How to Fix "Illustrator Tool or Menu Not Responding"

If a tool or menu in Adobe Illustrator isn’t responding, it can disrupt your workflow and make it impossible to complete your design tasks.

Here are some solutions to troubleshoot the issue: First, try resetting Illustrator’s preferences.

Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift (Windows) or Cmd + Option + Shift (Mac) immediately after launching Illustrator to reset all preferences to their default settings.

If this doesn’t solve the problem, the issue might be with your tool settings or workspace configuration.

Go to Window > Workspace > Reset Essentials to reset the workspace to its default state.

This will bring back any missing panels or tools that may have been hidden.

If the issue is with specific tools (like the selection tool or pen tool), check if the tool is stuck in a certain mode.

For example, the Pen Tool might be set to create a path or add anchor points.

Press Shift to toggle between modes or reset the tool by clicking the tool icon in the toolbar and selecting Reset Tool.

If Illustrator’s menus are unresponsive, it could be due to a conflict with other software, such as third-party plugins or running background apps.

Try disabling plugins temporarily by holding Shift while launching Illustrator.

You can also disable third-party software from the Plug-ins folder.

If the tool issue persists, update Illustrator to the latest version or try reinstalling it.

Lastly, check for system issues, such as low RAM or high CPU usage, which can cause Illustrator’s menus or tools to freeze.

Close other applications, free up disk space, and restart your computer to ensure that your system is running smoothly.