I've been trying for two weeks to edit a project with multiple layers in Photoshop Express on my Samsung Galaxy A54, but every time I save and close the app, all the layers disappear except the background one. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong? I need to keep the layers separate so I can keep editing later.
Photoshop Express has that limitation - the free/mobile version of the app doesn't save your layers when you close the file, it just leaves you with a flattened layer! If you need to keep your layers separate, you have to export the project as .psd before closing (though some people say that sometimes doesn't even work properly on mobile), or just switch to Adobe Express or more professional apps like Clip Studio Paint that actually preserve the layer structure. It's super frustrating when you find that out after working for two weeks!
Express is basically a quick editing tool, not a real layer editor, so what's happening to you is exactly what they designed it to do: it merges everything when you save. If you actually need to work with separate layers, your only option is to use the full version of Photoshop (the subscription one) or switch to an app like Clip Studio Paint, Ibis Paint, or Krita that actually preserve layer structure in native files. You're going to keep running into this with Express no matter what you do because it's a program limitation, not something you're doing wrong.
Don't use the app's normal save format if you want to keep your layers - it's going to merge everything with no way back. What nobody mentions is that you have to export to a project format before closing, not just hit "save". In Express, when you go file → export, look for the option to save as PSD or as the app's project format (it usually shows up as "save backup" or something similar depending on your version). That keeps the layers intact for your next session.
The problem is that Express is designed for quick mobile editing, not complex projects. If you save as a regular image (JPEG, PNG), obviously it loses all the layer information because those formats don't support them. But if the app has a native project option, always use it. Either way, if your workflow is serious and you need stable layers, the app is pretty limited - consider trying Krita or Ibis Paint X on Android, they handle multi-layer projects better.
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