SizeSpec

Why can't I crop a photo? Fixes for every app

Updated · 2 min read

Short answer

The usual causes are: nothing is selected, the picture is locked or part of a group or background, or the file is read-only. Select the picture itself, unlock or ungroup it, and work on a copy.

Find your app

  • Mac Preview

    Likely cause
    Crop stays grey until you draw a selection.
    What to do
    Show the Markup toolbar, pick Rectangular Selection, drag over the part to keep, then Tools > Crop. See how to crop a photo on Mac.

  • Canva

    Likely cause
    The element is locked, is the page background, or sits in a frame.
    What to do
    Click the lock icon to unlock, choose Detach image from background, or double-click the photo in the frame. See how to crop a photo in Canva.

  • PowerPoint and Word

    Likely cause
    The picture is not selected, is grouped, or is a background fill.
    What to do
    Click the picture itself, ungroup, or use Format Background for a background picture. See how to crop a picture in Word and PowerPoint.

  • Photoshop

    Likely cause
    No document is open, or another mode or tool is active.
    What to do
    Press Esc, open a document, and press C for the Crop tool. See how to crop a photo in Photoshop.

  • iPhone Photos

    Likely cause
    The photo is in a shared album, so you cannot edit it.
    What to do
    Save the photo to your own library first, then crop it. See how to crop a photo on iPhone.
Why Crop does not work, and what to try
AppLikely causeWhat to do
Mac PreviewCrop stays grey until you draw a selection.Show the Markup toolbar, pick Rectangular Selection, drag over the part to keep, then Tools > Crop. See how to crop a photo on Mac.
CanvaThe element is locked, is the page background, or sits in a frame.Click the lock icon to unlock, choose Detach image from background, or double-click the photo in the frame. See how to crop a photo in Canva.
PowerPoint and WordThe picture is not selected, is grouped, or is a background fill.Click the picture itself, ungroup, or use Format Background for a background picture. See how to crop a picture in Word and PowerPoint.
PhotoshopNo document is open, or another mode or tool is active.Press Esc, open a document, and press C for the Crop tool. See how to crop a photo in Photoshop.
iPhone PhotosThe photo is in a shared album, so you cannot edit it.Save the photo to your own library first, then crop it. See how to crop a photo on iPhone.

Checks that work in any app

  • Select the picture itself, not the page, the slide or a group around it.
  • Unlock it. A locked layer or element cannot be changed.
  • Work on a copy. If a file is read-only, on a locked disk or in a protected folder, the app cannot save a crop. Copy it to your desktop and crop the copy.
  • Update the app. Older versions may hide or move the Crop button.

If the crop works but looks wrong

A crop that looks zoomed in is normal, since it removes the edges. If the shape is wrong, set a ratio before you crop. See how to crop a photo to a square and how to crop a photo to a specific size.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Crop greyed out in Preview?
Preview needs a selection first. Draw a rectangle with the selection tool, and the Crop command becomes available.
Why can't I crop a photo in PowerPoint?
The picture is probably not selected, or it is grouped with other objects. Click the picture itself and try again.
Why can't I crop a photo on my iPhone?
Photos in shared albums cannot be edited. Save the photo to your own library first.

Selling online? Do a whole batch at once

SizeSpec crops and resizes a batch of product photos to the size each marketplace asks for and gives you one ZIP. It crops from the centre or pads the image on white, and it works in your browser, so your files are never uploaded. It does not offer free-hand cropping of a single picture.

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