When you’re working in a Photoshop document containing multiple layers, it can be handy to use the Auto-Select option. With this turned on, you just click in the image with the Move tool to select a different layer in the Layers panel.
But Auto-Select can also be a nuisance when you don’t want it, causing you to accidentally switch layers. So for many users, the best option is to leave Auto-Select turned off and toggle it on with a keyboard shortcut. Just hold the Ctrl key in Windows or the Command key on a Mac. Auto-Select will be enabled until you release the key.
It also works in the opposite way—you can leave Auto-Select turned on in the Options bar and temporarily turn it off by holding Ctrl/Command.
This article was last modified on January 12, 2026
This article was first published on April 24, 2017
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