Can't delete a selected layer using the 'delete' key CS6 [2013]

[rocklein]

Why can you no longer delete layers with the delete key?

[Brett N]

Still works for me. Make sure your layers panel is what is currently in focus (that you don't have a cursor is some field to set the value for some slider or tool).

[Trevor.Dennis]

Or Photoshop is waiting for input for another action - having a Free Transform active for instance.

[rocklein]

I just tested this on a bunch of different kinds of layers. Some will delete with the 'delete' key. others will not. i can't figure out what the difference is between those that will and those that won't. I've tested shape layers as well as text layers, linked layers, groups and multiples.

i can select some groups and delete them. Other groups will not delete. Same thing happens if I select multiple layers: some will delete and others will not. any ideas?

the only thing i noticed is that layers further down in my list (way at the bottom) are the ones that won't go. Nothing is locked though.

[Brett N]

Layer order shouldn't have anything to do with it.

When you next find a layer that you cannot delete, immediately take a screen shot and post it here. It will probably have an important clue as to what you are running into.

[lwt89]

was this ever fixed? now in the latest CC and its doing it for me too. Ghosted delete button in the layers palette, delete key on keyboard also doesnt work. restarted comp, restarted PS, nada

[Brett N]

Still haven't seen the issue replicated (you can't fix something if you can't recreate it, otherwise how will you know if you've fixed it?)

Can you provide a screen show of the behavior in action? Or a file that has this behavior?

[lwt89]

Ill see if i can replicate it later. I aint got time to deal with all these bugs in PS let alone record or document each and every one of them.

Fixed it now using:

1. create a new group (folder icon)

2. click on that group, make sure the delete icon is lit up and the group is deletable

3. drag and drop what you couldnt delete into that group

4. you should now be able to delete what you couldnt delete before

[Fede221022343kry]

Hey! Having the same problem in Photoshop CC 2020, your workaround seems to work. Thank you!

[defaultbfz01b6u610x]

same issue in September 2022, this workaround solved it.

btw- Layer wasnt locked, could delete other layers just fine even with the rectangular marquee...thank you for this workaround

[lwt89]

Heres a video of whats happening. I cant replicate #3 from my steps on this one.

February 2, 2016 - YouTube

[Brett N]

Interesting, there is definitely a specific layer that just won't delete (and of course, you can't delete any layer group that layer is within when that layer is there). I don't see any special reason that layer can't be deleted. Can you share this file so I can take a look on my side?

[lwt89]

Pretty annoying prob if you guys can get it fixed. Happens all the time.

http://www.filehosting.org/file/details/556666/cant%20delete.psd

[Brett N]

Thank you for supplying a file. Unfortunately, this file seems to work fine on my side.

That test is somewhat inconclusive though. There is only one layer in this file, so of course you can't delete the layer, you can't have zero layers in a file. There always has to be at least one or you don't even have a file. So I had to add a new layer before I could even attempt to delete the existing layer. Such a modification may change the nature of the file and thus nullify this test. Additionally, I don't have the font used to create this layer installed on my system, so technically, this is a somewhat invalid layer on my end.

Could you supply another version of this (or another) file? It should have at least two layers (one you can delete and one you cannot) and if any Text layers are in use, make sure it is using a default system font.

[emjay1920]

file:///C:/Users/Reyvie/Desktop/Cara.psdhttp:// whenever i select a part to be vectorized i cant delete the selected part

[Miki329690904p1s]

I had this issue and I found it was because I had something locked in the layer I was trying to delete!

[lwt89]

Adding layers may be a solution for a 1 layer file but it happens when i have a bunch of layers in. Doesnt always happen, so I dont have a file with that example right now. Ill send over when I do. Thanks.

[BerylliumBiology]

There is a layer that is locked. Sometimes we can do that accidentally. You will have to go through all the layers to look for the one (or a few) that is locked.

[johnp25368006]

Did  you make sure that the "Move Tool (V)" was selected? I was having the same problem and came to this page. Finally I noticed I had the Rectangular Marque Tool selected instead of the move tool. I clicked on the move tool and was able to delete layers AND groups using the delete key on my keyboard. To sum it up:

Delete with the Move Tool (V) selected.

[Mackenzie25676782dy6x]

This worked for me! Thank you 🙂

[JT in VA]

Although not exactly what you suggested, selecting the Rectangular Marque Tool worked for me. Thank you for pointing me to that group of tools. I don't understand how Adobe expects users to predict this intermediate step instead of just using Delete or the trash can.

[KroaToanN]

Uninstall photoshop

[MES09]

go to Select then in the dropdown menu uncheck "Edit in quick mask mode".  Worked for me

[Urban5C5E]

After googling for the same exact problem, I figured out the solution on my own. I just saved the .psd file as is, and restarted photoshop. Then, I could delete the layers just fine.

Just leaving this here in case someone struggles with the problem in the future, happy to help!

[amandac91536107]

My trash button was greyed out too. Could not select trash icon to delete a layer. Instead, I dragged down the layer I wanted to delete directly to the trash icon and not only did the layer get deleted, but the trash button went back to normal. Tried saving and closing Ps first but did not fix. Only dragging the layer did.