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StudioOedipus
Participating Frequently
April 11, 2024
Question

Illustrator (28.4.1) GPU Preview keeps on breaking constantly

  • April 11, 2024
  • 14 replies
  • 2159 views

Hello community,

This bug is becoming the most frustrating thing that has ever happened to Illustrator for many many years.

It's that simple, one on every two times I launch Illustrator the GPU preview is broken. I have updated Windows 11 Pro and updated both graphic cards on my laptop, and it keeps breaking and breaking... I even refreshed all my settings, and it keeps doing it. 

How come this lingers around for so many years?
How come there is no warning or no workaround to prevent or fix this issue before it happens or knowing that it has happened?
How come the CPU preview is still a thing?
So many questions... still no answers nor solutions.

 

System:

Windows 11 Pro - Version 23H2 - OS build 22631.3447

Graphic:
NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU 551.86 - up-to-date
Intel UHD Graphics - up-to-date

If anyone knows what is happening... thanks!





    14 replies

    A
    AlexSal1602
    Participant
    August 7, 2026

    my GPU crashing started when I changed my monitor from full HD to 2,5K. Tried every single solution but only worked when I changed display settings scale from 100% to 125%.

    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    August 7, 2026

    Hello ​@AlexSal1602 

     

    I’m sorry to hear you’re having similar trouble with Illustrator. Could you share some more information to be able to help you with this scenario:
     
    1) AISniffer file
    - Close all Adobe applications
    - Navigate to the Illustrator Preferences folder and copy the AiSniffer file to the desktop from this location: Users/YOUR USERNAME/Library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator #(version Number)Settings > AISniffer
     
    2) System Report
    - You can generate it from the Apple icon > About This Mac > System Report > Save to the desktop.
     
    3) A screen recording of the problem. 

    4) A sample file if this occurs when working with specific files.
     
     
    Looking forward to hearing from you.
    Anubhav

      V
      volnoriz
      Participating Frequently
      April 11, 2025

      Same problem. Sudden crashes caused by GPU, I'm sure almost 100%. It could crash when I switch between opened tabs, or when I move the artboard with Hand Tool. Photoshop also crashes but way more rarely. 

      All drivers, updates (Windows 11 and Adobe) are up-to-date.

      Dell XPS 9500 15
      Intel Core i7 10750H
      Nvidia 1060Ti | Intel UHD Graphics
      M2 Samsung Evo 1Tb
      64Gb RAM

      Anubhav M
      Community Manager
      Anubhav MCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      April 11, 2025

      Hello @Arxibol,

      Would you mind performing a clean reinstallation of the GPU(s) drivers (Intel / NVIDIA / AMD) and setting the Graphics Preference to High-Performance for Illustrator (https://adobe.ly/3Et4WdX) and checking if it helps?

      Also, try the suggestions shared in this help article (https://adobe.ly/3RbeHAv) and share your observations.

      Looking forward to hearing from you.
      Anubhav

      davidd67983506
      davidd67983506
      Participant
      July 15, 2024

      Read my mind! RTX 2080Ti tried all sorts of Nvidia drivers, to no avail. Just crappy crashes. Imagine delivering artwork that disappeared when a client received it, or animations that stopped playing, IMAGINE. But Adobe gets their subscription fee every month, even with software that DOES NOT WORK. Bullying. CPU mode is ridiculous, to the point of worthless. Only GPU mode can handle my client files. WHAT GIVES ADOBE? Please respond with an immediate fix to Adobe Illustrator and spare us any excuses. 

      Brad @ Roaring Mouse
      Community Expert
      Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 15, 2024

      "CPU mode is ridiculous, to the point of worthless"

      Quite the opposite. Everything that is done in Illustrator (or any similar program) is done using the CPU. GPU preview is utilized ONLY to render the results faster to the screen than the CPU would be able to do natively, assuming it's compatible, of course. In no way does using one or the other change the contents of the file.

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

      What exactly is happening?

      S
      StudioOedipusAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      April 12, 2024

      The GPU preview breaks constantly, sometimes it breaks after the computer goes to sleep. Restarting Illustrator, or the computer sometimes does not fix this. It is a very random behaviour...

      S
      StudioOedipusAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      April 12, 2024

      Even after doing a clean reinstallation of the GPU drivers, Illustrator keeps crashing on this function. On any other software, it works fine, its just Illustrator that keeps breaking and breaking over and over again. 

      When it seems to work, the zoom function flickers, and closing and restarting Illustrator does not fix this. It is a total gamble any time.

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