# How to fix missing windows and dialogs

## All tool windows are missing

Tool dialogs are gone (use TAB)

GIMP's main window with hidden tool dialogs using TAB.

When you only see the image window and none of the tool windows, you most likely hit TAB by accident. This is the default shortcut to show or hide all docks.

To fix this just press TAB again. Alternatively you can use Windows Hide Docks to toggle between show and hide.

Sometimes using TAB to hide the tool dialogs doesn't work. This happens when the focus is inside the tool dialogs instead of in the image. To remedy this, put the focus on the image, or use the menu command mentioned above.

## Tool options dialog is missing

Restore missing tool options dialog

Restore missing tool options dialog using the Add Tab menu item.

The Tool Options Dialog can get closed by accident. To get it back click on the little triangle on the top right of the dock. This opens a menu.

From that menu choose Add Tab and then Tool Options.

You can also use Windows Dockable Dialogs Tool Options . In this case, the dialog may turn up in a different dock than the one you want. If that happens, grab the tab that says Tool Options and drag it to where you need it.

To make sure that this or any other dialog doesn't get moved or closed by accident, you can lock it to the dock it is in. To enable this, click on the little triangle on the top right of the dock. This open a menu where you should choose Lock Tab to Dock (unless it is already checked).

## Some of the tool icons are missing

Tools with a similar function are grouped together by default. To see the other icons in a group move your mouse over an icon. Depending on a preferences setting (see below) you can see the other icons in a group by just hovering, or after clicking on the icon. The little triangle in the bottom right corner of tool icons tells us that there are more icons in this group.

The Toolbox preferences has an option to disable grouping, but also to change the groups or make new ones.

## The area showing the opened images at the top is missing

How to tell: You are using single-window mode and the tab bar at the top, that shows which images you have opened, is missing.

How to fix: Go to menu Windows Show Tabs and make sure that Show Tabs is checked.