How do you unlock a layer?

How do you unlock a layer?

Command + / (Mac) | Control + / (Win) toggles between locking and unlocking all selected layers. (Clicking on the lock icon will also unlock a layer). Command + Option +/ (Mac) | Control + Alt + / (Win) unlocks all layers (except the Background layer).

How do I unlock my background layer?

A quick way to unlock the background layer is by clicking on the padlock icon and dragging it to the trash. An even quicker way is to hold down the Alt (Mac: Option) key and double click the padlock! After Photoshop CC 2014, you can simply click on the padlock to unlock.

Why is my Photoshop layer locked?

Command + Option +/ (Mac) | Control + Alt + / (Win) unlocks all layers (except the Background layer). In addition, there is a new menu item Layer> Lock Layers. Specific to locking Shape layers: If a shape layer is locked, it now behaves properly and cannot be selected (in previous versions it could).

Why can I unlock background layer in Photoshop?

When you open an image in Photoshop, the background layer is usually locked in the Layers palette. To unlock it, you must convert the background to either a new layer or a smart object. Alternatively, you can duplicate the background layer, make your edits in the new layer, and then merge them together.

Why can’t I duplicate layer Photoshop?

You can do what you are asking, but you need to copy the 'contents' of a particular layer, rather than the layer itself. That means you need to use Ctrl a (Cmd a) to select all, then Ctrl c to copy it. You can then paste that to a new layer in the same or a different document.