Participating Frequently

Question

Cannot move layers on workspace or in Layers panel

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
September 26, 2023
6 replies
6376 views

Hello, this is my first post so bear with me.

I've searched for anyone else with a similar problem to what I'm experiencing but haven't been able to find anything. I am unable to move layers once placing them on the document. I have been experiencing this issue for a few days now.

A previous discussion post talked about using Ctrl+T to move the layers, which does work (I greatly prefer using my mouse), and also provided the solution of unchecking "Show Transform Tools" but that did not solve the issue. I now cannot rearrange the layer orders in my Layer panel. I can now only rearrange the order by going to the toolbar to Layer > Arrange > Bring forward (etc.). I tried restarting photoshop, my computer (Razer 15 running Windows 10), and using a previous version of photoshop, yet nothing has worked. I have also reset all tools to the default settings.

If anyone has a solution, I would be immensly grateful. I can provide further information as well if needed.

Windows

volteriax

New Participant

Does anyone have a solution. I am getting crazy. it happening on and off. I even reinstalled photoshop....

R

Ryan5FB7

New Participant

I'm bumping this semi-old thread as it is happening to me in Photoshop 25.12 and I have no solution so far. Anyone?

M

macyb32954738Author

Participating Frequently

I no longer have this problem (at least for now) but I had to factory reset my computer so I can't say that it had anything to do with changing settings on my computer or Photoshop. I really hope someone finds a fix for this because it drove me mental for months.

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Rob6556

Known Participant

I have this exact same issue. It's interesting that no one found a solution and just let the topic die.

movalex

New Participant

Ha-ha, the same issue here. Really, I have already moved a lot of my work to a major competitive application, and don't look back. But I still have an amount of old ps projects I need to maintain. This is really a ridiculous issue, and no one have a solution to that? Looks like Adobe is literally asking us to move on. Thanks, Adobe, will definitely do.

movalex

New Participant

If someone is interested, somehow this issue was caused by my local DNS settings. Once I have changed my DNS to 8.8.8.8, PS started working normally.

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macyb32954738Author

Participating Frequently

I'm still having issues, which I am at a loss for fixing. I've attempted to update my mouse drivers for both my Laptop mousepad (Razer 15 2020) and my external Razer Deathadder Elite but no dice. I cannot move layers in the layer panel or objects on the canvas unless I have gone into transform controls. I disabled Preview on canvas when reordering layers as SuperMacGuy1 suggested, and when I tried that before it solved the problem but today it didn't change anything.

I am linking a short video of a screen recording of my workspace as an example of the problem. I'm open to any suggestions. Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AAue0QLWWBY_JoZi1c8A4TGuNT3ftHeZ/view?usp=sharing

Moses25428485n3hj

New Participant

I am having a similar issue. Cant move layers down in layer hiearachy within layers panel. I also cant move layers into below groups. It also happens when I rename a layer. Did you eventually find a workaround or a fix?

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macyb32954738Author

Participating Frequently

I have found no solutions. It has become such a detriment to my work that I've started exploring other design programs.

SuperMacGuy1

New Participant

I found that disabling the live preview worked to fix it for me. That is to turn off: Layers panel > panel options > Preview on canvas when reordering layers

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macyb32954738Author

Participating Frequently

So far, this has been the only solution to my problem! Thank you so much, I would have never thought to look there.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

It might be that you have Locked the layers. If you can show us a full res screen shot of your entire workspace showing the Layers panel and image, I expect we'll be able to see what is going on.

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macyb32954738Author

Participating Frequently

I have not locked the layers, the only locked layer is the background. Here is a screenshot as requested. Any help is appreciated.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

OK, it sounds like you know what you are doing. Let's be doubly sure and select the Princess Corrine layer and make sure none of the lock icons are active.

To be fair, locked layers should still be able to move up and down the stack. Are you trying to do that by dragging, or using the shortcuts? If dragging, then try Ctrl [ (down) and Ctrl ] (up). If still no luck...

Is Photoshop otherwise working normally? i.e. is it frozen?

Have you tried testing with a new document?

Have restarted the computer and Photoshop? Obvious I know, but we have to ask.

Have you tried saving the document and reopening it? If the document is corrupted it might not let you save it, or if it does save OK, you might not be able to open it again.

Is your operating system in good health? Has Photoshop crashed or not closed correctly (maybe needing you to shut down the computer?

You say you are unable to move layers, which I take to mean the layer contents. While you can move an object using Free Transform, you would normally just use the Move tool (shortcut V). Does that work for you?

If you have tried everything, and Photoshop appears to be working OK, then we might be looking at initially resetting preferences, and if still no good, reinstalling Photoshop.

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