Retouch tool disabled in photo on Ventura

I'm able to use the Retouch tool after straightening a photo without issue.

As a test launch Photos with the Option key held down and create a new, test library.  Import some photos and test to see if the same problem persists. Does it? This tells us if the problem is limited to your current library or is more wide spread.

If it persists in the test library try this: log into a new, basic, admin user account, Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac,  crest a test library and see if the problem persists. This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide.

If the problem does not exist in the other user account boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac, test to see if the problem persists, reboot normally and text again

Note: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries you should connect it with its charging cable to assure a boot into Safe Mode or the Recovery volume.

If Safe Mode doesn't fixe the problem as a test launch Photos with the Option key held down and create a new, test library.  Import some photos and test to see if the same problem persists. Does it? This tells us if the problem is limited to your current library or is more wide spread.

If the test library works as it should close, reopen your current library and test it.

Hello,

I just found out that you can't retouch a photo once you have straightened it. Otherwise it still works (if you use the retouch tool first, no problem).

jeep0257wy wrote:

I also had this problem of the retouch tool having no effect on some photos. I tried running the "Repair" tool for my photos library and that didn't fix it. #1 - Then I tried starting in SAFE mode and that DID fix it. What should I do now that it works in SAFE mode?

#2 - On a separate issue my Photos app since Ventura has been slow (takes 20-30 seconds per operation), buggy (crashes 3-4 times in a 2 hr session) and retouch tool has stopped working on some photos. Ventura has not been kind to my Photos app.

#1 - did the problem return after you rebooting normally? If so then you have some 34 party software that may be the culprit.

#1 & 2 - download and run Etrecheck.  Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support  to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

Copy the report

and use the Additional Text button to paste the report in your reply.

Then we can evaluate the report to see if we can determine the cause of the problem.

Hello MKJMKJ,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. In order to isolate this behavior, please test this issue in safe mode, and in another user account on your Mac:

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support -- Restart your Mac in safe mode and test the issues you’ve mentioned. Whether or not it happens while in safe mode, restart normally to exit. If the issue didn’t happen while in safe mode, test the issue after a normal restart. The issue may have been resolved.

Change Users & Groups settings on Mac - Apple Support -- If not, create a new user account and test. You’ll need to import a few photos in order to test the issues.

Let us know the results, and we'll go from there. Kind regards.

I also had this problem of the retouch tool having no effect on some photos. I tried running the "Repair" tool for my photos library and that didn't fix it. Then I tried starting in SAFE mode and that DID fix it. What should I do now that it works in SAFE mode?

On a separate issue my Photos app since Ventura has been slow (takes 20-30 seconds per operation), buggy (crashes 3-4 times in a 2 hr session) and retouch tool has stopped working on some photos. Ventura has not been kind to my Photos app.

Apple has simply changed the procedure in macOS Ventura. The new steps can be found here: Crop and straighten photos in Photos on Mac - Apple Support (MT)