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Stewart Sutters
Participating Frequently
Oct 24, 2017 11:04 AM UTC
Question

Space bar issues in Illustrator CC

Hi. I have just updated to the very latest Illustrator CC. I used to use the space bar to switch to the move tool, and the command button zoom. Now I have updated this has stopped working. Any ideas how to get his back working. Thank you. Stewart.

      17 replies

      Mads Andreas @ Momentum
      Participant
      Jan 16, 2025 8:34 AM UTC

      Same issue after update

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      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      Jan 16, 2025 9:06 AM UTC
      @Mads Andreas @ Momentum  schrieb:

      Same issue after update

       

      Do you have anything from this list?

       

       

      • WhatsApp on the web being the active tab in the browser
      • WebRoot
      • Apple Terminal
      • Word, Excel, Powerpoint
      • »Enable Full Keyboard« in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard on Mac OS
      • »Keyboard Navigation« in Apple settings > Keyboard
      • Apple Mail, Outlook
      • Spacebar is used as a shortcut by the system
      • Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari
      • Wacom Desktop Center, Wacom settings
      • Windows Touch Pad problem
      • LastPass, Bitwarden (password managers)
      • The VPN
      • LangSwitcher app (it needs to be closed and disabled)
      • Notes
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      Mads Andreas @ Momentum
      Participant
      Jan 16, 2025 3:32 PM UTC

      Running MS Outlook and MS Teams
      Not sure what you mean regarding "Keyboard navigation"

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      scottk18
      Participant
      Feb 25, 2022 6:58 PM UTC

      Having the same issue here - its a bug. 

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      jamesb4724193
      jamesb4724193
      Participant
      Jun 18, 2020 5:08 PM UTC

      So it "appears" that when I did not have a mouse hooked up to my laptop, the zoom/move functions were taken over by the trackpad gestures. When my mouse was paired back, everything was back to normal. Hmmmm...

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      J.Risk
      J.Risk
      Participant
      Jan 17, 2020 7:52 PM UTC

      I'm using the latest version of illustrator 24.0 and also noticed a similar issue.

       

      Not only can I NOT hold down the space bar for a temporary pan tool, but I cannot use the space bar while drawing with the pen tool to move an anchor. I tried resetting preferences with no luck.

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      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      Jan 17, 2020 9:20 PM UTC

      Several other apps are known to interfere with modifier keys. What else is running on your computer besides Illustrator?

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        J.Risk
        J.Risk
        Participant
        Jan 20, 2020 5:51 PM UTC

        You are 100% correct. I was running several other apps at the time including Figma, which I suspect was the culprit. I closed all the other apps and was able to utilize the space bar again.

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          marks26631103
          Participant
          Jul 18, 2018 6:28 PM UTC

          Recently upgraded to High Sierra on an iMac and no matter what I've tried including suggestions in this discussion -the spacebar shortcut is NOT working in either Ps or Ai CC. It is and has been integral to using this software for years and has become huge work flow hardship now that it does not work.

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          Monika Gause
          Community Expert
          Monika GauseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          Jul 18, 2018 8:36 PM UTC

          So you have already reset preferences?

          Which version exactly are you running?

          What exactly do you use the spacebar for?

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          Simmer1
          Community Expert
          Simmer1Community Expert
          Community Expert
          Oct 24, 2017 11:33 AM UTC

          For Zooming in Cmd +

          Zooming out Cmd -

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          Stewart SuttersAuthor
          Participating Frequently
          Oct 24, 2017 11:39 AM UTC

          When I used to be in the "mover arrow" tool, I could use the space bar to switch back and forth with the mover "hand" tool, and then the 'cmd + spacebar' to zoom in.. it was such a quick way to move around illustrator. Your suggestions just switch to the function. I cannot find out where you can set the apps keyboard shortcuts. When I switch to preferences/shortcuts and hit the 'add app' to shortcut, there is not option for Adobe Illustrator All my other apps are there. Thanks for your help. I guess I should not rush to update apps in future when everything seems to be working OK.

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          Monika Gause
          Community Expert
          Monika GauseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          Oct 24, 2017 12:12 PM UTC

          Did you reset preferences when or after updating?

          Trouble with the spacebar belongs to the issues that resetting prefs is able to fix.

          How to set preferences in Illustrator

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          Simmer1
          Community Expert
          Simmer1Community Expert
          Community Expert
          Oct 24, 2017 11:29 AM UTC

          Hi,

          The Spacebar is working fine for the Move Tool my end.

          Try Hitting Z for the Zoom Tool.

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