Just downloaded MATLAB 2025a: Workspace is blank and greyed out

I just downloaded MATLAB 2025a and no variables show up in the Workspace, even though they are actually saved in memory. For example, if I just open MATLAB and type x = 1, nothing happens. But when I type x, then MATLAB returns the value stored as 1. Nothing appears in the workspace, no named variables, variable types, the size or class, etc. If I right click on the Workspace and try to make a new variable, nothing happens. The "Save Workspace" and "Clear Workspace" are greyed out. Clicking "Refresh" also doesn't do anything. See the attached screenshot.

I have tried digging into the MATLAB preferences to see what I am missing, but can't find anything.

Note that I am running a 2024 MacBook Pro Sequoia 15.5.

Answer 1

[Michelle Hirsch]

I'm a little late to the party, but one thing to check is if you installed the Intel or Apple Silicon version of MATLAB. We've seen this pop up a few times for users who installed the Intel version on Apple Silicon Macs. This might explain why reinstalling fixed the issue for @Prieni.

I think mexect could be an easy way to check which version you have installed. If it returns mexmaci64 you are running the Intel version, so try installing the Apple Silicon version.

[Camilo]

I have the same issue. I ran mexect and got mexmaca64, so it looks like the problem can be there even if installing Apple Silicon (I have a Macbook pro M2). Any other clues as to how to solve this? Thanks

[Michelle Hirsch]

I was wrong about mexect, so it's not a good test. I'm trying to find out what the best way is to easily check which version is installed.

If you don't want to wait, you could try explicitly installing the Apple Silicon version of MATLAB. The installer downloads page now defaults to it.

You could also ensure that you are on 25a Update 1, though I don't have any specific indication that this addressed a known issue in this space.

[Michelle Hirsch]

I learned how to check which MATLAB is installed:

• From dock, right click "Options > Show in Finder"
• Select the application, Command-I (Get Info)

Where it says Kind, it will indicate if it is Apple silicon or Intel

I'd appreciate if anybody having this issue could check and see if they are using Apple Silicon or the Intel installer, so we can help isolate the problem. Thanks

[Camilo]

Maybe that is a correct fix. I had the issue yesterday, and I have the correct version installed (I am using a Mac with a Silicon chip):

However, for some reason, I closed and reopened Matlab today and now the objects are being shown in the workspace.

I think, if you can verify you have the right version installed, maybe you can go ahead and restart the laptop or something, rather than uninstalling and installing Matlab again that would be quite cumbersome (particularly given these type of issues usually arise after just having reinstalled the updated versions —e.g., the last version didn't open in Mac and we had to use a workaround too).

[EagleGB]

I am having the same issue. Workspace just stays greyed out, and has the spinning "wheel of doom".

MacBook Pro: Apple M4 Pro Chip: Sequoia 15.6.1

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

Works for me. I think you should call tech support and say it's an installation issue (so you'll get free tech support).

Answer 3

[Prieni]

Same problem here (MacBook M2, Sequoia 15.5).

The help also didn't install (again).

I did delete that version of Matlab and re-installed. Now the variables open again and the help is also working.

Answer 4

[Shuang]

I just restarted my PC, then it worked.