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LilGames
LilGames
Inspiring
July 22, 2019
Answered

Can no longer move layers, nor drag them to trash bin

  • July 22, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 2545 views

Hey folks. I'm a long-time Photoshop user, fairly advanced as far as basic use goes...or so I thought?

Today I hit a key or combination of keys by accident (somewhere in the upper left of my keyboard) and now my Move Tool no longer drags layers around. If I press LMB and drag, the Move tool changes from being a black triangle with the cross symbol, to just being a black triangle pointer. (So, clearly the system is turning off move when I try to move).

I've tried Resetting the tool, making sure Auto-Select is off, and checking other related settings. And I've read this post: Can't move layers

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

No, Also, in the Layers window, I can no longer drag a layer down to the trash bin, or other icons at the bottom. I am used to dragging down there to delete a layer, or duplicate a layer (by dragging it to the layer creation icon). What happens now instead is the layer will move as far as the very bottom layer and then the little "grab" hand icon will suddenly change to a regular mouse pointer and the layer I was dragging gets "dropped" as the bottom-most layer.

What this tells me is the problem is NOT a "Move Tool" problem, but something else affecting drag & drop.

HELP! How do I get my old workflow back?!

PS build 20.0.4

Windows 10, 64 Bit

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer LilGames

    A system reboot fixed the problem. The problem was a Windows OS-level issue with drag n drop of elements.

    Thank you and apologies to all who attempted to help in this thread.

    3 replies

    LilGames
    LilGamesAuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    July 22, 2019

    A system reboot fixed the problem. The problem was a Windows OS-level issue with drag n drop of elements.

    Thank you and apologies to all who attempted to help in this thread.

      davescm
      Community Expert
      davescmCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 22, 2019

      No apologies needed. I'm glad it is sorted - thanks for coming back and letting us know the cause.

      Dave

      davescm
      Community Expert
      davescmCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 22, 2019

      Hi

      The cross in the move tool disappearing while moving is normal (the cross  should re-appear when you release the mouse).

      My first thought was to ask if the layer is locked but that would not explain the inability to drag and duplicate in the layers panel.

      Is this affecting more than one document?

      If so, given that you have reset the move tool, I would reset preferences then close and restart Photoshop. Preferences contain more than just the user set preferences and are saved each time Photoshop closes. If they become corrupt then strange behaviour can follow.

      Dave

      jane-e
      Community Expert
      jane-eCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 22, 2019

      Dave, can you drag a locked layer to the trash? I can't. You can see the trash can is grayed out.
      (Drawing by "I.")

      ~ Jane

      davescm
      Community Expert
      davescmCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 22, 2019

      Hi Jane

      Not to trash but you can drag to group or to new and by doing so create a duplicate. The OP said they could not do that.

      Dave

      Chuck Uebele
      Community Expert
      Chuck UebeleCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 22, 2019

      Can you post a screen shot?

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