Change Text in Photoshop: Edit, Replace, and Troubleshoot

Updated 10 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes—you can change text in Photoshop by selecting its type layer with the Type tool and editing the text, formatting, or placement. If the text is part of a flattened image rather than a live type layer, Photoshop cannot simply edit it as text; you must cover or remove the old lettering and create a new type layer.

Identify Whether the Text Is Editable

Photoshop stores editable text on a type layer, which is marked with a T icon in the Layers panel. When you open a layered PSD file, select that layer to see whether the words are still live text. A type layer can usually be edited without affecting other artwork, although its font may be substituted if the original font is unavailable.

Text in a JPEG, PNG, screenshot, or flattened image is generally just pixels. It may look like text, but Photoshop no longer has the characters, font settings, or type layer that created it. Some layered files may also have been rasterized, so the presence of visible lettering alone does not establish that it is editable.

Change Text on a Type Layer

Open the image and choose the Type tool from the toolbar, or press T.
In the Layers panel, select the type layer containing the words you want to change. If you are unsure which layer it is, use the Move tool with layer selection enabled or click likely type layers one at a time.
Click inside the text on the canvas, or select the text layer and click in its text area. Drag over the words you want to replace. To change all the text, use Select All while editing the text.
Type the replacement wording. Use the options bar or the Character panel to adjust font, size, style, color, spacing, and alignment.
Click the checkmark in the options bar, choose another tool, or use the relevant commit shortcut for your operating system to finish editing. Save the document as a PSD to preserve layers; export a copy in a format such as JPEG or PNG when you need a flattened image.

Take care not to create a new type layer by clicking an empty area of the canvas before selecting the existing layer. If the cursor is not inside the original text when you type, Photoshop may add new text instead of replacing the old wording.

Change Font, Size, Color, or Position

To reformat only part of a sentence, select those characters while editing the type layer and change their settings. To reformat the whole layer, select the type layer and set its properties without selecting a smaller text range. The Character panel provides controls for details such as leading (space between lines), tracking (space across a selection), and baseline shift.

Font and style: Choose a font family and available style, such as regular or bold. If the font is missing, Photoshop may display a substitute; installing or activating the intended font and reopening the file can restore the expected appearance.
Size: Adjust the type size in the options bar or Character panel. Check the text at the image’s intended display size, since a size that looks right when zoomed in may be too small in the final graphic.
Color: Select the text or layer, then choose a type color. If a layer style or other effect changes its appearance, inspect those effects as well.
Position: Finish text editing, select the type layer, and use the Move tool to reposition it. Keep the layer selected so you do not move the background or another object by mistake.

Photoshop offers point type, created by clicking and typing, and paragraph type, created by dragging out a text box. Paragraph type wraps within the box; changing its dimensions can alter line breaks without changing the words. Point type usually continues along a line until you add line breaks or change its layout.

Replace Text That Is Part of an Image

If there is no editable type layer, replacement takes two jobs: make the old lettering less visible, then add new text that fits the design. Work on a duplicate layer or a separate blank layer when possible so you can revise the cleanup without permanently changing the original.

Inspect the background. A plain, solid background is usually easy to cover with a matching color. A textured or detailed background needs more careful reconstruction.
Remove or cover the old words. Depending on the image, tools such as the Spot Healing Brush, Healing Brush, Clone Stamp, or Content-Aware fill can help reconstruct nearby image detail. They may leave artifacts, particularly over patterns, edges, or faces, so zoom in and review the result.
Add a new type layer. Choose the Type tool and create point or paragraph text. Match the new wording’s font, approximate weight, size, color, alignment, and line spacing to the surrounding design.
Check the blend. Compare letter edges, shadows, perspective, and background texture. A clean-looking replacement may require transforming the new layer or rebuilding a shadow or outline as a separate effect.

There is no universal one-click method that can recover the original wording or font from flattened pixels. Automated selection or generative editing features can sometimes help with removal, but they may alter nearby image details; inspect the result rather than assuming it is exact. For a complex image, returning to the source layered file is often the most reliable option.

Common Problems and Fixes

The Type tool adds another layer: Select the existing type layer first, then click within its text. If the text has already been rasterized, a new type layer is expected; it will not restore editability to the old pixels.
The text will not accept edits: Confirm that the selected layer is a type layer and that you are in text-editing mode. A locked layer, a layer mask selected instead of the text, or a rasterized layer can explain why typing does not change the words.
The layout shifts after editing: Replacement words may be longer or shorter, changing line wraps in a paragraph box. Resize the text box or adjust the font size, tracking, or wording while preserving the intended layout.
The font looks different: Check whether Photoshop substituted an unavailable font. A substitute can change character widths and line breaks even when the size appears unchanged.
The text disappears after saving: Check layer visibility and confirm the file was saved in a format that retains layers if you need to edit it later. A flattened export does not preserve editable type.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit text in a JPEG in Photoshop?
Not as a text layer. A JPEG normally stores the lettering as pixels, so you need to remove or cover the existing words and add new text. If you can obtain the original layered file, edit its type layer instead.

How do I select all text in a Photoshop text layer?
Select the type layer, click inside its text with the Type tool, and use the Select All command for your operating system. Make sure the text cursor is active; otherwise, Select All may affect the document or another interface element.

Can I change only one word without changing the rest?
Yes. Enter text-editing mode, select the word or characters, and type the replacement. You can also apply formatting to just that selection, though its width may change the line layout.

Why is Photoshop using a different font?
The font used by the original document may not be available on your computer. Photoshop can substitute another font, changing the appearance and spacing. Make the intended font available, then reopen or update the document as appropriate.

Can Photoshop restore text after it has been rasterized?
No. Rasterizing converts type into image pixels and discards its editable text properties. You can recreate the lettering manually, but the original words and font settings are not embedded in those pixels.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.