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L
LLenoir
Known Participant
March 22, 2020
Answered

Eye Dropper Tool Not Selecting color outside of Photoshop

  • March 22, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 8859 views

I've recently purchased a new 2019 Macbook Pro with specs below.

macOS Catalina 10.15.3

2.4 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9

64 GB 2667 MHz DDR4

AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 8 GB

 

I'm currently running Photoshop 21.1.1 and when I try to choose the eyedropper tool click and drag outside photoshop to choose a color from the web or anything else on my desktop photoshop isn't recognizing anything outside of photoshop. Anyone else having this issue? 

    Correct answer Michael J. Hoffman

    With Catalina, you'll have to give Photoshop permission to access the screen outside of the application. Go to System Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy, and click the Screen Recording section and make sure Photoshop is enabled:

     

    3 replies

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 22, 2020

    Just to make sure: The initial click is on the Photoshop Canvas? 

    M
    marco_2812
    Participant
    January 7, 2025

    Yes, you need to click and hold it, then take it wherever you need to.

    Michael J. Hoffman
    Community Expert
    Michael J. HoffmanCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    March 22, 2020

    With Catalina, you'll have to give Photoshop permission to access the screen outside of the application. Go to System Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy, and click the Screen Recording section and make sure Photoshop is enabled:

     

      minglessis
      minglessis
      Inspiring
      July 17, 2022

      Hi,

      NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M 1

      Catalina 10.15.7 

       

      I was able to do this with PS 2022 but I had to downgrade to PS2021 because some features were not working well (I guess due to my old processor) but now I don't see the way to add PS 2021 to the Screen Recording in Security and Privacy. Any advice?

      Shown in picture: I was able to use the color dropper outside PS with PS2022, but I can't add PS 2011 to give permission to the app. 

       

      minglessis
      minglessis
      Inspiring
      July 17, 2022

      I had multiple versions of PS installed but when it comes to giving it permission to do the screen recording to be able to pick colors outside of PS, it seems that it doesn't let you give permission to more than 1 PS version. I had to uninstall PS2022 to be able to give permission to PS2021, which is the version that is working best with my old processor.


      and not the color picker is not working outside PS2021......even if I gave it permission. Rebooted everything just in case and nothing. Any advice?

        silk-m
        Community Expert
        silk-mCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        March 22, 2020

        Hi,

        Register Photoshop in Security & Privacy / Screen Recording in System Preferences.
        Are you also registered for Accessibility and Full Disk Access?

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