Photoshop Generative Fill "Violates User Guidelines" Error

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Adjust the prompt

   Copy steps
   1. Type a short neutral prompt instead of leaving the box blank
   2. A common community workaround is entering a single period
   3. Avoid words that the filter may read as sensitive
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Change the selection

   Copy steps
   1. Make the selection smaller and avoid skin or face areas where possible
   2. Generate in several smaller steps
   3. Try Generative Expand or crop the problem area out
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Retry and update

   Copy steps
   1. Click Generate again; many users report the same selection passes on a retry
   2. Update Photoshop to the current release
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Use a non-AI route

   Copy steps
   1. Content-Aware Fill (Edit > Content-Aware Fill) or Clone Stamp are not filtered by Firefly
   2. Retouch problem skin areas manually
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Photoshop shows "Generated images were removed because they violate user guidelines" or the generation is blocked even though the image is innocent.

Why it happens

• Adobe content filters flag skin, faces or ambiguous shapes in the selection or surrounding image
• An empty prompt that gives the filter nothing to interpret
• Selection edges include sensitive-looking areas
• Overly strict filtering that Adobe has tuned over time

This guide also covers

• generative fill violates guidelines
• photoshop generated images violate user guidelines
• generative fill error guidelines
• photoshop generative fill blocked

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