Inspiring

Question

Hidden layer in symbol keeps becoming visible

Forum|Forum|19 hours ago
September 20, 2026
9 replies
41 views

Hi,

Hidden layers in symbols keep becoming visible when I reopen the file. Is this a bug? Is there a workaround, other than deleting those hidden layers?

This is for CS4.

Thanks.

KShinabery212

Community Expert

Just a question. Not trying to be rude or mean.
CS4 was launched in October 2008.
I am just curious why you have not moved to a later version?

I think that if you were to update to the latest version, then your whole world would change. Work flows and everything would become so much easier.
There has been so many advancements since CS4.

I know you probably have your reasons. But I think you should give the latest version a try. You might love it.

Sure something changed and some things moved. But with all the new feature it could really help your process.

Let's connect on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kshinabery/

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

Just confirming that the issue does not occur in the latest version(s) of Illustrator.

Probably a historical flaw.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Is this about actual layers inside the symbol? Or just objects?

What else is in the symbol (other symbols)? Symbols inside symbols was a bad idea back then and continues to be not recommended.

Is it just that one file? Or all files?

Can you share a test file?

S

sPretzelAuthor

Inspiring

Hi Monika,

This is about layers inside the symbol. There are no other symbols in the symbol, but there are other layers. That being said, I would never refrain from inserting other symbols in a symbol, or else where’s the fun! 😉

It happens with all files I guess but I have not gone back in time. I should have seen this before, I don’t know why I am just noticing it now.

I have attached a test file where inside the yellow box symbol, I put a text layer saying “hi”. It’s more of an object than a layer but I think the same would apply to a proper layer. I turned the layer visibility off, then saved the file and closed it. Then I open the file and the text layer’s visibility is toggled back on.

hiddenlayersymbolissue.ai

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Thank you.

So at least when I open the file, the text is not on its own layer. It’s just anothe object. I can hide it and save that and it stays hidden. So either this is a general issue with your version or the preferences maybe got corrupted.

It is not something with CS4 files, because I saved it to that version.

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

I don’t know if I’d call it a bug if you’re working with long-obsoleted software (Illustrator CS4 was introduced in 2008) and Adobe Systems stopped supporting that software long ago. I can probably tell you if it is a bug with Illustrator CS4, Adobe Systems probably doesn’t care and the company itself won’t help you with the problem.

That’s not to say all is lost, though. There are some graybeards around here who may have institutional knowledge locked away and offer some other workaround. But I think you already know what workaround will work:

Use the File>Save As... menu command to save a copy of the previous file. Call it [Your filename] — No Xtra Layers.ai and click the Save button.
Then delete the extra layers. Save the file again.

What operating system are you using with Illustrator CS4? If you have an old system that is working with Windows 7 or MacOS 10.15, working with an older (but compatible) OS may get you past your issue. But I suspect saving a copy of the original Illustrator file without the extra layers is your best solution.

Wish I had better news for you,

Randy

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