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Participant
Aug 15, 2026 10:45 PM UTC
Answered

Why my Photoshop eyedropper tool not working outside the app? I already turn on all the Privacy Security on Mac but nothing happened

I already turn on all the Privacy Security on Mac but nothing happened. Full disk access, accessibility, record, anything. It’s still cannot using eyedrop tool outside Photoshop. I’m using Photoshop 2026 with Macbook

    Jeff Arola
    Jeff ArolaCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Aug 16, 2026 6:29 AM UTC

    LAMY2017,

     

    If you go to Apple>System Settings>Privacy & Security>Screen & System Audio Recording, is the

    Adobe Photoshop 2026.app listed there?

    5 replies

    Participating Frequently
    Aug 17, 2026 9:15 AM UTC

    It may be related to macOS permissions or how Photoshop 2026 handles screen color sampling. After changing the permission, try restarting your Mac & Adobe Photoshop and that you will also have to update Adobe Photoshop, if it still not working, then reset Adobe Photoshop preferences that would be helpful for you.

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    John
    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Jeff ArolaCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Aug 16, 2026 6:29 AM UTC

    LAMY2017,

     

    If you go to Apple>System Settings>Privacy & Security>Screen & System Audio Recording, is the

    Adobe Photoshop 2026.app listed there?

    Translate
    Legend
    Aug 16, 2026 7:10 PM UTC

    Adobe Photoshop 2026.app wasn’t. Now is. And now the tool works outside Ps. Thank you!

    I apologize for intruding; I mistakenly thought I was contributing.

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    Larry
    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Aug 16, 2026 5:18 AM UTC

    Try this PSUserConfig

    Enable Eye Dropper outside Photoshop on macOS

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/enable-optional-extensions-photoshop-cc.html#enable-eye-dropper

     

    The linked page explains how to create that PSUserConfig.txt 

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    Legend
    Aug 16, 2026 6:17 AM UTC

    I just tried using the instructions from that page, ​@Jeff Arola. No Go.

    [by the way, I don’t know where the OP came to their conclusion about security. Out of curiosity, I did check file info [command+I] after I created the txt file; “staff” and Everyone permission were set to Read only. I changed my file to Read&write. Made no difference.]

    I still can’t use Option+Eyedropper to sample outside of Ps 27.9.1. I did restart Ps, but did not think a system restart was necessary.

    Many Ps versions ago, one used to be able to turn off the Application Frame in Ps/MacOS then sample colors from the application below. As I remember, that functionality wasn’t available for Windows.

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    Larry