve upgraded it like adobe shows but even after that, there is no connection to web: No Internet connection detected. – it shows this sentence.
Did you try this fix? Kuler extension does not work
There’ve been some posts about this issue around Adobe forums, and to be honest – since there are no recent Adobe staff replies, they may have abandoned supporting its issues, since now – if I recall correctly – there’s the Adobe Color. I have tried running it but I keep on getting the same error message. Maybe I will try to investigate it further, by tracing where Kuler is trying to connect to. Maybe it will help, maybe Adobe has simple closed the Kuler servers… I don’t really know if it works for other people, since I do not recall anyone using it among my friends.
If I find some solution, I will surely contact you 🙂
eres el puto amo, gracias bro , thanks you save me 🙂
Hello
I have windows 7 professional, Adobe photoshop cc 2017,the guideguide 5 panel is empty
I try your procedure, I found I have csx.6 & csx.7 BOTH PlayerDebugMode values set to 1
BUT empty panel
Can you help me plz, with thanks in advance
Dr. Ayad
Sorry I forgot, 64 bit
Hello,
To be honest, I can’t say if it’s the same problem for GuideGuide as well. Also, are you sure you’re using version CC 2017? Didn’t you upgrade to the newest release? As far as the problem is concerned, you may want to contact GuideGuide’s developers as well – it’s a commercial addon and so support should also be available for it.
ok thanks a lot dear
Thank Youuuuuuuuuuuuuu :-))))))))) You make my day 🙂 I wish you all the best , Im very happy – it wooorks !!!!
A big thanks as it’s solved the problem and working again in April 2019 on Photoshop v5.5 running on MacOS 10.11.6 aka El Capitan
I cannot get mini bridge to work on CS6 Ext, Win 10. The MB panel is empty, despite adding the PlayerDebugMode as advised. Any suggestions, please?
Maybe you have made some mispelling in the registry step? Did you re-try doing the guide?
thank you so much…it worked
Hat bei mir voll funktioniert (Minibridge/Photoshop CS6 unter Win 10 Pro … Danke!
Kein problem, mein Freund 🙂
Thanks you very much, it worked for Avenza Geographic Imager too
I have tried it,but it’s useless and I can’t give any help.
Windows please!
I tried this, but now unfortunately Kuler is deleted. I canoot find it in Photoshop anymore 🙁
Could you please help me?
Yes, I tried it again! I misspelled PlayerDebugMode and I typed it in again. Kuler works! Thank you very much, and please ignoge my previous comment 🙂
I am glad to hear that! Enjoy Kuler once again! 🙂
Omg…I have been searching for this simple answer for months. I have m6 screen back to ‘normal’. Thank you!
buenas noches, en mi estructura del arbol me aparece HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Adobe /BC9674A4936A O CommonFiles o AIC
Nose cual elegir porque no me aparece lo que dice en le explicacion
Thank you! Regards from Serbia!
Thanks a lot! It works
Mini Bridge appeared after using this fix but opening file from it disables the Workspace Switcher in the option bar. Windows>workspace>… and opening file from the Bridge works fine (doesn’t grayed out the Switcher). I’m using Photoshop cs6 and Windows 10.
I can’t really say how it should work. I am currently using Photoshop CC, unfortunately and so I can’t use Mini Bridge anymore. It seems that the Workspace switcher is somehow related to the same issue that stopped Minibridge. Maybe someone elase using CS6 can check if they have their workspace switcher working?
Hi thanks for all you do. I don’t see an entry for PS CS5.1. I have an entry for CSXS.2. Can the entry for
CS5.5 HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Adobe / CSXS2.5Preferences* be used? Just making sure since the version is different.
Yes, exactly! The structure of the registry path does not differ that much, only the numerals are kinda other. If you successfully do it, let me know, I’ll include the data to the tutorial.
Thank you. This worked for me. CS5 on Windows 10
Thank you sooo much. I thought I lost my beloved GuideGuide. And now with this fix even Kuler is working. Thank you again.
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