: Why can't I use the Delete key to delete in Photoshop CS6? The previous version of Photoshop I used was CS4 and whenever I selected a portion of an image with the magic wand and hit Delete,

@Rambettina927

I had the same issue and found this solution.
Do not "place" the image but open the original image in Photoshop then "copy and paste" it into your document. The image must be pasted and NOT PLACED.
The delete/backspace will work using the marquee only if the image is pasted.

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@Martha945

It seems that Adobe changed the way you can delete a selection in the newer versions of Photoshop since CS4. I use the latest version of Photoshop CC, and the suggestion that Webdesign made works very well on a locked layer!


Make a selection
Press Command + Delete


The fill dialogue does not appear, and the selection is deleted.

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@Steve758

Step 1) Make sure layer is NOT LOCKED

Step 2) Rasterize the layer

Now you can use the delete key on your keyboard to delete unwanted pictures.

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@Phylliss782

Delete button works even on locked layer if you press cmd+delete

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@Alves566

What would have been nice is if they added the "clear"(delete) button to the right click menu. Right click then clear & done! Easy one hand operation rather then 2 hands. Just my personal choice really.
In fact, just make it so that you can put just about any option you would like in the right click menu. SWEET! ^^ Adobe, please check it. :D

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@Miguel516

To delete the area in the selection:


Make sure that the layer is NOT LOCKED.
Press delete.


Otherwise, if it is locked, the fill dialogue will appear.

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@Martha945

You have to press Cmd+X ("Cut") to delete a marked section in Photoshop CS6.

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@Ann6370331

After google-searching this problem and not being too happy with everyone else's "fixes", I have come up with my own TWO solutions to this problem of the Delete key bringing up a fill dialogue box instead of just simply deleting the selection:

1) Use 32bit Photoshop. When I use 32bit PS CS5, the Delete key works exactly as it always has before.

In 64bit Photoshop CS5, I have the same problem as everyone else. So if you can't use 32bit PS for whatever reason, the other easy fix is...

2) In 64bit PS go to Edit > Keyboard shortcuts... in your drop down menu. In the dialogue box that opens, go to Edit and find the Clear command. Assign a shortcut key to that command. It works exactly like the delete key by clearing your selection with whatever your background color is set to. (Unfortunately the Delete key cannot be assigned as a shortcut, however, any single-stroke keyboard shortcut is preferable to this "opening up a dialog every time you hit "delete" nonsense).

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@Nimeshi706

Adobe changed the Delete/Backspace key functionality in Photoshop CS6 when you press the Delete/Backspace key on a locked Background layer.

Since pressing the Delete/Backspace key on a locked background layer merely filled the selection with the background color, Adobe changed the functionality to provide more options when hitting the key. By bringing up the Fill dialog you can now choose which color is used to fill the selection rather than the app automatically using the background color. If you still want it to fill with the set background color, simply choose that from the top drop down menu in the dialog box and hit OK.

If you want the Delete/Backspace key to delete to a transparent area, you need to first unlock the background layer.

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@Candy945

I'm going to assume the layer is the background layer and/or locked.

Try Alt + double clicking on the layer thumbnail.

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