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Participant
May 25, 2013
Answered

How to restore the circle shape for the brush tool in Photoshop

  • May 25, 2013
  • 13 replies
  • 247262 views

My brush tool has become a small cross hair and cannot get back to a circle. How do I reset?

Correct answer Jeff_Know1

Press the 'Caps Lock' key while using one of the brushes. It toggles between a circle and a crosshair view.

If it's always wrong when opening Photoshop change the default behavior in Edit --> Preferences --> Cursors. There you can select 'Normal Brush Tip'.

13 replies

Participating Frequently
July 3, 2022

I did a complete reinstall brsuh defaults to crosshairs instead of circl and caps lock does not fix the issue. Just trying to work here and I cannot. Having several issues with my brand new mac laptop and photoshop 2022 fully updated, HELP ME PLEASE!

Participant
October 26, 2022

Do you have a set up with a laptop that's hooked up to a couple monitors with your laptop closed? Check to make sure the Caps Lock isn't on on your laptop. I just had this happen to me. I use an external keyboard and mouse and my Caps Lock was engaged on the laptop itself.

Participating Frequently
July 3, 2022

This didnt work for me on a bran new lmac laptop

Participant
August 25, 2021

Thank you.  Couldn't figure out what I did.  I have no Caps Lock light or indicator, and I never gave it a thought.  So annoying, but a simple a fix.  

Participant
September 29, 2020

Hey I'm having the same problem, and when i clicked caps lock the circle of the brush poped up bu when i moved the curser it went away. How do can I make it stay a circular brush?

Participant
September 29, 2020

Never mind it worked, I have to keyboards so the caps lock has to be selected or unselected specificly on the mac for it to work not an outside keyboard. 

Participant
April 28, 2024

This worked!!! almost reinstalled Photoshop because of this, thank you so much, I had already looked everywhere, I wouldn't have thought of this

Participant
February 9, 2020

Finally!  Somebody who understands the question and has an answer. Thanks Jeff!

Participant
January 29, 2020

thanks it worked!!!!! i felt sooo stuck

Participant
April 10, 2018

Thank you! this did the trick!

Participant
November 16, 2017

bless you.

teamLOVE
Participant
February 3, 2017

January 2017, just did update. Photoshop CC.  Seems to not work permanently with the caps lock. It keeps bouncing back to the X, after one click. Has anyone found a new fix for this? thanks

LBDuxbury
Participant
May 20, 2017

I'm having the same problem since I updated!

Participant
December 24, 2015

so simple, and yet you kept me from going insane with your reply and fix.  i was literally going nuts trying to figure out what i did to change it.  thanks much