Select layers

Last updated on Oct 27, 2025

Learn how to select layers in Photoshop to edit, move, or transform them.

You can select one or multiple layers in Photoshop depending on the task. Some actions, like painting or tonal adjustments, apply only to the active layer, while others, such as moving, aligning, or transforming, can involve multiple layers. You can select layers from the Layers panel or directly in the document window. Unlike selected layers, linked layers remain linked even when the selection changes.

Select layers in the Layers panel

Open the Layers panel.

Do one of the following:

To select a single layer: Select the layer in the Layers panel.
To select multiple contiguous layers: Select the first layer, then Shift+select the last layer.
To select multiple non-contiguous layers: Ctrl+select (Windows) or Command+select (macOS) each layer in the panel.
To select all layers: Select Select > All Layers.
To select similar layers (for example, all type layers): Select one layer, then choose Select > Similar Layers.
To deselect a layer: Ctrl+select (Windows) or Command+select (macOS) the layer.
To deselect all layers: Select Select > Deselect Layers or select below the bottom layer in the panel.

Note

When selecting, Ctrl+select (Windows) or Command+select (macOS) outside the layer thumbnail. Selecting the thumbnail itself selects the non-transparent pixels in that layer.

Select layers in the document window

Select the Move tool.

Do one of the following:

In the Options bar, enable Auto Select > Layer, then select the content in the document. The top layer containing pixels under the cursor is selected.
In the Options bar, enable Auto Select > Group, then select the content in the document. The top group containing pixels under the cursor is selected. If you select an ungrouped layer, it becomes selected.
Right-click (Windows) or Control+click (macOS) in the image, then select a layer from the context menu.

Select a layer in a group

In the Layers panel, select the group.

Select the drop-down triangle to expand the group.

Drop-down triangle is highlighted in the blue top layers group in Layers panel. — Select the tiny triangle to expand the group.

Select the layer within the group.

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