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Marxamus
Participating Frequently
June 20, 2013
Answered

Keyboard shortcuts not working in Illustrator CC for Mac

  • June 20, 2013
  • 59 replies
  • 148317 views

I'm having a lot of problems using keyboard shortcuts in Illustrator CC for Mac. They'll will work intermittently. No keyboard issues anywhere else. Is this a bug, or something I can remedy on my end?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer carls44479506

    Had that same issue for months. Using a 2022 Mac Studio, Monterey 12.6, CC2022.

    Try quiting/restarting Safari.

    Seems Safari is conflicting somehow. Hopefully there is an update soon.

    59 replies

    Show previous replies
    Michelle_Zoro
    Michelle_Zoro
    Participant
    July 3, 2014

    I am having the same problem. I am using a Wacom tablet and I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers with no luck. I tried a plugin that Adobe suggested and that didn't work. I tried turning my tablet off and using a plugged in keyboard and mouse and that didn't work. This is frustrating. It's slowing down my workflow and wasting my time with trying to find solutions. I hope Adobe figures this stuff out - I was frustrated enough with being forced to pay a monthly fee for a product I've been loyal to for almost a decade to begin with. If there are going to be unfixable issues like this, it will make my die-hard loyalty to Adobe start to feel like a bad relationship I can't get out of.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 3, 2014

    Please tell us details about your system.

    Did you already read the complete thread and tried everything that has been suggested?

    Michelle_Zoro
    Michelle_Zoro
    Participant
    July 11, 2014

    I have tried everything except upgrading as that is out of my hands. We need approval through IS to do this. I am on Mac 10.8.5 running Adobe CC

    Vineet
    Adobe Employee
    Vineet
    Adobe Employee
    May 12, 2014

    known issue with wireless keyboard and mouse. drivers issue, no fix available. switch to wired keyboard and mouse. will work fine.

    A
    anotherheadx
    Known Participant
    June 18, 2014

    I am using the original wired kybd and mouse (OS X 10.8.5, i5: 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, Ai CC v.17.1.0), and having issue with "Alt-Zoom" using the scroll-wheel.  I takes two or three attempts before AI accepts the instruction to zoom in or out.  Seems to be no problem with any of the other button/mouse combinations, just zoom.

    What is the problem?

    L
    lovincreatinlife
    Participant
    November 6, 2013

    I'm working on a iMac G5 ann runing Illustrator CS. When ever I type, the internet pops up?? Not sure why. I restarted, shut down, and unpluggled cords? HELP??

    alex eben meyer
    alex eben meyer
    Known Participant
    September 3, 2013

    adding my experience. quickkeys on various occasion are failing to fire (most noticeable when switching tools), both with and without my hand on the magic mouse. have only been seeing this in illustrator cc and NOT cs6. also, no issues in other cc programs (photoshop, indd). have also experienced this with a trackpad on a laptop.

    A
    angelaZebra
    Participating Frequently
    September 3, 2013

    I am out of the office (Monday, Sept. 2 - Friday, Sept. 6) and will return Monday, September 9. If you have any immediate questions please contact John at 270-782-0077, or email him at: jthompson@zebragraphics.com

    Thank you!

    Angela Eldridge

    ZebraGraphics

    432 East Main Avenue

    Bowling Green, KY 42101

    (270) 782-0077

    www.zebragraphics.com

    R
    Rev_Tie_Dye
    Participant
    September 3, 2013

    I thought I was having similar trouble, but not using the Magic Mouse.  I am using MBP OSX 10.7.5, with an iHome wireless mouse.  It has a scroll wheel. but not the touch sensitive top of the Magic Mouse.  I struggled with this for half an hour, and then discovered my problem.

    I was using CS6 on an iMac in the front office, but I've been begging the finance guy to let me get a copy for my office.  I finally get my own copy, but it's Illustrator CC, and the first thing I do fails.  I want to Zoom In, so I do the same thing I've been doing for 15 years, the keyboard shortcut for the Zoom function.  I tried several different things, but the only thing that worked was selecting the Magnifier tool on the tool bar.  I am definitely NOT going back to 1998!

    But here's what was really going on:

    On the iMac / CS6 I found that Fn+Cmd+Space would change the cursor to the Zoom tool, and would function just like I remembered from--what was it, v4.0 in the mid 90's?  The problem is, the Fn is not necessary, but I doesn't hurt anything.  However when I got on my MBP, I have the extended external keyboard, and although I thought I was pressing fn+Cmd+Space, but I really pressing Ctrl+Cmd+Space.  This DOES change the cursor into the magnifier tool, but it does NOT let you perform the zoom function while you're (mistakenly) holding down the Ctrl Key. 

    Problem solved.  Next step: Retrain my fingers.

    Michael

    A
    angelaZebra
    Participating Frequently
    September 3, 2013

    I am out of the office (Monday, Sept. 2 - Friday, Sept. 6) and will return Monday, September 9. If you have any immediate questions please contact John at 270-782-0077, or email him at: jthompson@zebragraphics.com

    Thank you!

    Angela Eldridge

    ZebraGraphics

    432 East Main Avenue

    Bowling Green, KY 42101

    (270) 782-0077

    www.zebragraphics.com

    B
    Bwanasonic
    Participant
    August 21, 2013

    Apparently there is a font related component to this problem:


    http://forums.adobe.com/message/5451724

    L
    LiGardiner
    Participant
    September 4, 2013

    HERE'S HOW I SOLVED THIS.

    I've had the same problem, on 2 different Mac desktops and on a Mac laptop, with CS5, with wired mouse and "Magic" mouse. It is infuriating, especially on deadline. I re-launched Illustrator, and re-booted the computer, to no avail. The command keys stopped working today when I opened a file created in a previous version of Illustrator. So I suspected that it had something to do with the file. Today, I had copied and pasted text from the older file into my new one, and then the command keys stopped working. I  don't know if that's a helpful clue, but I've noticed this before.

    Following the suggestions on this and other forums . . .

    1) thinking it had to do with Preferences, I pressed Command-K. Then chose "OK"

    2) I changed the font on the old text I had imported to something plain vanilla (Myriad).

    Now the Option, Command, Spacebar, et cetera all work as they should. Without closing my file or the application.

    Hmmmm . . . Unfortunately, I don't know which one worked. Let you know next time . . .

    W
    woogex
    Participant
    October 30, 2013

    This is still happenening.

    Editting/selecting text seems to aggravate the issue. Switching between apps (Cmmand + Tab) and switching back (so long as you don't have text selected) temporarily retunrs keyboard shortcuts, but then they cut out again soon as you select text.

    This is an extremely infuriating problem.

    B
    Bwanasonic
    Participant
    August 18, 2013

    I have the keyboard shortcut problem on my machine at work, but not on my MacBook Pro at home. Can't even select objects by dragging a marquee on work machine. Work - Snow Leopard, Home - Mountain Lion. Really haven't tried too many things, as I end up swearing a lot and going back to CS6 to get work out.

    C
    colling_s
    Participating Frequently
    August 7, 2013

    I can see the problem when using shortcuts while my finger on the mouse, no problem when finger in not on the mouse(may be a workaround). You may want to try

    AshutoshChaturvedi
    Community Manager
    AshutoshChaturvediCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    August 7, 2013

    @colling_s which mouse are you using?  is it the Apple magic mouse. maybe it starts to listen for keypresses to enable some additional features.

    Not sure if it is the same issue as here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5221035?tstart=0

    S
    spencer_lfl
    Participant
    August 6, 2013

    I read on a couple other threads that using the Magic Mouse with Illustrator CC seems to cause this problem. I switched back to my old USB mouse, and haven't had any problems with the shortcuts since. Really ridiculous that I can't use my Mighty Mouse with Illustrator CC, but it seems to fix the problem for now.

    Y
    Yummygrubs
    Participant
    August 15, 2013

    I can confirm that releasing the Magic Mouse does temporarily resolve the issue.

    M
    MidwayDetroit
    Participant
    August 6, 2013

    I'm curious, is this not working for people only using Lion/Mountain Lion, or everyone?

    My thought was, maybe it's Spaces screwing with it for whatever reason. Does anyone else working on multiple spaces have this issue?

    I tried really quickly just going to one desktop space and messing with it, it didn't seem to have any issues, but it was quick. This isn't exactly a FIX, but if working on one space stops it, then at least it's better than downgrading?

    C
    Craig McLaughlin
    Known Participant
    August 6, 2013

    I'm running Mountain Lion, but don't use Spaces and the problem exists.

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