How to Reset Blender Window Layout: (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

How to Reset Blender Window Layout (Beginner-Friendly Guide)Have you ever accidentally messed up your Blender window layout and didn’t know how to fix it?

Don’t worry—you’re not alone. With all the customizable panels and workspaces in Blender, it’s easy to drag something out of place.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to reset Blender’s window layout in a few simple ways—without losing your project.

 When Should You Reset Blender Layout?

Here are some common scenarios:

1. You accidentally split or deleted a window panel
2. 
   
3. The workspace looks broken or confusing
4. 
   
5. You opened an old project and it changed your UI
6. 
   
7. You want to go back to the default layout

Whether you're a beginner or returning user, resetting the layout can help you work faster and with less stress.

Method 1: Load Factory Settings (Full Reset)

This option resets everything—your layout, preferences, and UI customizations.

Steps:

Go to the top menu and click File

Hover over Defaults

Select Load Factory Settings

To keep this layout permanently, go back to File > Defaults > Save Startup File

Note: This will also reset your keymaps, addons, and preferences.

Method 2: Open a New File Without Loading UI

Use this when an old project file messes up your layout.

Steps:

1.Save your current Blender file

2.Go to File > New > General

3.Then open your saved file using File > Open

4.⚠️ In the bottom-left corner of the file browser, uncheck "Load UI"

This will open your project with your current layout, not the layout saved with the file.

✅ Method 3: Use Default Workspaces (Quick Fix)

Blender offers several built-in workspaces like:

1. Layout (basic modeling and animation)
2. 
   
3. Modeling (mesh editing)
4. 
   
5. Sculpting, Shading, Rendering, etc.

To return to a clean view:

1.Click the Layout tab at the top of the screen

2.You can delete custom tabs or rearrange them as needed

Pro tip: Right-click the tab bar to customize or reset workspace tabs.

✅ Method 4: Manually Merge or Split Panels

You can always fix layout manually using Blender’s interface tools.

Quick actions:

1. Join Areas: Right-click between two panels > select “Join Areas”
2. 
   
3. Split Area: Right-click > “Split Area”
4. 
   
5. Resize: Drag borders between panels to adjust size

💡 Try this if you only need small changes rather than a full reset.

✅ Method 5: Reset Only Preferences

If you're having trouble with UI because of custom settings:

1.Press Ctrl + Alt + U to open Preferences

2.Click the Save & Load tab

3.Choose Reset to Default Settings

This can help if your add-ons or window themes are causing layout bugs.

 FAQ: Blender Window Layout

Q: Will resetting the layout delete my project?

A: No. Resetting the UI only affects your interface, not your saved work.

Q: What does “Load UI” mean when opening a file?

A: It loads the saved layout from that file. Unchecking it keeps your current layout.

Q: Can I save a custom layout?

A: Yes! Go to File > Defaults > Save Startup File after setting up your ideal layout.

 Final Thoughts

Blender’s flexibility is powerful—but with that comes occasional layout chaos.

Luckily, resetting the window layout is easy and reversible. Whether you go for a full factory reset or just disable “Load UI” when opening files, you’ll be back to a clean workspace in no time.

✨ Pro tip: Save your favorite layout once it’s perfect, so you never have to fix it again.