How do I deselect an area?

Open Menu → Select → Deselect to clear the active selection. This removes the selection boundary without deleting the selected pixels.

You can also use these shortcuts:

• Desktop: press Ctrl+D on Windows or Cmd+D on macOS. These are the default bindings; check your shortcut settings if you have changed them.
• Rectangular selection: in Replace mode, tap or click outside the existing selection without dragging. Do not assume this gesture works with every selection tool: the Magic Wand may select a new area instead.
• iPhone, iPad, and Android: when a selection is active, a deselect button may appear in the tool options, depending on the current tool and selection mode. Its position depends on the layout; use the Select menu if it is not visible.

Deselecting commits an active transform before clearing the selection. To reverse a move or transform, use Undo. For positioning selected artwork, see move selected pixels.