Overview of New MATLAB Desktop Layout

Starting in R2025a, MATLAB^® includes a new desktop layout with customizable sidebars to access side panels like the Debugger panel for managing breakpoints, Project panel for collaboration, and Source Control panel for interacting with Git™ and SVN. The updated layout also includes theming, a new figure experience, global search, improved accessibility, and more.

Desktop Layout

Access desktop using new layout with customizable sidebars.

Animation of moving the Workspace panel from the left side of the desktop to the right, opening the Debugger panel, moving the Workspace panel back, and regrouping it with the Files panel

The sidebars on the left, right, and bottom of the desktop show the tools that are docked in the desktop.

Show and hide panels by clicking icons in the sidebar.
Move panels by dragging the panel title bar or icon.
Open additional panels using the Open more panels button.

For more information about how to configure your desktop layout, see Configure the Desktop.

Theming

Change MATLAB desktop colors using themes.

Animation of opening the Settings window, setting the desktop theme to dark, and then setting it back to the system theme, which is light

To select a dark theme:

Go to the Home tab and In the Environment section, click Settings.
Navigate to MATLAB > Appearance.
Set the Desktop Theme to Dark.
Optionally set the Figure Theme to create graphics with a different theme.

For more information, see Change Desktop Theme and Colors.

Figures

Organize, explore, customize, and generate code for figures in a docked figure container.

Animation of using the Figure toolstrip to interactively add a title, x and y labels, and a legend to a line plot

Figures open as tabs in a docked figure container in the MATLAB desktop by default.

Customize the layout of open figures by undocking, rearranging tabs, or tiling multiple figures.
Use the toolstrip to quickly customize and annotate figures.
Automatically generate reproducible code for figure interactions and customizations.

Global Search

Access toolstrip actions, settings, and Help Center resources using search.

Animation of using the search box to search for the word "function", and then clicking the "New Live Function" toolstrip item in the results to create a new live function

Use the search box in the top-right corner of the desktop to access:

Toolstrip actions
Settings
Help Center resources, including functions, blocks, examples, answers, videos

Code Suggestions

Show code suggestions automatically in Command Window.

Animation of typing a plot command in the Command Window with MATLAB suggesting input arguments and name-value arguments

MATLAB automatically provides real-time suggestions as you type in the Command Window.

Suggestions include name of functions, MATLAB objects, graphics properties, and more.
MATLAB also shows basic syntax for functions.
To disable or change default behavior, use the Command Window Suggestions settings.

For more information, see Code Suggestions.

Accessibility

Use screen reader and keyboard to interact with MATLAB and adjust colors and zoom level.

MATLAB desktop with the Navigation Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box open showing the shortcuts for navigating MATLAB

MATLAB provides several features to help make is accessible to users.

Use keyboard shortcuts to navigate the desktop.
Use a screen reader and keyboard to interact with tools.
Make the desktop more visible by changing the desktop colors or zooming into the Editor and Live Editor.

For more information, see Accessibility in MATLAB.