How to Customize Your Photoshop Toolbar and Find Hidden Tools

How to Customize Your Photoshop Toolbar and Find Hidden Tools

A cluttered toolbar can slow down your workflow when you can't find the tools you need. Meanwhile, dozens of useful tools remain hidden in groups or completely out of sight.

Learning to customize your toolbar lets you organize tools according to your actual workflow, remove tools you never use, and create presets for different types of projects.

Watch the Video

Video by PiXimperfect. Any links or downloads mentioned by the creator are available only on YouTube

Practical Tips

Here are the key techniques for customizing your toolbar effectively:

  • Access hidden tools by clicking the three dots at the bottom of the toolbar, then holding and selecting "Edit Toolbar"
  • Drag tools from the right panel (extra tools) to the left panel (visible tools) to add them to your toolbar
  • Remove unused tools by dragging them from the left panel back to the right panel to free up space
  • Group related tools by dragging one tool into another's group rather than placing it as a standalone tool
  • Save your custom arrangement as a preset so you can restore it later or switch between different toolbar configurations

Explore more tutorials on customizing your workspace and discovering useful features:

Customize Your Photoshop Toolbar for an Optimized Workflow
Working in Photoshop often means navigating a toolbar filled with dozens of tools, many of which may rarely or never be used in a typical workflow. This can lead to a cluttered interface, making it challenging to quickly locate essential tools and slowing down your creative process. The default arrangement, while functional, isn't optimized for every user's specific needs, leading to wasted time searching for features. This guide demonstrates how to personalize your Photoshop toolbar by rearra
7 Overlooked Photoshop Tools That Will Save You Hours
You're probably using Photoshop the hard way. You've mastered the basics - Magic Wand for selections, Clone Stamp for removals, layer masks for compositing. But you're likely missing out on dozens of features that could cut your editing time in half. Adobe has quietly (okay, not so quietly) added dozens of time-saving features that most users never discover. Here's the thing: Photoshop's interface is overwhelming. With hundreds of tools and panels, it's natural to stick with what works and ig
Customize and Create Your Own Photoshop Tools
Unlock the Power of "Tool Presets" to Create Custom Tools & Make Your Workflow Extremely Fast! Simplify your Photoshop life by learning the concepts of Tool Presets, and then, we will explore some built-in presets to get you started. In this tutorial, we will learn to create two super useful custom tools, and also how to create your own tools according to your personal workflow in Photoshop. No matter what you do in Photoshop, from designing to retouching or even compositing, custom tools are i
Photoshop Workspace Basics: Navigation, Zooming, and Essential Interface Elements
Photoshop's interface can feel overwhelming when you first open the program. Dozens of panels, tools, and menus compete for attention, making simple tasks feel complicated. This tutorial breaks down the essential workspace elements and teaches fundamental navigation skills that form the foundation of efficient Photoshop work. Watch the Tutorial Essential Workspace Navigation Tips These core techniques will help you work more efficiently in Photoshop from day one: * Access hidden panels q
How to Fix Missing Teeth in Photoshop
Have you ever needed to fix missing teeth in a photo? It's a common issue, but luckily, Photoshop makes it easy to address. In this quick tutorial, you'll learn a simple technique to make those gaps disappear. The process is straightforward. First, use the Stamp Tool to copy the surrounding tooth enamel and fill in the missing area. Then, refine the edges using the Healing Brush to blend it seamlessly. Finally, add some subtle shading to make the repair look natural. The whole thing can be don
Photoshop's Remove Tool is Broken—What Now?
Object removal is a fundamental task in photo editing, but AI-powered tools can sometimes produce unpredictable results. It can be frustrating when a tool designed to remove an object instead replaces it with another unwanted element, disrupting your workflow and requiring extra steps to correct. This tutorial demonstrates how recent updates to the Remove Tool in Photoshop Beta solve these common issues. You will learn how to access the improved tool, use a new selection-based workflow for more

Get tutorials & freebies delivered to you.

Subscribe to the Photoshop Roadmap newsletter, a weekly roundup of new tutorials, insights and quality downloads, trusted by 6500+ readers.

You might also like

When to Use Saturation vs Vibrance for Better Color Enhancement

While vibrance gets praised for being "gentler" than saturation, the reality is more nuanced. Saturation works like a universal volume knob, boosting all colors equally, while vibrance acts like a smart equalizer, selectively enhancing less saturated areas first. Understanding when each approach serves your creative vision makes the...

How to Check Your Generative Fill Credit Balance in Photoshop

Keeping track of your AI credit usage becomes essential when working with premium generative features. Understanding your remaining balance helps you budget your edits and avoid unexpected interruptions during important projects. The credit system divides features into standard tools (like basic generative fill) that don't consume credits, and...

How to Create Realistic Depth Blur Effects in Photoshop

Creating professional depth of field effects can transform flat images into dynamic photographs with natural-looking focus transitions. Two powerful methods in Photoshop offer different advantages: Neural Filters provide automated depth detection with atmospheric effects like haze, while Camera Raw Filter delivers precise manual control with customizable bokeh shapes. Both techniques...

Three Professional Methods to Fix White Balance in Photoshop

Color casts can ruin even the best photographs, making whites appear yellow, blue, or green instead of neutral. Poor white balance destroys the natural look of your images and creates an unprofessional appearance that's immediately noticeable to viewers. These three techniques provide increasingly precise control over white balance...

Creating Dark Moody Wildlife Photo Edits in Photoshop

Dark, moody wildlife photography transforms ordinary animal portraits into dramatic, atmospheric pieces that capture the mystery and power of nature. This editing approach combines strategic lighting placement, careful color grading, and atmospheric effects to create compelling images that draw viewers into the scene. The workflow begins with essential noise reduction...

How to Create Professional Photo Composites in Photoshop

Creating compelling photo composites requires more than simply placing images together. This comprehensive tutorial demonstrates how to blend multiple elements seamlessly, from matching lighting and color to painting realistic shadows and highlights. The project showcases a dramatic scene inspired by Stranger Things, combining buildings, characters, and atmospheric effects with precise...

You’ve successfully subscribed to Photoshop Roadmap
Welcome back! You’ve successfully signed in.
Great! You’ve successfully signed up.
Success! Your email is updated.
Your link has expired
Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.