How to Turn Off the Workspace in Photoshop

To turn off the Start Workspace (also known as the Welcome Screen) that appears when you open Photoshop without any documents, you need to adjust a setting in your Photoshop Preferences. This screen typically shows recent files, tutorials, and presets.

Here's how to disable the Start Workspace:

Steps to Disable the Start Workspace

Turning off the Start Workspace is a quick process within Photoshop's settings. Follow these steps:

1. Open Photoshop Preferences:
   • On Windows, go to Edit > Preferences > General.
   • On macOS, go to Photoshop > Preferences > General.
2. Locate the Workspace Setting: In the General Preferences window, look for a section related to the user interface or startup.
3. Disable the Start Workspace Option: Find the checkbox labeled "Show start workspace when no documents are open" (or a similar phrasing).
4. Uncheck the Box: Click on the checkbox to uncheck it.
5. Confirm Changes: Click the "OK" button at the top right or bottom of the Preferences window to apply your changes.

According to the video reference provided, all you need to do is uncheck "show start workspace when no documents are open" and press OK. The next time you restart Photoshop, the Start Workspace will be disabled, and you will likely see an empty grey canvas instead.

What Happens After Disabling?

Once you disable this option, Photoshop will open directly to the standard interface without displaying the Welcome Screen when no documents are open. This provides a cleaner look and might be preferred by users who don't frequently use the features on the Start Workspace.

Important Note

This process specifically disables the Start Workspace or Welcome Screen. It does not affect your layout workspace (like Essentials, Photography, Painting, etc.). These are different types of "workspaces" in Photoshop, controlling the arrangement of panels and tools. To switch between layout workspaces, you would typically use the Window > Workspace menu.

Disabling the Start Workspace is often done to streamline the application's startup appearance.