Why am I unable to copy/paste shapes since update to Photoshop 2025 on Mac 14.6.1?

[DrKessel]

I frequently copy shapes (e.g., rectangles and circles) from one group of layers to another group. Previously, I've have always used the Comd-C and Comd-V shortcuts, but since updating to Photoshop 2025, I've had nothing but problems. (Note: I do not have problems if I am copying shapes within the same layer.)

My process has always been:

• Select the shape I want to copy and hit Comd-C
• Scroll to the layer group I want to copy to and click on the lowest layer in that group
• Hit Comd-V to paste a copy of the shape in that group

In the past, the new shape would appear in the center of the screen and be listed above the layer I had clicked on within the layer list. This is what I want to happen.

If I do this today, no change appears on the screen and the layer list indicates some type of secondary group has been made with the layer I had clicked on. It took me a while to realize that a copy of the shape had been made above the one I had copied, and it is now tied to the layer in the second group. I cannot figure out how to seperate the two.

The only way I can seem to work around this is:

• Create a smart object out of the shape I want to copy
• Hit Comd-C
• Scroll to the layer group I want to copy to and click on the lowest layer in that group
• Hit Comd-V to paste a copy of the smart object in that group
• Convert the smart object back to a layer

These extra steps seem like they should be unnecessary.

Do I have something set wrong?

Thanks!!!

[Sameer K]

Hey, @DrKessel. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll need more info to help you figure this out. Please share the system info from Photoshop Help > System info > Copy and paste into a text document > Upload and attach here. 

You can install any early versions of Photoshop for the time being to help you get to your projects: https://adobe.ly/3P9fZL8;

It'll help if you could include a video of how it behaves now. Also, try using Photoshop (beta) from the Creative Cloud desktop app from > Apps Section > Beta Apps. 

Let me know how it goes. 

Thanks! 
Sameer K

(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

[DrKessel]

Thanks @Sameer K.

Is this what you needed?

Rich

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Are you sure you have the Move Tool selected when copying? 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you please post screenshots with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, Paths, …) visible to illustrate? 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Copy-/Pasting Layers is a newish thing in Photoshop so I would recommend the old cmd-J and dragging the layer. 

Aside from that it seems I cannot reproduce the behaviour you describe (on Adobe Photoshop 26.2.0 and Mac OS 14.6.1). 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you please post a screenrecording or at least screenshots with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, Paths, …) visible to illustrate?