Skip to main content
pekkav58520545
Participant
Oct 26, 2026 8:28 AM UTC
Question

The Color Picker Eyedropper tool is not available to me!

I installed the Photoshop Beta version. However, I can no longer use the Eyedropper tool to change the font color in the Swatches panel, as I could in the regular version of Photoshop.

Now I have to press the Q key to enter Quick Mask mode (see attached screenshot), which allows me to change the font color.

Is there a way to enable the Eyedropper tool in the Beta version so that it works as it has always done in the regular version of Photoshop?

ATTACHED IMAGE:
The attached screenshot shows Quick Mask mode, which I had to use because I could no longer access the Eyedropper tool to change the font color in the Swatches panel.

On the left-hand side of the image, you can see my usual watermark: NorthernTaigaPhoto. I have always adjusted the color of this text, as shown in the screenshot, to ensure that it stands out as clearly as possible against each individual photograph.

I would really like to have the Eyedropper tool back so that I can easily select a suitable font color without any unnecessary extra steps.

If this issue cannot be resolved, I will uninstall the Beta version and return to the regular version of Photoshop.

    1 reply

    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 31, 2026 7:23 AM UTC

    Hi,

    I think this may be related to the redesigned Color Picker introduced in the latest Photoshop Beta.

    Other users have reported similar issues with the Eyedropper no longer sampling colours from the image when changing text colours. Adobe has acknowledged a related issue and is investigating it.

    Before uninstalling Beta, try this:

    1. Open Photoshop Beta.

    2. Go to Edit > Preferences > Interface on Windows, or Photoshop > Settings > Interface on macOS.

    3. Find Enable Modern Color User Interface.

    4. Uncheck that option.

    5. Click OK and restart Photoshop if necessary.

    This should restore the previous Color Picker interface while allowing you to continue using Photoshop Beta.

    If it doesn't resolve the problem, you can also try disabling Enable Modern User Interface in the same preferences section.

    You shouldn't need to enter Quick Mask mode (Q) simply to sample a colour for your watermark text. Quick Mask is intended for working with selections, not changing text colours.

    There's an existing bug report covering a very similar issue, which Adobe has acknowledged:

    https://community.adobe.com/bug-reports-699/p-selecting-a-text-color-and-committing-causes-the-text-to-flash-and-revert-to-its-original-color-resetting-font-cache-does-not-fix-it-using-a-clipping-mask-is-the-only-workaround-1652108

    Could you try disabling the modern colour interface and let us know whether your original Eyedropper workflow returns?

    That would help confirm whether the redesigned Color Picker is responsible.

    Translate
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices