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C
cromert
Participant
April 13, 2020
Answered

Cursor isn't changing to show current tool

  • April 13, 2020
  • 8 replies
  • 9175 views

Help! My cursor isn't changing in Illustrator 2020. It's constantly a black arrow no matter which tool I am using. I'm attaching a screen grab video. I'm using the pen, direct select, rectangle, then type...and it just stays a black arrow. Thanks for your help!

    Correct answer cromert

    Started working again with a reinstall. Thanks for your reply!

    8 replies

    D
    dDembicki
    Inspiring
    April 11, 2024

    This is happening to me too. A reinstall yesterday fixed it, but today it started happening again. I have no idea what causes it, however, having to uninstall and reinstall isn't exactly conducive to a smooth workflow. Is there a fix that is less of a PITA? 

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 11, 2024

    Which system?

    Do you have any system extension or mouse driver installed that messes with the cursor?

    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    April 11, 2024

    Hello @dDembicki,

    We understand that encountering technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind trying to run Illustrator under Safe Mode (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps? Also, try running Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows / macOS) and share your observations.

    If the problem persists, kindly share more details, like the exact version of the OS/Illustrator and a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/3JdZGJV), so we can investigate this further?


    Looking forward to hearing from you.

     

    Thanks,

    Anubhav

    D
    Darmawan362956490d3e
    Participant
    March 25, 2024

    where is the video?

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 25, 2024
    @Darmawan362956490d3e  schrieb:

    where is the video?

     

    The author has probably deleted that video from wherever they uploaded it.

    If you have a problem I would suggest, you describe it. It would be best to create a new thread for that purpose. 

    A
    ajdewey
    Inspiring
    December 22, 2023

    I ahve the same problem - very annoying!!!!!

    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    December 22, 2023

    Hello @ajdewey,

    Sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind trying to run Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps? If the problem persists, kindly share more details, like the exact version of the OS/Illustrator, your workflow details, and a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/3GRTzdp), so we can investigate this further.

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

     

    Thanks,

    Anubhav

    S
    stephmng
    Participant
    December 4, 2023

    Hi all, I just had the same issue.

     

    This last-ditch DIY fix happened to work:

     

    - Illustrator -> Settings -> Selection & Anchor Display

     

    I then un-clicked (deactivated) all boxes that were currently clicked, then re-clicked them to reactivate, then I pressed "Ok" to save the settings.

     

    Out of sheer luck, it worked - the mouse pointer now changes with each tool as before.

     

    Hope that works for everyone!

      J
      Jason_Raleigh
      Participant
      November 2, 2023

      I was having this same issue with 2023 and just updated to 2024 hoping that the problem would go away but it didn't. Restart does not work. Someone please fix this bug. It is extremely annoying. Attached picture is my computer and OS.

        Anubhav M
        Community Manager
        Anubhav MCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        November 2, 2023

        Hello @Jason_Raleigh,

        Sorry to hear about this experience. Would you mind trying to run Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps?

        If the problem persists, kindly share a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/49nfVjZ) so that we can investigate this further?

        Looking forward to hearing from you.

         

        Thanks,

        Anubhav

        M
        Matthewmehi
        Participant
        August 29, 2023

        It's 2023 and this is still a problem for me. I don't know if I can reinstall these programs anymore. I might have to give up being a designer and just dig ditches. At least shovels always work. 

          Monika Gause
          Community Expert
          Monika GauseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          August 29, 2023
          @Matthewmehi  schrieb:

          It's 2023 and this is still a problem for me. I don't know if I can reinstall these programs anymore. I might have to give up being a designer and just dig ditches. At least shovels always work. 

           

          If you feel unable to solve these problems, then maybe contact Customer Care and have them do it for you on your computer.

          https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html 

          N
          Nukemedia
          Participant
          April 7, 2023

          Ilustrator is sooooo buggy these days, with loads of weird things happening like this, also no regard for standards, odd User experiences ... I don't know what's going on with them... I've been using Adobe since page maker 1.0 ... Illustrator just keeps getting worse.

            Monika Gause
            Community Expert
            Monika GauseCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            April 7, 2023

            Please create a new thread, describe your issues precisely and then someone can try to help you. This is a public forum with 95% of participants being not staff.

            Monika Gause
            Community Expert
            Monika GauseCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            April 13, 2020

            Computer restart doesn't solve it?

              C
              cromertAuthorCorrect answer
              Participant
              April 14, 2020

              Started working again with a reinstall. Thanks for your reply!

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