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Troubleshooting >

Brush Tool Is Missing

Reason #1 - The Icon Is Missing Reason #2 - The Brush Circle Is Missing If the Above Solutions Didn't Help Tip

Reason #1 - The Icon Is Missing

The Brush tool family is located between the pink Eraser tool family and the Smart Brush tool family.

Tool Panel

Many of the tools are members of tool families.

The Brush tool family has four members.

Brush Tool Family

If you don't see the Brush tool icon . . .

Brush Tool Icon

. . . it's because one of the other family members is selected.

Impressionist Brush Tool

Color Replacement Tool

Pencil Tool

Solution

Press b to cycle through the four family members until the Brush tool is selected.

Or, right click on the tool family, and select the Brush tool from the menu.

Reason #2 - The Brush Circle Is Missing

The Brush tool, and many other brushes, display a circle.

Brush Tool Circle

Inexplicably, the circle may become a cross hairs.

Cross Hairs

Or, you not even see cross hairs.

The brush has completely disappeared.

Nothing

Solution #1

Caps Lock is on.

Press the Caps Lock key to turn it off.

Solution #2

The brush is larger than your monitor.

Reduce the size of the brush.

If the Above Solutions Didn't Help

If the above solutions didn't make the missing tool return, try the following, in the following order.

1) Save any unsaved work, close Photoshop Elements, and restart the program.

2) Restart your computer.

3) Delete the Preferences File.

4) Uninstall and reinstall Photoshop Elements.

Tip

Sometimes, it's hard to see where a brush is located.

Press and hold the space bar.

The brush circle changes to the easily seen Hand tool.

When the Space Bar Is Pressed & Held

Release the space bar to use the brush.