One of the more random bugs that might occur when editing in Premiere Pro is when your panels randomly deselect as you work - it can be equally disruptive and cause upset to your workflow. This issue, where the active panel suddenly deactivates, forcing you to re-click it before being able to use shortcuts, is more common than you’d think. However, you’re in luck! Today, we’ll explain how to troubleshoot and fix Premiere Pro panels that keep deselecting.

Why Do Premiere Pro Panels Keep Unselecting/Deactivating Themselves?

Whichever word you want to use for it, this behavior can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Conflicting background processes - Other applications that you have running in the background might be interfering with Premiere Pro.

• Corrupt workspace settings - A saved workspace might be causing glitches.

• External input conflicts - A malfunctioning keyboard, mouse, external controller, or other piece of external hardware might be disrupting Premiere Pro.

• Premiere Pro bugs - Certain versions of Premiere Pro may have a known or unknown issue causing panels to deselect themselves.

How to Fix the Panel Unselecting Issue in Premiere Pro

1. Reset Your Premiere Pro Preferences

Resetting your preferences can resolve many unexplained issues. To do so:

1. Close Premiere Pro.

2. Hold [Alt] (Windows) or [Option] (Mac) while launching Premiere Pro.

3. When prompted, confirm that you want to reset your preferences.

4. Test to see if the issue persists.

2. Disable External Input Devices

If you have an external keyboard, drawing tablet, or any other input device connected, try disconnecting them and see if the issue stops. Sometimes, faulty devices send unintended signals, causing Premiere Pro to lose focus.

3. Reset or Create a New Workspace

Your workspace layout might be causing issues. Try resetting it:

• Go to Window > Workspaces > Reset to Saved Layout.

• If that doesn’t work, create a new workspace by rearranging the panels and saving it.

4. Check for Background Applications

Some applications running in the background may interfere with Premiere Pro. Try closing apps like:

• Cloud syncing apps (Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.)

• Gaming software (Discord, Xbox Game Bar, etc.)

• Screen recording software (OBS, Loom, etc.)

Restart your computer and open Premiere Pro without launching other apps.

5. Update or Roll Back Premiere Pro

Bugs can appear in specific versions of Premiere Pro. If you’re experiencing this issue after a recent update, consider rolling back to a previous stable version:

• Open Adobe Creative Cloud.

• Go to Premiere Pro > More Actions (•••) > Other Versions.

• Install an older version and test again.

6. Reinstall Premiere Pro

If none of the above fixes work, a clean installation might be necessary:

1. Uninstall Premiere Pro via Adobe Creative Cloud.

2. Restart your computer.

3. Reinstall Premiere Pro and test again.

If your Premiere Pro panels keep deselecting, it can heavily impact your editing speed and creativity. By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to fix the issue and get back to a smooth editing workflow.

For more Premiere Pro editing tips and tricks, explore our latest content on the Cutback blog or Cutback’s official YouTube channel.