How to Unlock All Layers in Photoshop (Including the Background)

Locked layers stop you from moving content, painting where you need to, or merging in the order you want. If you import a file, open an old PSD, or inherit a project from someone else, you may need to unlock all layers in Photoshop before you can work normally. The Background layer is the most common culprit, but partial locks on many layers can slow you down just as much. Below is a practical path from manual fixes to a single action when you want every layer editable again.

Photoshop uses locks for protection. The Background is a special case: it is locked by default so you do not accidentally move it or leave transparent pixels where the format does not support them. Regular layers can show a full lock or partial locks (position, transparent pixels, image pixels, all). Templates, stock PSDs, and client files often mix locked and unlocked layers. Understanding that the Background is not a normal layer explains why double-clicking or converting it is usually the first step when only the bottom layer is stuck.

To unlock all layers in Photoshop when the problem is only the Background, treat it as its own step:

1. In the Layers panel, double-click the Background name (or select it and choose Layer > New > Layer from Background).
2. Confirm the name in the dialog if one appears. Photoshop turns the Background into Layer 0 (or your chosen name) without the lock.

After that, the former Background behaves like any other layer. If you still see locks on layers above it, continue with the next section.

When several layers show a lock icon, you can clear many of them at once:

1. In the Layers panel, select the layers you need to unlock. Click the first layer, then Shift-click the last to select a range, or Cmd (Mac) / Ctrl (Windows)-click to add layers to the selection.
2. Click the Lock icon in the layer options bar, or toggle the specific lock icons (position, pixels, etc.) so nothing remains active for those layers.

If some layers use different lock types, you may need to select subsets and clear locks in passes. There is no single default menu item named “unlock everything” in every situation, which is why power users often rely on actions or scripts when the document has dozens of layers.

When you want every layer in the document unlocked in one go, including the Background, automation saves time. Configurator Reloaded 2 is a Photoshop plugin for building custom panels with drag-and-drop. It includes workflow scripts for common tasks. Among them, Unlock all Layers removes locks from all layers, including the background layer, so you can move, edit, or reorganize without clicking through each row in the panel.

Add the script from the Workflow Scripts section to a container, run it once, and your stack is ready for the next step. Details and related scripts are on the Workflow Scripts page, including a direct link to the Unlock all Layers section at /workflow-scripts/#unlock-all-layers.

Drag-and-drop layout in Configurator Reloaded 2 lets you place workflow scripts such as Unlock all Layers where you use them most.

The Workflow Scripts area in the plugin lists Layer utilities alongside retouching and mask tools. Learn more on the Workflow Scripts page.

After you unlock all layers, consider saving a copy before major structural edits, especially for client files. If you only needed freedom to nudge one group, you can re-lock sensitive layers when you are done to avoid accidental edits. For day-to-day work, combining clear layer names with quick access to Unlock all Layers reduces friction when files arrive partially locked.

If you want custom panels, multiple workspaces, and one-click helpers like Unlock all Layers, try Configurator Reloaded with the free trial and see how much time you save on file prep.