Skip to main content
themarinacc
themarinacc
Known Participant
Nov 8, 2026 11:19 PM UTC
Investigating

P: PS 28.0 Align buttons in Move tool options bar stay disabled after Cmd+click layer selection + Select All

Environment
- Adobe Photoshop 2027, version 28.0.0 (20261027.r.20 3951c45), arm64
- macOS 27.2.0
- Apple M4 Max, 64 GB RAM
- GPU: Apple M4 Max (GPU and OpenCL enabled)
- Display: Studio Display 5K, HDR enabled
- No third-party plugins installed

Steps to reproduce
1. Open a document with several layers.
2. With the Move tool active (Auto-Select off), Cmd+click a layer on the canvas to select it.
3. Press Cmd+A to select the entire canvas.
4. Look at the align buttons in the Move tool options bar.

Expected result
The align buttons are enabled, so I can align the selected layer to the selection.

Actual result
The align buttons stay disabled (greyed out). They only become enabled after I click the same layer in the Layers panel, even though it is already the selected layer.

Notes
- This looks like an options bar refresh issue: the layer is correctly targeted, but the align controls don't update.
- Workaround: clicking the layer in the Layers panel, or using Layer > Align Layers to Selection.
- Reproducible: always

 

      Pinned Reply By Pete.Green

      ​@themarinacc 

      Thank you for reporting this and for writing it up so nicely!

      I’ve been able to reproduce on my system and have logged a bug for the team to follow up with. 

      Strangely sometimes I can reproduce and sometimes I’m not able, I think you’re right that it’s something to do with options bare refresh...The team will take a look. 

       

      Regards,

      PG

      View reply

      15 replies

      motivated_Sunflowerd434
      Participant
      Nov 13, 2026 4:47 AM UTC

      Same error!

      Translate
      Diego356577205l6q
      Diego356577205l6q
      Participant
      Nov 12, 2026 3:36 PM UTC

      To align content within a specific area of the canvas, I need to:

      1. Select the layer containing the content I want to align.

      2. Use the Selection Tool to select the specific area of the canvas that will serve as the alignment reference.

      However, as soon as I make the area selection while the layer is selected, the alignment properties become disabled in the Properties panel.

      To enable them again, I have to click the three-dot menu (More Options). Once I open it, the alignment properties become available again.

      This seems to be a UI bug. The alignment properties should remain accessible when a layer is selected and an area selection is active, allowing me to align the layer's content relative to the selected area.

      Is anyone else experiencing this issue?

      Translate
        BrandonBB
        BrandonBB
        Known Participant
        Nov 11, 2026 10:57 PM UTC

        I also am having this same issue. This is a bug. They need to fix it. 

        Translate
        Sameer K
        Community Manager
        Sameer KCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        Nov 11, 2026 1:17 PM UTC

        Hey all! Thanks for the reports. Could you record and share a video of the issue you're running into? I will need details to recreate and escalate this.


        Thanks!
        Sameer K
        (Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

        Translate
        muhammet_9927
        Participant
        Nov 11, 2026 12:51 PM UTC

        I am experiencing the same problem.

        Translate
        elegant_writer8c98
        elegant_writer8c98
        Participant
        Nov 11, 2026 1:39 AM UTC

        Presento el mismo problema de alinacion, version reciente adobe photoshop 2027 v28.0

        Translate
          suatb95577483
          Participant
          Nov 10, 2026 7:42 PM UTC

          Photoshop 28.0 release - Command+A does not select the object or perform alignment.

          Translate
            Pete.Green
            Adobe Employee
            Pete.GreenPinned
            Nov 9, 2026 5:37 PM UTC

            ​@themarinacc 

            Thank you for reporting this and for writing it up so nicely!

            I’ve been able to reproduce on my system and have logged a bug for the team to follow up with. 

            Strangely sometimes I can reproduce and sometimes I’m not able, I think you’re right that it’s something to do with options bare refresh...The team will take a look. 

             

            Regards,

            PG

            Translate
              themarinacc
              themarinaccAuthor
              Known Participant
              Nov 9, 2026 6:13 PM UTC

              Thanks Pete, glad you could reproduce it! Happy to test a fix when it's available.

              Translate
              Art Director & Developer · marinaccio.it
                jane-e
                Community Expert
                jane-eCommunity Expert
                Community Expert
                Nov 8, 2026 11:32 PM UTC

                ​@themarinacc 

                Please show your Layers panel with 2 or more layers (or layer groups) selected in the panel.

                Jane

                Translate
                  themarinacc
                  themarinaccAuthor
                  Known Participant
                  Nov 8, 2026 11:43 PM UTC

                  Hi Jane, thanks for looking into this.

                  To clarify: I'm not aligning multiple layers to each other. I'm aligning a single layer to the active selection (Cmd+A, Select All), which Photoshop supports with just one layer selected.

                  The point is that the same single-layer state behaves differently depending on how the layer was selected:
                  - Layer selected by Cmd+click on the canvas, then Cmd+A: align buttons stay disabled.
                  - Same layer clicked in the Layers panel, then Cmd+A (or Cmd+A first): align buttons become enabled.

                  Attached is the Layers panel in both states, with the same single layer selected.

                   

                  Translate
                  Art Director & Developer · marinaccio.it
                    themarinacc
                    themarinaccAuthor
                    Known Participant
                    Nov 8, 2026 11:45 PM UTC

                    Update: I tested what you asked.

                    - Cmd+click on 2 or more layers on the canvas, then Cmd+A: align buttons are enabled.
                    - Cmd+click on a single layer on the canvas, then Cmd+A: align buttons stay disabled.
                    - Same single layer clicked in the Layers panel, then Cmd+A: align buttons are enabled.

                    So the issue only happens when a single layer is targeted via Cmd+click on the canvas. Aligning one layer to a selection works when the layer is targeted from the Layers panel, so it looks like the options bar isn't refreshing in that specific case.

                    Translate
                    Art Director & Developer · marinaccio.it
                      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
                      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices