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Participant
September 9, 2021
Answered

Spot Healing brush not working at all even after resetting the tool

  • September 9, 2021
  • 5 replies
  • 19943 views

Hi everyone, 

 

I am fairly new to Photoshop - taking a class actually - and the very basic function of the healing brush is not working at all on the layer on top of the smart object. I already reset the tool, quit Photoshop and opened it again and nothing. I have the latest version as I just started a few weeks ago. Any suggestions for how to fix this?

 

Thank you!

Correct answer melissapiccone

Options bar at the top of the screen - default is Current Layer, choose current and below or all layers... 

5 replies

Inspiring
April 13, 2025

Also check the Mode, set it to normal  not lighten or multiply, and try

melissapiccone
Community Expert
melissapicconeCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 31, 2023

Options bar at the top of the screen - default is Current Layer, choose current and below or all layers... 

Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
Participant
January 9, 2024

I was trying to use spot healing brush and it was not working. Turned on "sample all layers on options bar as per your guidance and it worked. Thank you so so much 🙂

 

 

weegreenblobbie
Known Participant
March 31, 2023

I had a selection made, but the marching ants was hidden.  Try deslecting everyting and try the healing brush again.

Participating Frequently
September 25, 2021

Ever since the Hedge Fund Boys decided to make us all RENT Photoshop forever, they QUITE OBVIOUSLY also are not only taking all the program's former users for a financial ride, but also the program has become NOTORIOUSLY broken, slow and kludgy.

 

In the middle of many sessions certain tools just stop working.  The "spot healing" tool is a case in point.  I CAN use it if I save my file (NO LAYERS AT ALL, just a Background Layer, so thanks for the stupid and useless FAUX "advice"), quit Photoshop and then re-start the program (which now often takes 30 seconds -- what is this, 1995?), that tool "magically" starts working again.

 

Tools are going "offline" all the time.  I am MASSIVELY auditioning other software.  Adobe's poor (pathetic) tech people keep asking STUPID questions  (Yes, I have a VERY recent PC, Win-10 totally updated, a terrific Nvidia GPU with TOTALLY updated drivers, yada yada yada).   The techs obviously have the rotten job of trying to DEFER blame for what is really wrong:  Photoshop is a clusterF****.      I can't wait to take it off my system forever.   BROKEN, BROKEN, BROKEN,  with more and more non-integrated buggy "features" added.

 

WHAT. A.  JOKE.

cmgap
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 9, 2021

Take a look at this overview: https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/using-the-healing-brush-with-photoshop-on-the-ipad/td-p/12330601

It most likely is due to the source layer setting. If it is on Current Layer change that to Layer Below or all layers.