figure won't come up after using plot

I am fairly new to MATLAB. In the past I've been able to plot with no trouble. A figure would automatically come up after I used "plot". Now when I plot, no figure appears. Here's a simple example:
>> x = 1:10;
>> y = 3*x;
>> plot(x,y)
>>
Nothing comes up after this - no error message, no figure. I'm hoping this involves something simple like changing a setting. It worked fine just a week or two ago.
I tried using the "plottools" command, but that just brings up a blank figure window. It also gives me the following message in the command window:
>> plottools
Warning: OpenGL appears to be installed incorrectly.
> In opengl at 150
In getplottool>createOrGetSelectionManager at 71
In getplottool at 58
In plottools at 148
>>
I should also mention that I have been remote accessing my office computer for the last week and I can't recall if this problem started before or after. Though I wouldn't think that would be the cause of the problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

5 Comments

This sounds like a problem for MATLAB Support.
Some forms of remote access can cause this problem. How are you accessing?
Walter, I am remote accessing my office computer through WebVPN. I am also using a laptop with a much smaller screen. I wish I could go to my office to see if I am having the problem there, but I am away from my office for the next week or so. However, I have had no other problems while remote accessing MATLAB.
Hello, could you solve this problem? I am having the same issue and I also started remotelly acessing my computer. How did you solve this? Thank you
just write figure(1), or howerver your figure was called

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 Accepted Answer

OK, I think I figured this out. When I start up MATLAB, I get this message and I'm guessing this has to due with the fact that I am remote accessing my office computer:
MATLAB only supports a screen depth of 16 or higher (Truecolor.)
MATLAB is running in headless mode. Figure windows will not be displayed.

2 Comments

So how is this solved? Im also accessing my computer remotely and cant see the content of the figures
This work for me too. thank you very much.

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More Answers (3)

Joao Melo
Joao Melo on 7 Jul 2016
Ok, figured it out:
In one of the menus in the task bar there is one called plots (Home Plots Apps).
One the far rigth side, there are two options: Reuse figure or new figure.
1) Make sure it is in new figure 2) Restart Matlab 3) Your plot should open

11 Comments

John Ondov
John Ondov on 13 Jul 2018
Edited: John Ondov on 13 Jul 2018
Joao's solution worked for me! I shall be making use of the drawnow command also as posted by Raady. Thank you both!
Thank you, it worked!
Awesome! Worked for me
Shout out to Joao. I almost punched a hole through my monitor trying to figure this out.
Thank you JOAO..
This worked for me, as well! Thank you!
Worked for me as well just before i needed to submit my plot, you are a legend.
Thanks a lot
Yay Worked!
I was getting ready to start crying :D
Thank you so much
This saved my day, thank you!

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Raady
Raady on 6 Jan 2016
Edited: Adam Danz on 22 Apr 2026 at 13:11
this answer helps when body checking this thread again.
if you are using the figure to plot in a loop, you have to use command as below , then you can see the figure.
drawnow;

1 Comment

I also had the issue on running my old code ploting figures on loop using hold on, earlier it was working fine in MATLAB2008 and MATLAB2011 but it wasn't showing plot while running the same code in MATLAB2015. Now adding the command drawline its working fine. don't know the exact reason why... still thank you !

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Are you on Macintosh?
I have problems with MATLAB figures hiding behind things, a major shortcoming of MacOSX in general.
I wrote a script fgcf.m that is literally
figure(gcf)
So in the event that I plot something and it appears on a hidden figure that figure is surfaced.

3 Comments

I am running MATLAB on a PC. I tried the command you suggested and it didn't bring anything up.
Call Tech Support and/or reinstall...
This worked for me on MacOSX
No idea what this hidden figure thing is but dang it is annoying

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Asked:

on 15 May 2011

Edited:

on 22 Apr 2026 at 13:11

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