Duplicate Layer in Photoshop (Windows)
Press Ctrl + J to copy the active layer, or the selected area, to a new layer.
What it does
With no selection, the command makes a copy of the whole active layer right above it. With a selection, only the selected pixels go to the new layer, which is a common way to lift an object off its background. The original stays as it was, so the copy is a safe place to try a filter or a retouch.
The same shortcut on other platforms
| Platform | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Windowsthis page | Ctrl + J |
| macOS |
More Photoshop shortcuts: Layers
- Merge layers
- Group layers
- Send Layer Back
- Bring Layer Forward
- New layer
All 18 Photoshop shortcuts for WindowsThe full list has a search and a printable PDF.
Questions
What is the Photoshop shortcut for Duplicate Layer on Windows?
Ctrl+J. Press it to copy the active layer, or the selected area, to a new layer.
What is the shortcut for Duplicate Layer in Photoshop on macOS?
On macOS it is ⌘J.