Greyed out tools

[John218586479pu3]

I have some greyed out tools in photoshop elements 2022.  I haven't been able to resolve this issue and haven't found anything in the support community about it that helped.  I tried to contact customer support chat and this is how it ended.

Syed, I believe this is the 4th time I have contacted tech support this evening. On each occasion, after being transferred to a tech support person, I eventually get the following message "While this conversation has ended, feel free to come back anytime you need help". I assume I am being cut off by the tech support person who doesn't want to deal with the problem.  Syed immediately cut off the chat at this point.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised although I was hoping I might get someone, maybe a more experienced tech support person, who would try and resolve the problem.

Anyone have any advice?  I am using a Macbook Pro running the latest OS.

[Walter_H]

Hi John, I am a Windows user but I assume that PSE works pretty much the same Windows vs Mac. The editing tools on the top menu bar will be greyed out if you do not have a photo open in PSE. Open a photo and then look at those tools and you'll probably see that they are available for use.

[John218586479pu3]

I tried several photos.   Always the same problem.

[Test Screen Name]

And, if that isn't it, please post a screen shot showing the problem, and tell us which exact tools you mean. Have a photo open, but make sure it has no personal or private info in it, as the world will see.

[Glenn 8675309]

Sounds like you're in quick mode.  Gotta be in expert mode to not have stuff greyed out.  You could  be in the guded edit mode, but my money is on you're in quick mode.

[Walter_H]

It does not make any difference what mode you're in, either Quick, Guided, or Expert, the editing tools will be greyed out if you do not have a photo or image open in PSE because there is nothing for them to work on.

[John218586479pu3]

I was in expert mode.  I also tried with several different photos.

[John218586479pu3]

Tried differnt modes including expert.

[pbarkas]

I am having the same problem only the choices in the drop-down menu can't be seen at all unless the cursor is hovering over them.  I've never had this problem with PE in the years I've worked with it, but I came across it in one of the computers at the museum where I work. I tried everything to find a way to fix it, but I had to give up and order another copy of PE.  This time the menu items are greyed out.  I was in Expert mode and had a picture I was trying to work on, so that isn't the problem. I am using a Lenovo laptop.

[davidsimp]

I was having the same problem so switched to the Selection Brush and when I tried it, I got the message, "Could not use the Selection Brush because the target layer is hidden."  Ah ha! Clicked on the right layer and the "Select Subject" box was no longer grayed out! I hope that your fix also.