How Do I Fix Color Picker in Photoshop?

September 8, 2023 photoshop

Are you having trouble with the color picker in Photoshop? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this tutorial, we'll guide you through the steps to fix the color picker in Photoshop and get it back to working as it should.

1. Reset Photoshop Preferences

If you're facing issues with the color picker, sometimes resetting the Photoshop preferences can do the trick. Here's how:

Step 1: Close Photoshop if it's open.
Step 2: Hold down Shift + Ctrl + Alt (Windows) or Shift + Command + Option (Mac) and simultaneously click on the Photoshop icon to launch it.
Step 3: A dialog box will appear asking if you want to delete the Adobe Photoshop Settings file. Click 'Yes' to confirm.

This will reset all your preferences in Photoshop, including the color picker settings.

2. Update Photoshop

If resetting preferences didn't solve your issue, make sure that you're using the latest version of Photoshop. Adobe frequently releases updates that address various bugs and performance issues, including problems with the color picker.

To update Photoshop:

Step 1: Open Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App.
Step 2: If an update is available for Photoshop, you'll see an 'Update' button next to it. Click on 'Update' to install the latest version of Photoshop.

3. Check GPU Settings

In some cases, issues with the color picker can be related to the graphics processing unit (GPU) settings. Follow these steps to check and adjust your GPU settings:

Step 1: Open Photoshop and go to 'Edit' > 'Preferences' > 'Performance'.
Step 2: In the 'Performance' preferences, check the 'Use Graphics Processor' option. If it's already enabled, try disabling it and see if the color picker starts working correctly. If it's disabled, try enabling it.
Step 3: Click on 'Advanced Settings' and experiment with different options until you find one that works best for you.

4. Reinstall Photoshop

If all else fails, you can try reinstalling Photoshop. This will give you a fresh installation of the software, which may resolve any underlying issues causing problems with the color picker.

To reinstall Photoshop:

Step 1: Uninstall Photoshop from your computer using the appropriate uninstallation method for your operating system.
Step 2: Download the latest version of Photoshop from the Adobe website or Creative Cloud Desktop App.
Step 3: Install Photoshop using the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen instructions.

We hope these steps have helped you fix the color picker in Photoshop. Remember to always keep your software up-to-date and maintain a backup of your preferences and files to avoid any inconvenience in case of unexpected issues.

If you're still facing difficulties, we recommend reaching out to Adobe Support for further assistance.

In Conclusion

The color picker is an essential tool in Photoshop, and issues with it can be frustrating. However, by following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you should be able to resolve most common color picker problems and get back to your creative work without any hindrance.