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Participating Frequently
May 16, 2022
Question

Photoshop stuck on hand tool

  • May 16, 2022
  • 20 replies
  • 36624 views

The only tool on my screen is the hand tool. Nothing else works. I tried restarting the program and nothing works

20 replies

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 17, 2022


@KarinK ~ 

 

One other thought is that sometimes another application can take over a shortcut. In this case, it would be either "Spacebar" or "H" for the Hand tool. It could be a browser. Try shutting down and boot up with nothing else running. You might have to check your start-up folder to see what launches automatically.

 

If that doesn't work, Customer Care can look at your screen. If you contact them, they will most likely start with the things that have already been said here, but maybe they can see something else.

 

To contact Adobe Customer Care directly:
https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html?rghtup=autoOpen  (type "agent")

If your browser does not auto-open the Chat window, try these tips:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/creative-cloud-services/how-to-contact-adobe-support/td-p/11875703  

You can also send tweet to @AdobeCare.

~ Jane

 

KarinK ~Author
Participating Frequently
May 17, 2022

Thank you !!  

melissapiccone
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 17, 2022

Is it possible your spacebar is stuck on your keyboard?

Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 17, 2022

 

 


@KarinK ~ wrote:

yes, all the tools are there. My cursor is always the hand tool. No matter what tool I click on it stays the hand tool. And only works as the hand tool.


 

Thanks for the clarification. I agree with Melissa that it sounds like your Spacebar is stuck. Try tapping it a few times or try a new keyboard (for testing purposes).

 

Jane

 

KarinK ~Author
Participating Frequently
May 17, 2022

just tried my wireless keyboard, still no luck  😞

KarinK ~Author
Participating Frequently
May 17, 2022

To take care of my problem, since nothing else worked and trying a bunch of times... I just installed one version down. Maybe the issue will get fixed in the next update!!   Thank you all who gave me ideas to try!!

KarinK ~Author
Participating Frequently
May 17, 2022

posted a screen shot, which does not reall show anything. The only tool that shows would be the hand. For example when I hit the "T" you should get a "T" but it stays as the hand tool. The problem started when I upgraded the program

KarinK ~Author
Participating Frequently
May 17, 2022

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 17, 2022
quote

The only tool on my screen is the hand tool.

By @KarinK ~

 

What did you mean when you said the only tool on your screen is the Hand tool? Your screen shot shows all of the tools, so you must have meant something else?

 

 

~ Jane

 

KarinK ~Author
Participating Frequently
May 17, 2022

yes, all the tools are there. My cursor is always the hand tool. No matter what tool I click on it stays the hand tool. And only works as the hand tool.

KarinK ~Author
Participating Frequently
May 17, 2022

Thank you, but this did not work either

KarinK ~Author
Participating Frequently
May 17, 2022

Thank you, but this did not work

melissapiccone
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 16, 2022

I experience this occassionally. If I quit and restart it fixes itself. 

Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
May 16, 2022

Try resetting your Photoshop preferences. Press and hold Alt+Control+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (Mac OS) immediately after launching Photoshop. You will be prompted to delete the current settings. You can also reset preferences upon a quit if Photoshop is running by going into General Preferences>General>Reset on Quit.

Any difference now?

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
Participant
May 26, 2024

Didn't work.

You can also reset all tools simply by clicking on the dropdown next to the tool icon in the menu bar, to no avail. I've also eliminated the cursed cursor hand by restarting the computer (restarting app does NOT work), but that does not correct the root cause.

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 16, 2022

@KarinK ~ 

 

Please share a screen shot so we can see what you are seeing.

 

Jane