Can't drag and drop images as layers - is there a workaround?

[Naomi3057290979r0]

Hi all,

I'm just starting out trying to use layers and following tutorials on Youtube, and one tutorial has shown me how to create a background and a brush layer - then advises you only have to drag and drop a photo in your files onto it to create another layer.

Nope.

I googled the problem and there are two "fixes" I've encountered - one the "regedit" fix here, and the other going in and unselecting "run as admin".

I've done both of these and still no ability to drag and drop. I've been trying various solutions I found on Youtube for literally an hour and a half and I am practically pulling my hair out in clumps.

I'm on a PC laptop, running Windows 11.

If it's somehow impossible for me to enable this function, is there any other way to add a photo from my files as a new layer instead of opening up an entirely new tab for it? At the moment it looks like I can't use layers in the way they are supposed to be used at all because I can't do something as simple as click and drag images. It is EXTREMELY frustrating.

Much thanks in advance!

(Sorry if I sound snappy. I'm running on adrenaline, frustration and fury! I hate it when computers don't do as they're told...)

[Bojan Živković]

Do you see forbiden icon when you try to drag file(s)?

You can use File > Place Embedded or File > Place Linked.

[BubbleHouse]

Respectfully, this needs a fix rather than a workaround. Drag and drop is far quicker than going to the menu and browsing for what you need. It's ridiculous all of the issues I'm having with Adobe products these days. But thank you for at least providing a solution for the time being. It's just super frustrating.

[Makado]

Hey BubbleHouse,

 I ran into the same issue with dragging pictures or files into Photoshop a few days ago. It was pretty frustrating for me.

 I'm not sure if you've found a solution yet, but I managed to fix it by accident. Here's what worked for me:

1. Right-click on Photoshop and select "Run as administrator."
2. Once it opens, close Photoshop.
3. Double-click the Photoshop icon as usual.
That's it! I was able to drag and drop files without any problems after that.

Hope this helps!

[michael_1178]

I have a Layer.  When I try to File-->Place, either embedded or Linked, it is greyed out.  If I File--Open it takes the new image and puts it in its own workspace, not as a layer with the original picture.  What else can I try?

[Trevor.Dennis]

I would strongly advise you NOT to be messing with the Windows Registry for something like adding an image to an open Photoshop document.  What is your exact workflow for doing this?  If you have a single screen, you should be able to drag File Explorer onto the Photoshop window, but reduced in size so you can see Photoshop behind.  Make sure the file you are dragging is a valid image format (i.e. .JPG .PNG) and drag with the mouse.  I have File Explorer set to Large Icons to make this easier.

It's a good idea to have this Preference setting enabled as you have more control of the image when it gets to Photoshop.

But there are other ways to do this.

While in Photoshop with the target image window selected, go File > Place Embedded which will do exactly the same as dragging, but you have to find the file when the dialog window opens.

The last method might be a little tricky at first

Open both the target and source documents in Photoshop (Note I have named the documents to indicate Target and Source)

The images need to be tabbed to the options bar which is the default.

Select the source document, and drag the layer (background layer if that's all there is) to the Target documents tab as per the green arrow.

Pause for a moment, and drag it to the image window and you aRE DONE

[BubbleHouse]

It would be great if someone would actually provide the fix for this rather than a workaround. Drag and drop is WAY more efficient than needing to access the menu and browse for an image every single time. And if you'r ea pro designer, than you understand that your time is money.

[D Fosse]

The reason you're not getting a "fix" is because this works for everybody else. We can't replicate your problem.

In fact, this is a standard Photoshop function: When you drag and drop from an outside application, you get a smart object layer. If you drag and drop from within Photoshop, it's a normal layer.

So the question is why it doesn't work on your machine. I have no idea - but immediately I would suspect a permissions issue. That's why it sometimes helps to "run as administrator" once.

(Whatever you do, don't touch the registry)

[Hechaldo]

More and more people are having this same issue. Me including. Started yesterday. I've been using Photoshop and Adobe software for over 30 years and the quality decline in their products, in the past couple of years, is shocking.

[Lumigraphics]

There is nothing to fix. You can use the Place commands in Photoshop, in Adobe Bridge, or just open the file and drag from the Layers panel, or drag the file icon.

I'm on a Mac but dragging a valid image file from the Finder to an open Photoshop document adds the image file as a new layer. Easy peasy. I do have the option to create Smart Objects upon place turned off.

[Ashley22436098kn0v]

I am also having this issue and trying to find a solution is difficult. these work arounds are not helpful because if I need to add more than one image at a time this slows down the process significantly.

[Ashley22436098kn0v]

I just used the adobe support chat and they helped me fix it! reach out to them and they can help!

[nikhil_bhargav8452]

Hi! and how do i get in touch with the adobe support chat?

[cnsexton]

I can't drag and drop between between Photoshop and Illustrator either! Ever since I got my new laptop 6 months ago. Don't know what settings got set to defaut, but I run into that too. It would make sense to me that it is some Adobe master file setting which I don't know where to go to change to "everyone" can edit, or whatever it needs to be. 

I've run into an issue with administrative settings when I air drop an .ai file to someone to collaborate with. I have to manually go into "file info" and change it to "everyone" can edit before uploading to cloudshare. It would make sense to me if these two issues were caused by the same setting?

[Andrej239577013xie]

"There is nothing to fix" is just an excuse for being lazy. It doesn't matter if it is rare or not, as long as the product doesn't work as it is supposed to It IS a bug and adobe needs to fix it. 

[D Fosse]

In this case "there is nothing to fix" means it can't be reproduced, by anyone.

Post a bug report with reproducible steps. If anyone else is seeing this, they'll come forward hopefully.

[cjrodrigues]

Hello my friend!

I have been experiencing the same issue when I use either Premiere,After Effects and Illustrator. I came across all sorts of solutions but none of these work despite the fact that my adobe creative cloud apps run as Administrator.

After digging deep I found out that these Drag and Drop issues are WINDOWS related and have nothing to do with the apps and after trying around all possible solutions I hit a dead end. Restatring windows.explorer also does not solve anything and you have to be rebooting everytime which annoys me a lot.

Microsoft just released a feature and you can go to System; Advanced Options; Recovery and Windows Update Repair Version and just click it. You won't lose any Application,Files,Pics etc and it will refresh a brand new install for you.

[Lumigraphics]

Abuse is not helpful, necessary, or compliant with the rules.

And homophobic rants don't change the objective fact that there is nothing to fix.

[SIVA TECHNO38372904s053]

when i changed properties to Run as Administrator drag and drop didn't work. Then i found that is the problem and i de-selected the Run as Administrator option then it worked for me.

[el Mui]

👏 That fixed it for me!

[Musa_Gabriel9644]

Hello there,

This is a problem I went through sometimes and gratefully I found a solution.
The problem arises from running the app as an administrator. 

The solution is going to the folder where photoshop is installed, find the Photoshop.exe, right click on the Photoshop.exe and deactivate run as administrator.

I hope this helps. If it does please let rate my solution.

[j_r_v29818002]

Been having this issue as well for a few months now - assuming around some Windows update. Curious if it happens on MAC as well? 

Def super annoying and crushes workflow. 

toggling 'run as admin' and other fixes like regedit does nothing.

[Lumigraphics]

I have never seen this issue on Mac or Windows. I do product photography and drag layers between documents all the time.

[SERGE_CONCIERGE]

Hi, 
Started to have this same issue a few days ago.
I realized that ,in my case, it happened when the source and the destination working space don't match even if I accept the mismatch warning. The only solution is the convert the profile of the source prior to the "drag and drop".

Not really a fix, but it works for me. Hope it helps