Xcode 12 - Project Navigator width is stuck/locked, can't resize

Question

Every so often the project navigator/left panel is stuck at a fixed width. This is very annoying when I have extensions in separate files named MainViewController+<Extension name>, because the <Extension name> is truncated.

Can't resize project navigator

^{PhotoSlide... what???}

Pressing the "Hide or show the Navigator" button doesn't do anything either.

Press expand button in top left

Quitting Xcode and restarting works. But this takes time, and I lose my place. Is there any other way to fix the stuck width problem?

i tried the same case but it is already working for me. Xcode 12.3 — zeytin, Jan 22 '21 at 19:48
@zeytin yeah usually it works. I think it only glitches when I switch between monitors or something, but I come across this a couple times every day — aheze, Jan 22 '21 at 20:02
I found that this happens when I don't resize the Navigator after opening a project and then only after a period of time. If I open a project and then immediately expand the Navigator, it greatly reduces the occurrence. It doesn't happen immediately, there seems to be a timeout threshold when the bug manifests itself. This explains why it passed their automated testing, but wow, they have had 4 releases and its still not fixed. — J. Edgell, Feb 02 '21 at 02:28
This seems to be related to the debugger as that's when my locking starts to occur. Really wish there was a better solution than the accepted answer. — kanso, Mar 12 '21 at 16:30
I see the same issue here. @Senseful's solution did work for me. Btw, is this an Xcode bug? — Capella, May 04 '21 at 08:52

score 20 · Answer 1 · edited Feb 03 '21 at 15:37

20

Please follow these steps if you don't want to reopen the Xcode everytime:

Right-click (or control-click) on any file
Select Open in New Window
And ta-da! You can now resize the project navigator freely!

Performing the above steps

edited Feb 03 '21 at 15:37

Okhan Okbay

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answered Jan 22 '21 at 19:32

aheze

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Unfortunately this doesn't fix the window that's already open. Hoping for a better solution or a fix from Apple. – kanso Mar 12 '21 at 16:31
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How did you discover this? – Akif Mar 25 '21 at 06:59
@Akif pretty much completely by chance. I like to open files in a new window so that I can switch back and forth quickly. And one time, I noticed that the newly opened window could be freely resized :) – aheze Mar 25 '21 at 16:03
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Use `Command + T` to open a new tab, you should be able to resize in the new tab, and close the other tab. – Paul Solt Apr 07 '21 at 18:13
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I submitted a Feedback issue: (Please duplicate) "Xcode Project Navigator Panel Gets Stuck at a Specific Size and Wont Resize" FB9071658 – Paul Solt Apr 07 '21 at 18:13
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@PaulSolt that works very well. Post it as an answer? – aheze Apr 08 '21 at 17:12

score 17 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 09 '21 at 21:49

17

Instead of opening a new window, just use a tab:

Open a new tab (⌘+T)
Close the old one

answered Apr 09 '21 at 21:49

Senseful

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[Paul Solt also said this](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/65851619/xcode-12-project-navigator-width-is-stuck-locked-cant-resize/67028721#comment118416439_65851620), but thanks for posting it as an answer! It works better than opening a new window – aheze Apr 09 '21 at 21:52
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I submitted a Feedback issue: (Please duplicate) "Xcode Project Navigator Panel Gets Stuck at a Specific Size and Wont Resize" FB9071658 – Paul Solt Apr 10 '21 at 21:37

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 23 '21 at 02:16

1

This also annoyed me....finally I clicked around and found the show/hide navigator icon on the very top left next to the os icons and clicked it...after that it could resize.

it is to the left of the play button fyi.

answered Jan 23 '21 at 02:16

Timmerz

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score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 03 '21 at 17:07

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I have had success by re-sizing the entire Xcode window - make it smaller then larger and the navigator becomes resizable again.

answered Feb 03 '21 at 17:07

Rudedog

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score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 25 '21 at 11:59

1

Sad to say it, but restarting Xcode worked for me..

answered Mar 25 '21 at 11:59

Pau Ballada

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OP said: "Quitting Xcode and restarting works. But this takes time, and I lose my place. Is there any other way to fix the stuck width problem?" – Eric Aya Mar 25 '21 at 13:51

kanso · Answer 6 · 2021-04-12T15:43:07.317

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Here is another workaround. When the navigator gets stuck or locked, click on the "Debug" navigator (or View > Navigators > Debug menu item). Voilà, you now should have the ability to resize.

NOTE: You may have to do this a couple times by selecting another navigator or two and then re-selecting the debug navigator.

UPDATE: This doesn't work reliably. @Senseful has the best solution so far.

edited Apr 12 '21 at 15:43

answered Apr 01 '21 at 22:20

kanso

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Xcode 12 - Project Navigator width is stuck/locked, can't resize

6 Answers6