How to Select and Move an Object in Photoshop 2026 (Step-by-Step)

Part 1. What Is the Photoshop Move Tool

The Photoshop Move Tool is a basic tool used to move things inside your image. It helps you shift objects, text, shapes, or entire layers from one place to another. With this tool, you can adjust the position of an element without changing its size or quality.

It is one of the most used tools when learning how to move an object in Photoshop, especially for simple edits and layout fixes.

How to Access the Move Tool

Accessing the Move Tool is very easy. You should follow these steps to access it:

• Open your image in Photoshop.

• Find the icon that looks like a four-direction arrow (✥) at the top from the left menubar.

  

• Click on this icon to activate the Move Tool.

• Select the object or layer you want to move, then drag it to the desired position.

  

Shortcut method:

Press V on your keyboard to instantly activate the Move Tool. This is the most common move tool Photoshop shortcut used by beginners and professionals.

Photoshop also includes the content aware move tool in Photoshop, which lets you patch-move an object while Photoshop fills the background automatically for a cleaner result.

People Also Read:

How to Extend Background in Photoshop 2026 [Easy for Beginners]

Part 2. How to Select an Object in Photoshop?

Before moving anything, the object must be selected properly. How to select something in Photoshop is an important step because a clean selection makes editing easier and more accurate.

Photoshop offers simple tools for beginners and advanced options for better control when learning how to select an object in Photoshop:

Quick Selection Tool (Fast & Beginner-Friendly)

This tool is great for quick edits. It lets you “paint” over an object, and Photoshop automatically selects similar areas.

To use this tool:

• Open your image in Photoshop. Go to the left toolbar and choose the Quick Selection Tool (brush icon).

  

• Click and drag over the object you want to select.

  

• Release the mouse once the object is fully highlighted.

• If needed, use the minus option to remove extra selected areas.

Object Selection Tool (AI-Powered)

This tool uses AI to detect objects automatically, making it easier to process complex images. To use the object selection tool:

• Choose the Object Selection Tool (above Quick Selection Tool) from the left toolbar.

• Turn on Object Finder from the top options bar.

  

• Go over the object and click once when it highlights.

  

• Photoshop will create the selection automatically.

Shortcut method:

Press W on your keyboard to activate the Object Selection Tool quickly.

Lasso Tools (Manual Control)

Lasso tools allow manual selection for more control over shape and edges. For this tool:

• Open your image in Photoshop. Go to the left toolbar and locate the Lasso Tool icon (it looks like a rope loop).

  

• Click and hold the icon to see the options: Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, and Magnetic Lasso.

• Choose the Lasso tool you want to use.

• Carefully draw around the object you want to select.

• Close the outline by connecting it back to the starting point.

• Release the mouse to complete the selection.

People Also Read:

How to Remove Blemishes in Photoshop with 5 Tools

Part 3. How to Move a Selection or Object in Photoshop

After selecting an object, the next step is moving it to the right spot. Photoshop makes it simple to adjust anything in your design. For example, you can easily learn how to move text in Photoshop to reposition headings or captions in your image.

Using the Photoshop Move Tool

The Move Tool is the easiest way to shift layers or objects in Photoshop. To do so:

• Click on the layer or object you want to move.

• Select the Move Tool from the toolbar. You can also press V on your keyboard.

• Drag the object to the new position.

• Release the mouse to place it.

This method is perfect when you need to know how to move a layer in Photoshop quickly and accurately without affecting other parts of your design.

Free Transform (Move with Scaling/Rotation)

Free Transform allows you to move, resize, or rotate objects in one step. For this:

• Select the object or layer you want to adjust.

• Press Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (Mac) to activate Free Transform. You can also go to “Edit” and press “Free Transform”.

  

• Drag the object to reposition it.

• Use the handles to scale or rotate if needed.

• Press Enter to apply the changes.

This is especially helpful when you want to find out how to move an image in Photoshop while adjusting its size or angle.

Content-Aware Move Tool (Seamless Repositioning)

The Content-Aware Move Tool moves an object and fills the original area automatically, so it looks natural. You can use this tool easily with these steps:

• Select the Content-Aware Move Tool from the toolbar (under the Spot Healing Brush).

  

• Draw a selection around the object you want to move.

• Drag it to the new position.

• Photoshop fills the original space seamlessly.

• Press Enter to finalize the move.

This tool is very useful once you know how to select an object in Photoshop. You can move items without leaving gaps or mistakes.

⚡ Part 4. What To Do Photoshop Move Tool Not Working & Best Easier Alternative

If you're dealing with move tool not working in Photoshop, here are the top causes:

• Auto-Select disabled in options bar (enable it to click-and-move objects easily).
• Layer locked (unlock in Layers panel).
• Show Transform Controls enabled (uncheck to avoid resize handles interfering).
• Wrong layer selected.
• Active selection (deselect with Ctrl+D).
• Reset tool/preferences if needed.

Easier Alternative: 4DDiG AI Photo Enhancer

Frustrated with manual tools? 4DDiG AI Photo Enhancer uses AI for intuitive edits.Key features for moving/repositioning:

• AI Expand Image: Prompt-based expansion/uncrop/generative fill (e.g., extend canvas, then prompt to remove object and fill background seamlessly).

• AI Image Style Transfer: One-click styles, combinable with generative edits.

  

4ddig ai image style transfer

Unique Features Compared to Photoshop's Move Tool

• Prompt-based editing: Describe changes in natural language (e.g., "move the person to the left and extend grass background"). No need for precise selections, lasso tools, or layer masks.
• Seamless AI filling: Automatically generates realistic content to fill gaps after "moving" elements, often better than Photoshop's Content-Aware Move (which can leave artifacts).
• Beginner-friendly: No steep learning curve; one-click models for enhancement, upscaling to 4K, denoising, and face restoration.
• Additional perks: Batch processing, offline work, colorize old photos, and more formats supported.

People Also Ask about Moving an Object in Photoshop

To freely move an object, first select it using any selection tool. Then choose the Move Tool from the toolbar or press V on your keyboard. Click on the object and drag it anywhere on the canvas. If you want more freedom, use Ctrl + T to move it while also adjusting size or rotation.

Start by clicking on the object’s layer in the Layers panel or selecting the object on the image. Activate the Move Tool and place your cursor over the object. Click, hold, and drag it to the new position. Release the mouse to place it exactly where you want.

Ctrl + T activates the Free Transform tool. It allows you to move an object and also resize, rotate, or flip it. You can drag the object to a new position or use the corner handles to change its size. Press Enter to apply the changes.

This usually happens if the wrong layer is selected or no object is selected. It can also occur if a selection tool is active instead of the Move Tool. Check the Layers panel, unlock the layer, and make sure the Move Tool is selected.

Conclusion

Learning how to move an object in Photoshop is useful when something in your photo just doesn’t look right. You can move text, images, or objects using different tools, but the steps can feel long, especially for beginners.

If you want a quicker way, our 4DDiG AI Photo Enhancer is worth trying. Its AI tools make moving and editing objects easy. Give 4DDiG a try and edit your photos with less effort.