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Known Participant
October 21, 2024

P: Photoshop Polygonal Lasso tool & pen tool Backspace does not delete anchor points

  • October 21, 2024
  • 25 replies
  • 8906 views

Bonjour ! Avec Windows 10 et Photoshop CC 2024 l'outil lasso polygonal refuse les retours arrière.

Pourriez-vous me dire ce qui peut causer ce problème assez désagréable s'il vous plait ?

Cordialement

THOMAS60

25 replies

Participant
May 22, 2025

Hello everyone;

I wanted to report a Photoshop bug that I have found on several versions now. I also updated to the latest version available but it continues to create the same problem. The problem concerns a bug on the polygonal lasso command. When using the polygonal lasso to create a selection, each click creates a broken line of the selection, if by chance I want to go back some broken lines before closing the selection, the backspace key removes them based on my needs. In the latest versions of Photoshop this freezes, making it difficult to use the command. Sometimes it works, other times it is impossible. When it does not, you have to close the selection. The bug is intermittent, sometimes it is there and sometimes not, although more often it does not work properly. This causes a huge waste of time for me since it is a command that I use often. I would like it to return to normal. Does it happen to you too?
 
Thanks
Ares Hovhannesyan
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 22, 2025

Can\t reproduce the bug. I voted this post. 

Wabber_HM
Inspiring
May 20, 2025

I'm not entirely sure it's a third-party app issue. Unless it's that big of a coincidence. This started a few versions ago and I think this issue persists on all 4 of my computers with Photoshop on it. I'll need to confirm, but it should be occuring on each of them. 

Will_B.
Participant
May 15, 2025

A few days ago, my Photoshop started having issues with the Lasso tools. Backspace, End, Esc, Space—none of them work. In fact, once the tool is activated, the only buttons that function are the left and right mouse buttons.
I've tried all the troubleshooting steps: reset the settings (which were already at default installation settings), reinstalled Photoshop, uninstalled Windows Ink, closed background processes. My computer was built specifically for this purpose, and I've only been using the program for a week. So, I have nothing installed besides Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Bridge, Chrome, and WhatsApp—along with MSI Center and ICUE Link. I’ve modified registry keys, but nothing seems to work.
In rare cases, the tool works again if I close and reopen the program, but as soon as I stop using the tool and start again, it stops functioning again. I have no idea what else to do.

 

Here are my system details.

Anshul_Saini
Community Manager
Community Manager
May 15, 2025

Hi @Will_B.,

 

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I know how frustrating this kind of issue can be, especially when everything else seems to be working.

 

From what you’ve described, this behavior strongly points to third-party interference, which is a common cause when keyboard shortcuts or tool functionality unexpectedly stop working in Photoshop.

 

Here’s what I suggest:

 

1. Try running your system in Safe Mode (https://adobe.ly/3ZjRaBD), and launch Photoshop there.

If the Lasso tools and keyboard shortcuts work correctly, it confirms that something is running in the background during normal startup that is interfering.

 

2. Then, gradually start enabling or opening your usual apps one by one — like Chrome, WhatsApp, ICUE Link, MSI Center, etc.

As soon as the shortcut stops working again, you’ll have identified the conflicting application.

 

The fact that reopening Photoshop temporarily resolves the issue also supports this, since restarting can reset whatever interference is occurring.

 

Let me know how it goes. I'm happy to assist further based on what you discover.

 

Best,

Anshul

Known Participant
May 5, 2025

I can't delete the points with backspace or DEL.

I tried to reset the lasso tool but it doesn't work.

I tried to draw with the polygon lasso tool with the shif key pressed (as described in this post) but it still doesn't work.

 

non riesco a cancellare i punti né con backspace né con CANC.

ho provato a eseguire il reset dello strumento lazzo ma niente da fare. 

ho provato a disegnare con lo scrumento lazzo poligonale con il tasto shif premuto (come descritto in questo post) ma niente lo stesso.

 

 

Claire H.
Community Manager
Community Manager
May 5, 2025

Hey @Milko37656671vnte, As of right now, I am not able to recreate the issue, but I am happy to help troubleshoot. Can you also share your system info? You can find this by going to Help > System Info, copying and pasting it into a text file, and attaching it here.  ^CH

Participant
April 29, 2025

Hello, in Photoshop 2024 and 2025 versions, the lasso tool shortcut keys sometimes work and sometimes don't. The situation is the same on different devices. Reset settings and clean installation were performed. Is this a Photoshop bug waiting to be fixed?

Sameer K
Community Manager
Community Manager
April 29, 2025

Hey, @Zafer37586609c1kv. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll help you figure this out. 

 

As a test, try using the Polygonal Lasso tool with the Shift key to draw straight lines before using backspace to erase. If that does not work, reset the Polygonal Lasso tool itself. Right-click on the P. Lasso Tool icon in the Toolbar menu and select Reset Tool.

 

SameerK_0-1689016920310.jpeg

 

Let me know how it goes.

Thanks!

Sameer K

(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

Known Participant
April 10, 2025

From as long as i remember Photoshop back to v6 there was ability to delete points you place using Polygonal lasso tool by simply pressing Del key on keyboartd, now with latest version of PS they totally removed this ability and if you mess up complex selection, have to start over entire thing.

 

Please put back ability to delete it back.

Sameer K
Community Manager
Community Manager
April 10, 2025

Hey, @ivan25349743g7a0. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll help you figure this out. 

 

As a test, try using the Polygonal Lasso tool with the Shift key to draw straight lines before using backspace to erase. If that does not work, reset the Polygonal Lasso tool itself. Right-click on the P. Lasso Tool icon in the Toolbar menu and select Reset Tool.

 

SameerK_0-1689016920310.jpeg

 

Let me know how it goes.

Thanks!

Sameer K

(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

Known Participant
April 11, 2025

On second try it did work, but there was some situation when it was not working, i always used Del key did not know Backspace also deletes it now will try Backspace that next time if it happens again that Del stops working.

Inspiring
March 14, 2025

Backspace not working properly with Lasso and Path Tool.
It is imposible to use normaly lasso tool without backspace key function

practical_parent0D4C
Known Participant
March 15, 2025

Bonjour, vous voulez dire que vous aussi vous avez ce problème avec le lasso polygonal ?

Bien à vous !

Georges

Adobe c'est vraiment magique ... lorsque cela fonctionne normalement
Participant
March 8, 2025
Hello Adobe Support Team,
I’m encountering a persistent issue in Photoshop 2025 (v26.x) where the Backspace (Windows) key fails to remove anchor points while using the Magnetic Lasso Tool. This occurs consistently, even after:
• Resetting preferences (`Alt + Ctrl + Shift` on launch).
• Performing a clean uninstall/reinstall of Photoshop.
• Testing across multiple devices (Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma).
 
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Activate the Magnetic Lasso Tool.
2. Begin a selection.
3. Press Backspace/Delete to remove the last anchor point (no response).
 
This bug disrupts workflow efficiency, especially for detailed selections. Could you confirm if this is a known issue and provide guidance on resolving it?
Thank you!

 

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 8, 2025

@Stefano37930993vn74 

 

I've moved your post from Using the Community to the Photoshop forum.

 

Jane

 

Participant
January 29, 2025

Shortcuts Tastenkürzel für PSD 2025: Lasso verhalten plötzlich anders / ebene wähle anders

 

Hallo, 

Ich habe probleme weil ein paar funktionen offensichtlich geändet wurden. 

Das sind hier von mir aufgeführte funktionen die bisher über 25 jahre funktioniert haben bzw gleich geblieben sind und plötzlich anders.....

 

FRAGE: 

 

- Polygon-Lasso: 

Bisher kontte ich nach dem klicken einer Auswahl mit der backspace taste den jeweils letzten klick zurücknehmen. das geht plötzlich nicht mehr. das ging bisher out of the box. hat jemand eine info oder erfahrung oder lösung hierzu?

 

- Ebenen Auswahl mit rechter Maustase:

Bisher konnte ich auch innerhalb einer Auswahl eine Ebene via Rechsklick auswählen. Jetzt geht es nicht mehr, nur noch ausserhalb der selection/Auswahl. 

 

Bin um jede Ide dankbar weil das langsam echt nervig wird mit diesen 2 problemen die ich oben aufgeführt habe.

Ged_Traynor
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 29, 2025

@Makko29421141abep I noticed the issue with the backspace not working for the polygonal lasso tool, I tried renaming the Photoshop settings folder to Adobe Photoshop 2025 Settingsold, location here

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2025

Relaunched Photoshop and still have the issue, closed Photoshop, deleted the newly created settings folder and renamed the Adobe Photoshop 2025 Settingsold back to Adobe Photoshop 2025 Settings, relaunched Photoshop again and the backspace key starting working again.

Participant
January 6, 2025

Bug report template:

Issue

  • Photoshop version: 25.12.1
  • OS: win


Steps to reproduce:

  1. select lasso tool (switch it to polygon lasso mode)
  2. click down a few points, now while still in lasso mode...to put down another point
    attempt to use the space bar (hand to pan the screen)...doesn't work.
  3. Sometimes it does..sometimes not
  4. this also seems to bug out the "backspace key" that allows for removal of the last point(s)
    clicked down.

 

Expected result
Actual result: works like it used to.