PDF (adobe.com)

Dock, group, or float panels

You can dock panels together, move them into or out of groups, and undock them so they float above the application window. As you drag a panel, drop zones—areas onto which you can move the panel—become highlighted. The drop zone you choose determines where the panel is inserted, and whether it docks or groups with other panels.

Docking zones

Docking zones exist along the edges of a panel, group, or window. Docking a panel places it adjacent to the existing group, resizing all groups to accommodate the new panel.

Dragging panel (A) onto docking zone (B) to dock it (C)

Grouping zones

Grouping zones exist in the middle of a panel or group, and along the tab area of panels. Grouping a panel stacks it with other panels.

Dragging panel (A) onto grouping zone (B) to group it with existing panels (C)

Dock or group panels

  1. If the panel you want to dock or group is not visible, choose it from the Window menu.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • To move an individual panel, drag the gripper area in the upper‑left corner of a panel’s tab onto the desired drop zone.

      Drag panel gripper to move one panel

    • To move an entire group, drag the group gripper in the upper‑right corner onto the desired drop zone.

      Drag group gripper to move entire group

    The application docks or groups the panel, according to the type of drop zone.

Undock a panel in a floating window

When you undock a panel in a floating window, you can add panels to the window and modify it similarly to the application window. You can use floating windows to make use of a secondary monitor, or to create workspaces like those in earlier versions of Adobe applications.

 Select the panel you want to undock (if it’s not visible, choose it from the Window menu), and then do one of the following:

  • Choose Undock Panel or Undock Frame from the panel menu. Undock Frame undocks the panel group.

  • Hold down Ctrl (Windows®) or Command (Mac OS®), and drag the panel or group from its current location. When you release the mouse button, the panel or group appears in a new floating window.

  • Drag the panel or group outside the application window. (If the application window is maximized, drag the panel to the Windows taskbar.)