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springercreative
Known Participant
May 21, 2026
Answered

artboards won't unlock

  • May 21, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 35 views

I tried using the new lock artboard feature because I wanted to paste an item in place on just one of my artboards. So, I clicked the lock icon next to all of the artboards I wanted to lock in the artboards panel. The problem is-- when I deselected the lock icons for all of the artboards, they remained locked. I can’t get at those artboards anymore! Help!

    Correct answer Kurt Gold

    Thanks for the sample file, Springer.

     

    I’m still not sure how to reproduce your issue, but you should be able to solve it by just going to the Object menu > Unlock All command.

    1 reply

    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 21, 2026

    I'm not sure if I understand your issue and based on your description I cannot reproduce the problem you're complaining about.

     

    Basically, "locking" artboards is currently just a half-baked gimmick that actually just locks all objects that are located within the artboard boundaries (or at least touching them).

     

    After that you can create any object (or place it) on the so-called locked artboards. It won’t be rejected  and it doesn't get automatically locked, until you unlock and then relock the artboard again.

     

    As already mentioned, I don't understand what you are talking about. You may want to clarify, possibly providing a sample Illustrator file with further instructions.

    S
    springercreativeAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 21, 2026

    HI Kurt,

    Thank you for your reply. To clarify, I have four artboards in my Illustrator document. I heard about this new feature of being able to lock artboards, which seemed like it would be useful from time to time. I locked three of them by toggling on the lock icon in the artboards pane. Unfortunately, when I unlocked the artboards by clicking the lock icon off for each artboard, the items on those artboards remain locked. All of my layers are unlocked. I tried locking and unlocking the artboards again, both from the artboards pane and the contextual menu. I can hide and unhide elements on those artboards, using the layers pane, but I just can’t select anything on those artboards anymore. It’s as if they got stuck in the locked position. I am running a 2019 Intel MacBook Pro on Sequoia 15.7.

    File attached.

    Thanks in advance!

    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Kurt GoldCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 21, 2026

    Thanks for the sample file, Springer.

     

    I’m still not sure how to reproduce your issue, but you should be able to solve it by just going to the Object menu > Unlock All command.

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