Open or create a Photoshop document.
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Get started
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Smart objects
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Save and export
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Create linked Smart Objects
Last updated on
2 Dec 2025
Learn how to link external files to your document in Adobe Photoshop to reuse assets and update sources automatically.
Select File > Place Linked.
Select the file you want to use as a linked Smart Object.
Right-click and select Place.
The linked Smart Object is created and displayed in the Layers panel with a linkicon.
Tip
Hold Alt-key (Windows) or option-key (macOS) and drag a file into a document to create a linked Smart Object automatically. Turn off Preferences > General > Always Create Smart Objects While Placing to place files as regular layers.
