Command Panel Is Missing

[Anonymous]

Hey All, 

This may be an easy fix but I can't seem to get it back. I have tried resetting 3ds Max, reload the default UI since I customized it to my liking, I even tried turning off then turning back on the command panel, and nothing works.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks!! 

[blakestone]

The Command Panel is there however it's outside of your screen and/or hidden.

I have created a little script which will list all the active windows on your machine which you can select the "Command Panel".

Set a new Top, Left position and click Move and it will Move and Show the "Command Panel" to that Top, Left position.

Once your Command Panel is visible you can reposition it back into 3dsMax.

[Anonymous]

Hey sorry for the late reply, I had tried it both with and without a dual screen, and it's not doing what you had shown me on the picture... Is there another way that I can bring the command panel back through the customize settings? I have already tried fixing and reinstalling the software, with no luck as well now. 

What about a shortcut key that I may have accidentally hit that hides the command panel?

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

Sometimes if there is a bit of lag the command panel or other panels can get closed as a user clicks around waiting for Max to respond.  I am very guilty of this.  Most likely what has happened here is that it was disabled (if it's not out of screen as suggested by @blakestone).  In that case, to re-enable it simply click as shown below.  I hope this helps and if not we'll keep digging.  

Please hit the "Accept as Solution" button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question. This lets me know that I was effective in helping you, and thank you for doing so.

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Yeah, still no luck on that one either... I had disabled, and enabled it as well. Could it have something to do with customizing my UI? I had set it up to my liking, but only created some shortcut keys to use certain tools quicker. 

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

Interesting.  As a test, would you mind ticking it off and back on again?  If that doesn't work, let's try to reset your user settings, something might have corrupted them somehow.  Please keep me posted!

Best Regards,

[blakestone]

Try running the script "As Administrator" it may not have the permissions to move the window.

If it's still not working then I believe the issue is not a non-visible window and/or off-screen.

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

I've been looking further into this issue and I have two more suggestions for you.  It may be related to customizing the UI as you suggested, but it's not a common issue. 

1) Start 3ds Max.  From the main menu, choose Customize -> Revert To Startup Layout.

2) You might also try to Customize->Custom UI and Defaults Switcher and load a new UI there.  

However this is a pretty rare occurrence from what I have read, so you should be able to recustomize afterwards.  

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Hey thanks,

Sorry for the late responses to you all. I'll will try them out and keep
you guys up to date on it as well.

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

Thank you, please let me know which item helped (if any) so I know which fix to suggest first for the next person with this issue. 

Best Regards,

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

I just wanted to follow up here, any progress on your issue?

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

All, 

No sorry none of the things that you all have suggested worked...What posts did you see that is related to my problem? can you provide a link?

Also should I just go ahead and install the older version of 3ds max for now?

Thanks

[Alfred.DeFlaminis · Accepted solution]

Hello @Anonymous,

Most of the information I was referring to is essentially internal only, so I can't share it.  Some of that is listed here.  

Can you verify for me that you reset your user settings?  It's really strange if that didn't set everything back to normal.  Please describe to me what happens when you do this and then start up 3ds Max.  

Can you tell me a bit more about what you did to the UI?  Any other information you can give me?  Is your graphics card on the support list of graphics cards?   Do you have any plugins or scripts installed?  

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Alfred, 

Sorry I misunderstood what you meant from the previous response. 

That had taken care of the issue. Thanks a lot for your help everyone!! 😄

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I renamed my ENU file to ENU_Old had fixed it.

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

Thank you for the confirmation, I have marked your post as a solution as well.  Have a great weekend!

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

I was having a similar problem where my command panel was missing. I think it may have been caused by leaving it on during a sleep cycle. I tried all all the threads pertaining to control panel toggle, UI interface reset, load another custom UI, and checking my display setting because I do use a two monitor setup at home.

Deleting the 3dsmax.ini file was what worked for me. I remember that I had another issue with crashing after installing an extension and doing the same thing helped that too. Since 3ds Max creates a new 3dsmax.ini if one cannot be found, it restores default settings. Just remember to change your preferences back to what you need!

Thank you all!

M.Kuk 

Senior at U.Balt Simulations and Digital Entertainment 

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

Thanks for the confirmation, it's interesting sometimes the things that can be fixed by a settings reset.  Have a great weekend!

Best Regards,

[imagestud · Accepted solution]

Have experienced the same problem.

Right Click in blank area of Main Toolbar.

Choose "Customize", then select "Menus" tab.

Choose "Reset" button @ bottom right.

Worked for me.

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Thank you for the post @imagestud and welcome to the community.  I have also marked your post. 

Best Regards,