Escape key no longer exiting isolation mode

Did you ever edit your keyboard preferences, something else may have taken over your escape key. Looks like a clockface at 11.

Is alot of work to check all your keyboard prefs.  Also migth be in a third party app you instlalled that hijacked your esc key, looks for any clues flashing up in your icons in the finder bar at the top. I personally avoid using isolation mode and turn off as it slows me down.

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Are you sure the key is actually working?

Did you try a restart? (Illustrator, your machine)