Many Photoshop users encounter a frustrating issue where the drag-and-drop functionality suddenly stops working. Instead of easily importing images by dragging them into the workspace, users are forced to rely on the ‘Open File’ menu option, disrupting their workflow. This guide provides a clear and practical solution to resolve this problem on Windows systems.
Whether you are running Windows 7, Windows 10, or the latest Windows 11, this article will walk you through two effective methods to fix the issue: tweaking the Windows registry or adjusting the User Account Control (UAC) settings. There’s no need to reinstall Photoshop or explore overly technical workarounds. These straightforward steps will have the drag-and-drop functionality back in no time.
Why Does the Drag-and-Drop Problem Occur?
The issue often stems from Windows security settings that interfere with Photoshop’s operation. Changes in UAC configurations or incorrect registry values are common culprits. Interestingly, this problem has been discussed in various forums and even in the feedback section of Photoshop’s official website, highlighting its prevalence among users.
Before proceeding, note that this guide is exclusively for Windows users. The fixes outlined here do not apply to Mac or Linux due to their entirely different file systems and OS structures.
Let’s dive into the step-by-step process to resolve the drag-and-drop issue in Photoshop and restore smooth functionality.
Steps to Fix Photoshop Drag and Drop Not Working Issue
These steps apply to Windows systems (Windows 7, 10, and 11). Unfortunately, they won’t work on Mac or Linux due to differences in file systems and operating systems.
Fix 1: Edit the Windows Registry
- Press Win + S to open the search bar, type
regedit
, and select the regedit Run Command. - In the Registry Editor, navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
. - Locate EnableLUA on the right-hand side and double-click it.
- In the value field, change 1 to 0 and ensure the Base is set to Hexadecimal.
- Click OK to save changes.
- Restart your computer to apply the changes.
- Open Photoshop and check if the drag-and-drop feature is working.
Note: The EnableLUA
change disables certain UAC prompts. If you’re concerned about security, ensure you’re not installing untrusted software.
Fix 2: Adjust User Account Control Settings
- Open the Control Panel on your Windows system.
- Navigate to System and Security > Action Center.
- Click Change User Account Control settings.
- Move the slider to the lowest setting, which says Never Notify.
- Click OK, then restart your computer.
- Launch Photoshop and verify if the issue is resolved.
Note: This solution is quicker but may not work for all systems. If it doesn’t work, try the registry edit solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What if the registry and UAC fixes don’t solve the drag-and-drop issue in Photoshop?
If the main solutions don’t help, try these additional methods:
- Right-click the Photoshop shortcut or
.exe
file and disable “Run as administrator” under compatibility settings. - Reset Photoshop preferences by holding Alt + Ctrl + Shift (Windows) or Command + Option + Shift (Mac) while launching the app.
- Check for recent Windows updates that might be causing issues.
- Use an alternative method like File > Place Embedded or File > Place Linked instead of drag-and-drop.
- Make sure antivirus or security tools aren’t blocking drag-and-drop features.
2. How can I fix drag-and-drop problems on a Mac?
Mac users can follow these steps:
- Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access, and add Photoshop to the list.
- Instead of dropping files into the Photoshop window, drag them onto the Photoshop icon in the dock to open as new documents.
- Reset preferences by holding Command + Option + Shift when opening Photoshop.
- Confirm that your macOS version supports your current Photoshop version.
3. Will changing EnableLUA or UAC settings affect other apps?</
Yes, these settings apply to the entire system:
- Disabling EnableLUA or lowering UAC affects how all apps run, not just Photoshop.
- It reduces security prompts, which may make your system slightly less secure.
- If security is a concern, try using File > Place instead of changing these settings.
- Always keep your antivirus up to date if you decide to reduce system security settings.
4. I’m seeing an error that apps can’t run with the built-in administrator account. What should I do?
This error is common after changing UAC or registry settings:
- Don’t set EnableLUA to 0; instead, use a minimal value.
- Uncheck “Run as administrator” from Photoshop’s compatibility settings.
- Create a standard user account just for Photoshop if needed.
- If you require admin access for other software, switch settings only when using Photoshop.
5. Does the drag-and-drop issue affect Photoshop CC 2023/2024?
Yes, and here’s how to handle it:
- For Photoshop CC 2024, don’t run it as administrator—this causes drag-and-drop to stop working.
- Users on version 25.7 report issues; rolling back to 25.6 has helped some.
- Make sure both the Photoshop executable and the taskbar shortcut have “Run as administrator” disabled.
- For newer versions, adjusting compatibility settings is often more effective than registry changes.
6. Will I need to apply these fixes again after updating Photoshop?
Possibly, yes:
- Some Photoshop updates reset compatibility settings, so drag-and-drop may break again.
- If that happens, check if “Run as administrator” was turned back on.
- Registry changes usually remain unless a major Windows update reverses them.
- You may need to redo the steps after installing new texture packs or assets.
Quick Recap
- Fix 1: Edit the Windows registry (
EnableLUA
to 0). - Fix 2: Adjust UAC settings to the lowest level.
- These fixes are for Windows systems only and don’t work on Mac or Linux.
Conclusion
We hope these steps resolved the Photoshop drag-and-drop issue on your Windows system. If you still face problems or have additional questions, drop them in the comments section below. Once resolved, you can enjoy a smoother editing experience in Photoshop.
worked!!
thank you so much.
Thank you for the feedback.
Sorry, I have followed your directions, but it still doesn’t work. 😢
May I know, is there any error happening?
Thanks for your help
You are welcome Walid.
It worked, thanks for the solution 🗣
you are welcome
Did not fix the problem. Using PS18 version with Windows10. Any other suggestions?
can you provide additional details please. are you getting any error message or nothing showing ?
Hi, I did the same and it worked for me however I am not able now to open any application on my computer as it say “App/Photos can’t be open with a built-in administrator account.” So I changed the User Account Control Setting to Enable again for the apps/photos to open again which gets me back to the can’t drag photo to the photoshop problem. Can you help me fix this? Thanks!
Did you restarted the PC after doing that ?
it works with windows 10 enterprises (Photoshop CC 2019)
It worked for me too! Thanks a lot
Thanks it works like a magic..!!
Here these below 2 things are to be done before thinking that it doesn’t works
1. Restart PC and then check whether it is working or not.
2. Try both ways i,e Run photoshop as administrator and not as administrator.
Thanks it works, U are brilliant.
worked a treat – CC 20.0.0. Many thanks 🙂
Happy to hear that.
Worked for me, Thanks bro!
thank you so much
ITS NOT WORKING I SEE THIS WAY MULTIPUL TIME AND I TRY IT BUT ITS NOT WORKING WHY
Hi Hari,
Sorry to hear that, can you tell me which version of Photoshop you are using.
THIS IS WORKKKKKK, THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUU
You are welcome.
Hey man it works for photoshop CS6
Hey Mark, Thank you for confirming.
Hello ,I have photoshop version 2012 it didn’t work please help (I have windows 10 )
Hi Layan,
Thank you for the information, I will check and update accordingly.
It did not work with me😪, i’ve been trying for 2 days, I so made😡 cause I can’t work.
Any mother solution please?
Hi Dounia,
Can you please let me know the version of PS you are using?
Hey, I did this and it worked! But everytime I download a new texture pack or any art asset to use, it happens again. Is there something I can fix in the setting permanently so I don’t have to do this every single time I download a new design asset to create with?
Hi Samantha,
Thank you for letting us know. We will check that and let you know once we find a solution.
Regards.
thanks bro….
Welcome, Pradeep.
Hello ! How do I do this on a MacBook ?
Hi Lexi,
Sorry to hear that you faced the same issue on Mac too. Currently, the fix is only for Windows. For Mac, and we will take a look and update the artcile accordingly. Thank you for letting us know about that.
after following every step it still not dragging files
May I know the photoshop version and the windows you are using?
Woooooooooooow !!! You are a LIFE Saver !! WORKED like a Charm !!
I Can’t Thank you enough 🙂
Happy to hear that.
didnt work
Are you getting any errors?
It’s not working. None of the instructions that are constantly repeated on the Internet work 100%. I’m using the new Photoshop CC 2024. If PS is running as administrator then it can’t drag any file, the cursor shows as a crossed out circle. If I turn off administrator run, and turn off LUA, the cursor already has the correct shape when dragging (arrow with plus sign in a square). But nothing happens. Just still a blank area. Fuck adobe.
If the standard fixes like disabling “Run this program as an administrator” and modifying the “EnableLUA” registry key are not working for Photoshop CC 2024, you can try these alternative methods to import files:
While these methods require a few extra steps compared to simple drag and drop from the file system, they should allow you to reliably place files into Photoshop CC 2024 until Adobe addresses the drag and drop issue in a future update. The root cause seems to be changes in Windows 11 affecting this functionality in Photoshop
I hope one of these workarounds helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.