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Unable to select layer by clicking on the image in Photoshop

New Here ,
Feb 01, 2022 Feb 01, 2022

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My Photoshop program suddenly won't allow me to click on a layer by clicking on the image. I can only get to the right layer by sifting through the layers in the layer window. This has never happened before, and I'm hoping there's a fix? 

 

Also, I'm using this program on Windows.

 

Thanks for your help!

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correct answers 2 Correct answers

Community Expert , Feb 01, 2022 Feb 01, 2022

What makes it possible to select a layer by clicking the image is the Auto-Select setting for the Move tool. When the Move tool is selected, look in the options bar and see if Auto-Select Layer has become disabled. If so, enable it and try again.

 

Photoshop-Move-tool-Auto-Select-Layer.jpg

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Community Expert , Feb 01, 2022 Feb 01, 2022

To add to previous correct answer: to temporary activate/deactivate mentioned Auto Select feature with Move Tool active press Ctrl key and hold. Release Ctrl key when you are done.

 

Another way to select layer is to right click on image with Move tool active. Context menu will allow you to select layer group or layer. Context menu items depend on area where is Move tool icon, by the way.

context menu right click with move tool.jpg

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Community Expert ,
Feb 01, 2022 Feb 01, 2022

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What makes it possible to select a layer by clicking the image is the Auto-Select setting for the Move tool. When the Move tool is selected, look in the options bar and see if Auto-Select Layer has become disabled. If so, enable it and try again.

 

Photoshop-Move-tool-Auto-Select-Layer.jpg

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New Here ,
Feb 05, 2022 Feb 05, 2022

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Thank you SO Much. A .5 second solution to hours of frustration!! You're the best! 

 

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Contributor ,
Sep 14, 2022 Sep 14, 2022

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I don't see this option. What am I doing wrong?

jfraze_0-1663178378065.png

 

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Community Expert ,
Sep 14, 2022 Sep 14, 2022

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quote

I don't see this option. What am I doing wrong?

By @jfraze

 

You actually do have the option there, but it’s been condensed down to a icon instead of text, probably because Enable Narrow Options Bar is selected (see demo below).

 

Photoshop-Enable-Narrow-Options-Bar.gif

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New Here ,
Oct 27, 2022 Oct 27, 2022

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thank you soooo much... this behaviour was driving me mad 😓

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2022 Dec 19, 2022

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THANK YOU SO MUCH! For some reason I deactivacted the Auto-Select check and I burnt my head out trying to figure out what was happened. I'm Brazillian and I coudn't find any solution in my language until I search in English, then I found this page. THANKS TO YOU, I can work well.

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Community Expert ,
Feb 01, 2022 Feb 01, 2022

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To add to previous correct answer: to temporary activate/deactivate mentioned Auto Select feature with Move Tool active press Ctrl key and hold. Release Ctrl key when you are done.

 

Another way to select layer is to right click on image with Move tool active. Context menu will allow you to select layer group or layer. Context menu items depend on area where is Move tool icon, by the way.

context menu right click with move tool.jpg

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Community Beginner ,
Jun 17, 2023 Jun 17, 2023

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still it did not work after select it .

 

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New Here ,
Jun 26, 2023 Jun 26, 2023

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I have the same problem with the latest version of Photoshop 24.6.0.

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Explorer ,
Dec 12, 2023 Dec 12, 2023

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Using Photoshop 25.2 and I have Auto-Select checked. Still can't select a photo by ctrl+click it. I turned it off and back on, but still won't do it.

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Community Expert ,
Dec 12, 2023 Dec 12, 2023

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It works for me on Windows. When any tool beside the Move tool is active, Ctrl + clicking on an image works by temporarily switching to the Move tool. Note: 'Auto Select > Layer' must be checked in the Options bar before using the Ctrl switcher. In version 25.2.0, clicking on the background layer won't select the Background layer; however, it will select any other layer in the Layers stack.

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New Here ,
Nov 03, 2024 Nov 03, 2024

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hi, also try unchecking "show transform tools"

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New Here ,
Sep 29, 2024 Sep 29, 2024

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adobe photo shop is the least user friendly photo editing application ever created.  Microsoft paint is far superior for 99.9 percent of people.  Yes it's great to have expert options, but by not making it user friendly, easy cut and paste, clicking selections, etc. ...  There really is no excuse that they could not have made a better app mirroring the success and simplicity of ms paint, while still offering professional options.  The whole thing needs to be revamped it's like years of a bad idea being compondounded... Aren't adobe staff embarrased by all the headaches their overly complicated app gives humans constantly?

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