plot_layout(guides = "collect") no longer working #455

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1. brueckmann commented on Nov 20, 2025

   

   brueckmann

   on Nov 20, 2025

   Last edited by brueckmann

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   May I add on, that on this page, https://patchwork.data-imaginist.com/reference/wrap_plots.html an example is mentioned ". If you modify default guide "position" with theme(legend.position=...) while also collecting guides you must apply that change to the overall patchwork (see example)." but I cannot find this example under the examples in the link mentioned.

   (Updated for clarity.)
2. z3tt commented on Mar 16, 2026

   

   z3tt

   on Mar 16, 2026

   Last edited by z3tt

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   I run into similar troubles here as well for examples I am quite sure would have worked before.

   Want to note that it works if geoms are the same, though:

   library(patchwork)
   library(ggplot2)
   data("iris")
   
   ## works if geom is the same
   hist.group <- ggplot(iris, aes(Sepal.Length, fill = Species)) +
     geom_histogram()
   
   (hist.group | hist.group) +
     plot_layout(guides = "collect") &
     theme(legend.position = "bottom")
   #> `stat_bin()` using `bins = 30`. Pick better value `binwidth`.
   #> `stat_bin()` using `bins = 30`. Pick better value `binwidth`.

   

   hist.group <- ggplot(iris, aes(Sepal.Length, fill = Species)) +
     geom_histogram()
   
   bar.group <- ggplot(iris, aes(Species, fill = Species)) +
     geom_bar()
   
   (hist.group | bar.group) +
     plot_layout(guides = "collect") &
     theme(legend.position = "bottom")
   #> `stat_bin()` using `bins = 30`. Pick better value `binwidth`.

   

   scatter.a <- ggplot(iris, aes(Sepal.Length, Sepal.Width, color = Species)) +
     geom_point()
       
   scatter.b <- ggplot(iris, aes(Petal.Length, Petal.Width, color = Species)) +
     geom_point()
   
   (scatter.a | scatter.b) +
     plot_layout(guides = "collect") &
     theme(legend.position = "bottom")

   

   scatter.c <- ggplot(iris, aes(Sepal.Length, Sepal.Width, color = Sepal.Length)) +
     geom_point()
   
   scatter.d <- ggplot(iris, aes(Petal.Length, Petal.Width, color = Sepal.Length)) +
     geom_point()
   
   (scatter.c | scatter.d) +
     plot_layout(guides = "collect") &
     theme(legend.position = "bottom")

   

   ^{Created on 2026-03-16 with reprex v2.1.1}