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T
TeleIowa
Participant
March 10, 2020
Answered

Photoshop Move Tool Not working

  • March 10, 2020
  • 8 replies
  • 43157 views

Hello all, 

 

For some reason, the move tool in photoshop is not working at all. Every time I try to move the black rectangle with the Move tool (V), it will not "drag" it anywhere around the document. Unselecting "Auto-Select" will not fix this issue. I have already reseted my prefences by clicking ctrl+alt+shift when I opened Photoshop. 

 

See screenshot for reference below. 

 

Please advise. Thank you. 

 

~ TeleIowa

 

 

 

EDIT: 

Oddly enough, after about an hour or so and restarting Photoshop and my laptop once or twice, the Move tool seems to be working now. I have no idea what I did to remedy that, because after the first time I reset the prefences, restarted photoshop and laptop, I still had the same issue. But after the second time, it seems to be doing okay. 

I'm sorry I cannot provide an answer to this, but I just wanted to give you an update. 

 

Thank you! 

      This topic has been closed for replies.
      Correct answer

      Hi

      What exact version of Photoshop do you have, just tested on 21.1 and 20.0.9 and the move tool works fine, what happens when you hit Ctrl + T can you move it around then

      You layer icon looks unusual

      This is what mine shows

       

      8 replies

      K
      Kevith5CC2
      Participant
      June 17, 2022

      Hi. I think I have came accross the solution for this bug. Choose the layer you need to move and turn on "lock position" option and turn it off. There you have it. Hope it helped.

       

       

      D
      defaulthdb9qw58j3ue
      Participant
      February 25, 2022

      When I have the issue you're having, it's because I bumped a key. Either something gets selected from W or I hit the Q shortcut and I'm in quick mask mode (but the layer doesn't highlight showing this). I either somehow selected a pixel somewhere or I got stuck in quickmask (but the layer may not have highlighted reflecting this).

       

      In my case, I continually hit Q to free transform or deselect or something. I could have sworn Q used to be something else other than Quick Mask (Q) but I think I've just been using Flash and Animate for too many years now, that I hit Q to free transform.

      M
      marcosvfg
      Participant
      August 11, 2021

      Hi guy. Did you use Illustrator at the same time of Photoshop. I had the same bug here and i try close all adobe apps and open only photoshop and it works.

        O
        obadiah09
        Participant
        November 30, 2021

        Thank you, this worked for me.

        Sabbra Cadabra
        Sabbra Cadabra
        Participant
        February 24, 2021

        Im on 22.2 and the same problem....crist sake, you pay a lot to have this stupid bug
        Adobe is SO great....

          B
          Bob O Studio
          Participant
          October 26, 2020

          I am having the same issue but on top of not being able to move anything on the artboard I also can not move layers up or down in the layers panel. 

          E
          eekphoto
          Known Participant
          November 3, 2020

          (cursing removed) Adobe?? Every single update introduces a new glitch. I can only move using arrow keys! This is insane. They are taking basic functions that have been as is for decades and messing them up. I mean they know we are professionals, right? I do this for my job not for fun. I am seriously searching for  new software....

            AmySykes
            AmySykes
            Known Participant
            October 6, 2020

            I am having the same problem with Adobe Photoshop move tool. I tried to go back one update, and even with the previous update the problem still occures. You can't drag with the move toos or duplicate using alt key and drag. Very frustarting 

            AmySykes
            AmySykes
            Known Participant
            October 6, 2020

            Video Demo of the problem 

            jane-e
            Community Expert
            jane-eCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            November 9, 2023

            @AmySykes 

             

            Hi Amy,

            Unlike the OP who had a "Layer 1", you drew the shape with the Rectangle Shape tool and your layer is "Rectangle 1", so the answer for you is not the same.

             

            Instead, use the Path Selection tool (black arrow, keyboard shortcut "A") to move shapes.

             

             

            https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/tool-techniques/path-selection-tool.html

             

            Jane

             

             

            I
            itooto
            Participant
            July 28, 2020

            when using move tool, try to untick auto-select on the top left bar, so you move things on the layer selected

            if auto-select is on, your mouse must land on the pixel of the object to move it, or it will jump to other layer, e.g. background, and nothing will be moved

              Inspiring_magic15C3
              Inspiring_magic15C3
              Participating Frequently
              July 14, 2021

              Thanks. This fixed my same bug with the move tool.

                R
                ryans45291812
                Participant
                February 16, 2022

                Same here.

                  A
                  Anonymous
                  Correct answer
                  March 10, 2020

                  Hi

                  What exact version of Photoshop do you have, just tested on 21.1 and 20.0.9 and the move tool works fine, what happens when you hit Ctrl + T can you move it around then

                  You layer icon looks unusual

                  This is what mine shows

                   

                  T
                  TeleIowaAuthor
                  Participant
                  March 10, 2020

                  Hello. My current version is the 21.1. 

                   

                  When I hit ctrl+T, I am able to move it around yes, but I would prefer to use the Move tool if possible. 

                  You are right about the layer icon being unsuaul. Do you know how to fix that? That may be causing the issue. 

                   

                  Thank you!

                  A
                  Anonymous
                  March 10, 2020

                  Alas there's a lot of issues/bugs with version 21.1, I only use it on my work PC occasionally for testing issues reported on the forum. I reverted back to 21.0.3 on my home PC where I use Photoshop a lot more, you can do this via the CC app

                   

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