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
Commenting is easier and faster when you're logged in!
Recommended for you
The Digital Art Studio: Illustrator’s New Crop Image Button
The 2017 release of Adobe Illustrator added a new feature you can use to permane...
CreativePro Tip of the Week: Make Illustrator Do the Math for You
This CreativePro Tip of the Week on making Illustrator do the math for you was s...
Creating an Out of Bounds Effect in Photoshop
Images where animals or people bust out of their background are very popular, an...