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Unable to select layer by clicking on the image in Photoshop

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My Photoshop program suddenly won't allow me to click on a layer by clicking on the image. I can only get to the right layer by sifting through the layers in the layer window. This has never happened before, and I'm hoping there's a fix?

Also, I'm using this program on Windows.

Thanks for your help!

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Bojan Živković11378569Correct answer

Community Expert

To add to previous correct answer: to temporary activate/deactivate mentioned Auto Select feature with Move Tool active press Ctrl key and hold. Release Ctrl key when you are done.

Another way to select layer is to right click on image with Move tool active. Context menu will allow you to select layer group or layer. Context menu items depend on area where is Move tool icon, by the way.

Stephen_Duddridge7797

Participant

When any of the Adobe apps start acting up, the first step to take is to check for updates.

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sbn85

Inspiring

I strongly disagree, updates since few years brings more bugs then resolving it

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jordan_2392

Participant

adobe photo shop is the least user friendly photo editing application ever created. Microsoft paint is far superior for 99.9 percent of people. Yes it's great to have expert options, but by not making it user friendly, easy cut and paste, clicking selections, etc. ... There really is no excuse that they could not have made a better app mirroring the success and simplicity of ms paint, while still offering professional options. The whole thing needs to be revamped it's like years of a bad idea being compondounded... Aren't adobe staff embarrased by all the headaches their overly complicated app gives humans constantly?

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Rossen5FBC

Participant

I have the same problem with the latest version of Photoshop 24.6.0.

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SeaAnita

Inspiring

Using Photoshop 25.2 and I have Auto-Select checked. Still can't select a photo by ctrl+click it. I turned it off and back on, but still won't do it.

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Bojan Živković11378569

Community Expert

It works for me on Windows. When any tool beside the Move tool is active, Ctrl + clicking on an image works by temporarily switching to the Move tool. Note: 'Auto Select > Layer' must be checked in the Options bar before using the Ctrl switcher. In version 25.2.0, clicking on the background layer won't select the Background layer; however, it will select any other layer in the Layers stack.

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Sopaan

Participant

still it did not work after select it .

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Bojan Živković11378569

Correct answer

Community Expert

To add to previous correct answer: to temporary activate/deactivate mentioned Auto Select feature with Move Tool active press Ctrl key and hold. Release Ctrl key when you are done.

Another way to select layer is to right click on image with Move tool active. Context menu will allow you to select layer group or layer. Context menu items depend on area where is Move tool icon, by the way.

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Conrad_C

Community Expert

What makes it possible to select a layer by clicking the image is the Auto-Select setting for the Move tool. When the Move tool is selected, look in the options bar and see if Auto-Select Layer has become disabled. If so, enable it and try again.