How to get objects to select when clicking on a layer?

[eadkins]

Using photoshop on the windows side I can click the layer and the objects are automatically selected on screen. On the mac side I select the layer and nothing is selected. Is there a setting to turn this on?

[Ranjisha Sengupta · Accepted solution]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. Which version of macOS and Photoshop are you using?

Can you please check if the Auto select option is on or off? 

If it's ON, doesn't any of the content of a layer get selected?

We're here to help, just need some more info.

Thanks

Ranjisha

[eadkins]

in mac photoshop i am on 23.5 

The the box is checked but nothing happens when on mac. Alternatively, on the windows version it is unchecked and still everything on that layer selects. 

Really I am just wanting to quickly scale the objects on a layer and since it doesn't select I have to manually go in and transform...It did throw a bit of a loop into my workflow for what are otherwise really simple ps things. 

yellow is the mac below green is the pc

[eadkins]

What i realized after posting this is itsnt the autoselect but rather the show transform tools. 🤦🏼‍:female_sign: Looked right at it. Thanks for the help

[Trevor.Dennis]

I suspect that most experienced users have Auto Select turned off.  You can the select the Move tool and Ctrl (Cmd) click with your cursor above an image element, and Photoshop will automatically select the appropriate layer

Another useful trick is to right click with the cursor above anywhere inside the document window, and Photoshop will list all of the layers that have content at that locations

These are the sort of real world Photoshop tips that can be used for every project, and that will speed up your workflow.