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If Generative Fill is missing or grayed out, check Photoshop’s version, your Adobe account and credits, the document’s color mode and bit depth, and the active selection and layer. If the control appears but generation fails, check your internet connection, regional or account access, and possible Adobe service or model issues. Save a copy before changing document settings, rasterizing, or resetting preferences.
Work through these checks before resetting preferences or reinstalling. A missing or disabled control and a generation that fails after submission can have different causes.
First, identify what “not working” means
The symptom can help you decide which checks to try first. Adobe’s troubleshooting guidance covers eligibility, account access, credits, network access, and app problems; this table is a practical way to organize those checks, not a guaranteed diagnosis.
| What you see | Checks to try |
|---|---|
| Generative Fill is gray or unavailable | Document mode and bit depth, active selection, unlocked raster layer, account access, credits, region, and Photoshop version |
| The button is missing | Photoshop version, selection and layer eligibility, account access, and current model or feature availability |
| Generation fails after you submit | Generative credits, internet connection, firewall, proxy or VPN, account access, and service or model availability |
| Photoshop freezes or crashes | GPU driver and acceleration settings, Photoshop preferences, and installation |
Adobe’s Photoshop generative AI troubleshooting guidance identifies RGB mode, 8-bit depth, an active selection, and an unlocked raster layer as requirements when Generative Fill is grayed out. Access can also depend on your Adobe account, available credits, region, internet connection, and Photoshop build.
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1. Update Photoshop and check for a known issue
Adobe recommends using the latest Photoshop version. Updating is a sensible first compatibility check, especially if the feature stopped appearing after an app update.
- Open the Creative Cloud desktop app.
- Open Apps and check for a Photoshop update.
- Install an available update, then quit and relaunch Photoshop.
- Check Adobe’s Photoshop release notes for a matching generative-feature issue or fix.
Adobe’s release notes track version-specific fixes, including cases where generative models were unavailable in Generative Fill or Generative Expand under certain conditions. A software defect is possible, but a missing button is not proof of a bug. Check the latest release notes rather than relying on a version number that may become outdated.
2. Check your Adobe account, plan, and credits
Generative Fill requires access through an Adobe account. If you use a school, company, or other managed account, an administrator may have restricted generative AI features.
- Confirm you are signed in to Photoshop with the Adobe ID associated with your plan.
- Check your balance in your Adobe account or Photoshop’s Generative Credits Usage panel.
- If you use a managed account, ask your administrator whether generative AI access is enabled.
Adobe says Generative Fill is unavailable without generative credits. Its Creative Cloud generative AI credit guidance says most standard Generative Fill generations using Adobe Firefly models use one credit per generation. Credit use and entitlements depend on the plan and selected feature or model; check the current in-app information for your account. Buying credits will not fix an incompatible document mode, unsupported layer, or missing selection.
3. Check region and internet access
Photoshop’s generative AI features require an internet connection, and availability can vary by country or region. A firewall, proxy, VPN, or managed network may also interfere with access to Adobe services.
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- Confirm your internet connection is working.
- If you suspect network filtering, ask your administrator about Adobe service access or try a trusted, administrator-approved connection.
- If the feature is unavailable because of regional or account restrictions, document changes will not restore access.
Do not permanently disable a firewall or other security software to test the feature. Adobe’s troubleshooting guidance discusses connection interference and regional availability. Availability details can vary by feature, so do not assume one published regional list applies to every Adobe AI service.
4. Set the document to RGB and 8 Bits/Channel
A document using an incompatible color mode or bit depth can leave Generative Fill unavailable. Check both settings:
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- Choose Image > Mode > RGB Color.
- Choose Image > Mode > 8 Bits/Channel.
- Create a fresh selection using a standard selection tool, such as the Rectangular Marquee, Lasso, Object Selection, or Magic Wand tool.
Save a copy before changing the mode or bit depth if you need to preserve a high-bit-depth or print-production original. Check that you are working in the intended document and that the correct layer is active.
5. Select an unlocked raster layer
Generative Fill needs an editable pixel layer. Adobe identifies locked layers and text, vector shape, or Smart Object layers that have not been rasterized as possible reasons the control may be unavailable.
- In the Layers panel, select the pixel layer you want to edit.
- If it is locked, unlock it if appropriate for your workflow.
- If the source is a Smart Object, duplicate it and preserve the original before rasterizing the working copy.
Rasterizing removes a Smart Object’s non-destructive editing properties. Do not rasterize your only copy simply to make the button appear.
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6. Make an active selection and check model availability
Make sure a selection is active before opening Generative Fill. If the selection and document appear eligible but the feature or generation is still unavailable, check the model options currently shown in Photoshop. Models and feature availability can differ by version, account, plan, and region.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Use a standard selection tool to select the area you want to change.
- Choose Generative Fill if it is available in the Contextual Task Bar.
- If a model selector is shown, choose a model that Photoshop indicates is available to you.
- Enter a prompt, or leave it blank if the current workflow supports that for your intended edit, then choose Generate.
Adobe’s release notes document version-specific model availability changes and fixes. Do not assume every model is available to every account or supported in every workflow. If a model fails, try another option that Photoshop shows as available.
7. Troubleshoot crashes, freezes, and preferences
If Photoshop freezes or crashes during generation, check the GPU and app settings. Adobe recommends updating the graphics driver and testing GPU acceleration; reinstalling should come later.
Update the graphics driver and test GPU acceleration
- Install the current graphics driver from your computer or GPU manufacturer, then restart the computer.
- Open Photoshop’s Preferences or Settings > Performance.
- Temporarily toggle Use Graphics Processor, restart Photoshop, and test again.
If the problem changes when GPU acceleration is toggled, investigate the driver or GPU compatibility. Treat this as a diagnostic step rather than automatically leaving acceleration disabled.
Reset Photoshop preferences if needed
Corrupted or incompatible preferences may cause abnormal behavior. Back up custom brushes, actions, workspaces, keyboard shortcuts, and other settings before resetting.
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- Open Preferences > General.
- Choose Reset Preferences On Quit, confirm, quit Photoshop, and launch it again.
Adobe also documents a keyboard-modified launch method for deleting the settings file. Follow the instructions in its troubleshooting article for your operating system. A reset removes customized settings, so try the account, document, and network checks first.
Reinstall only as a later step
If Photoshop is current, your account and document are eligible, and GPU and preference troubleshooting have not helped, reinstalling may be reasonable. Reinstallation will not resolve a regional restriction, administrator-disabled access, or exhausted credits.
A quick troubleshooting checklist
- Update Photoshop and check Adobe’s current release notes.
- Confirm you are signed in with the right Adobe account and check available credits.
- Ask an administrator whether generative AI access is enabled on a managed account.
- Check internet access, network filtering, and regional availability.
- Set the document to RGB and 8 Bits/Channel.
- Make a fresh selection and select an unlocked raster layer.
- Choose a model that Photoshop shows as available, if a selector is present.
- For freezes or crashes, update the GPU driver and test GPU acceleration.
- Back up custom settings before resetting preferences; consider reinstalling only if earlier checks fail.
FAQ
Why is Generative Fill gray in Photoshop?
Adobe lists a non-RGB document, a bit depth other than 8-bit, no active selection, or an unsuitable or locked layer among the causes. Account access, credits, region, and Photoshop version can also matter.
Can Generative Fill work offline?
No. Adobe requires an internet connection for Photoshop’s generative AI features. If generation fails, check your connection and whether a firewall, proxy, VPN, or managed network is blocking access.
Can I fix a missing Generative Fill control by buying credits?
Only if credits are the confirmed issue and your other requirements are met. Adobe says Generative Fill is unavailable without credits, but credits will not fix an incompatible document, unsuitable layer, missing selection, or regional or administrator restriction.
How many credits does Generative Fill use?
Adobe’s credit guidance, last updated August 17, 2026, says most standard Adobe Firefly Generative Fill generations use one credit per generation. Credit use and entitlements can vary by plan, feature, and model, so check the current information for your account.
Should I disable my firewall or VPN permanently?
No. If you suspect network interference, use a trusted, administrator-approved test or ask your network administrator about access to Adobe services. Permanent security changes are not a general fix.
Should I reinstall Photoshop if Generative Fill is unavailable?
Not as a first step. Check account access, credits, region, internet, document mode and bit depth, selection, and layer eligibility first. Reinstallation will not resolve restrictions tied to your account, region, or credits.
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The Bottom Line
Start with the reversible checks: update Photoshop, verify your Adobe account and credits, check internet access, and confirm that your document is RGB and 8-bit with an active selection on an unlocked raster layer. For crashes, test GPU settings and update the driver; reset preferences or reinstall only after simpler checks fail.
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