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Participant
March 22, 2019
Answered

Tools get stuck on move tool

  • March 22, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 14049 views

Hi there, I am using photoshop cc 2019 and OS high Sierra. Apologies in advance as I am no good with technical issues..hence reaching out for help from those that are!

The problem I have occurs one day and then not the next...it's just weird as I just never know as and when it will happen so it is affecting my workflow and stressing me out! But it is happening a LOT ...and with the phoneline and adobe online chat currently closed I thought I'd see if anyone else is experiencing this same issue with Photoshop cc 2019?

Basically, I will be working and all of a sudden my tools just stop functioning and the cursor just displays the move tool arrow..I cannot do anything after that.. I want to switch tools to say lasso or brush and I can't! So I am just stuck, so have to save everything and shut down and start up again..only for it to happen again shortly after..an so on!!  It really is so frustrating and time wasting.

When this happens it seems to affect my OS too ( high sierra)  as I am unable to launch any app from the bar.. when I click on an app to open it , it doesn't but instead a pop up menu appears for me to choose the app from my app folder. It also behaves strangely in other ways and just doesn't feel right like it might be a bug, however I can't see anyone on here with the same issues so far when searching.

Last week I contacted adobe online support who advised me but the same issue has come back and I have just had to muddle through due to work deadlines. I do aim to call them again on Monday but for now wanted to reach out for advise?  I am a freelance illustrator and have deadlines looming so this is quite stressful! Any help or advice would be most appreciated, thank you.

[Title shortened for brevity by moderator. Was:

"Possible bug? Tools stop functioning all of a sudden and get stuck on move tool..plus OS stops working properly. Anyone else have this issue on photoshop CC?"

    Correct answer nicolel26750775

    On a macbook with a wireless keyboard and a wacom as well - happens to me, too. For some unknown reason turning bluetooth off and then back on seems to solve it for me.

    4 replies

    Master Seb
    Participant
    October 6, 2020

    Hi all,

    Same issue. I am using Mojave and Wacom Pro 24.

    It's driving me mad!

    I have downloaded Affinity!!

    Known Participant
    October 6, 2020

    Hello, Afternoon.

    Simple trick is to turn off your "Device" bluetooth, and then turn it back on. I don't know how nor why it worked, but It worked for a few of us with the same issue. Might work for you aswell, might not. Nonetheless, if it works for you, it doesn't guarantee that the same issue won't repeat it self (in my cases it still does). When it does repeat it self, try the "Bluetooth - Off/On" trick again.

     

    I hoped I did help a little. 💛👍

    nicolel26750775Correct answer
    Participant
    August 9, 2019

    On a macbook with a wireless keyboard and a wacom as well - happens to me, too. For some unknown reason turning bluetooth off and then back on seems to solve it for me.

    Participant
    April 22, 2020

    Wow. This actually works... Thank you so much!!! 

    Known Participant
    May 5, 2020

    This technique also did help me. I am grateful to have found this answer.

    Nadia Khuzina
    Participating Frequently
    June 15, 2019

    This is why I moved away from Adobe to Affinity. This happens a lot, even on a clean installation of macOS, and there is no explanation or effort from adobe to solve.

    While a stuck spacebar could cause the issue certainly, the bug is definitely related to Wacom+PS+macOS. You can install nothing other than fresh Mojave, wacom drivers, and PS CC and this will happen.

    melissapiccone
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 22, 2019

    First, reset your Photoshop preferences and see if that fixes it.

    Preferences in Photoshop

    How much RAM do you have? I have been fighting a memory leak on my Mac recently that was causing all kinds of trouble. I think it was from Google trying to back things up. I'm on Mojave.

    Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
    Participant
    March 22, 2019

    Thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it! Unfortunately I already reset the preferences to fix this via adobe support but this was a very short term fix and my issues soon returned   I considered updating to Mojave but I am concerned this could cause even more issues after reading up on it! 

    Kevin Stohlmeyer
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 22, 2019

    Have you tried unplugging your keyboard and using the tools with just the mouse? Im wondering if you have a stuck key or the sticky key function in the Mac System Accessibility features.