Skip to main content
Participant
Jan 24, 2020 2:48 PM UTC
Answered

Spacebar not working as quick hand tool on MAC – Adobe Illustrator

I have the latest Illustator and Photoshop version and in both of them the spacebar ain't working as quick hand tool on Mac.

Participant
Jun 14, 2024 2:10 PM UTC

Guys, i fixed this today just Disable the Full Keyboard Acces on Accessibility settings;

164 replies

Participant
Jul 10, 2023 4:33 PM UTC

I've been pulling my hair out with this issue for some time now.  It's happening with Photoshop and Illustrator.  I've tried all the fixes I could find (resetting preferences, restarting, quitting apps, disabling accessability, etc), but to no avail.

 

Has anyone found any other options for a fix?  It's not a deal-breaker by any means, but it definitely slows down productivity having to either select the Hand tool from the palette or press "H" to swap to it.  

 

Hope there's a permanent fix soon!!

Translate
Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
Jul 10, 2023 5:35 PM UTC

@JonVernon-DIRECTV  schrieb:

I've been pulling my hair out with this issue for some time now.  It's happening with Photoshop and Illustrator.  I've tried all the fixes I could find (resetting preferences, restarting, quitting apps, disabling accessability, etc), but to no avail.

 

Has anyone found any other options for a fix?  It's not a deal-breaker by any means, but it definitely slows down productivity having to either select the Hand tool from the palette or press "H" to swap to it.  

 

Hope there's a permanent fix soon!!


 

There is other software intercepting keyboard input. Password apps are one example, but the browser Chrome is also infamous for that.

Translate
Participant
May 30, 2023 12:36 PM UTC

I fixed this by turning off all accessibility (in system Prefs) and quiting Mail.

Translate
Participant
May 17, 2023 2:48 PM UTC

Hey all. I continue to have this problem, and quitting all Microsoft suite apps does not fix it. A full restart is the only solution. This is making me INSANE. Has anyone heard of a different solve?

Translate
Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 18, 2023 10:01 AM UTC

@defaultwstk4pcty95p  a écrit :

Hey all. I continue to have this problem, and quitting all Microsoft suite apps does not fix it. A full restart is the only solution. This is making me INSANE. Has anyone heard of a different solve?


 

It's not only Microsoft apps that are stealing key press events. Could be somethinbg else.

Translate
Participant
May 1, 2023 5:51 PM UTC

Go to the apple in the menu bar. 

Put the computer to sleep.

Wake it back up and it should work again.

Translate
Participant
Aug 22, 2023 6:53 PM UTC

This issue has been driving me INSANE for the longest time... your solve of putting the mac into sleep mode and then coming out of sleep mode worked like a charm.  This whole time I have had to restart my computer so many times, it was ridicuous.  Thank you for your tip!

Translate
Inspiring
Mar 10, 2023 4:03 PM UTC

PITA!  This began occurring daily after we upgraded to Adobe 2022 on Mac OS Monterey--even if only Photoshop is running. It may occur upon Photoshop startup, or suddenly occur later. The only "solution" I have found so far is to reboot with fingers crossed. I tried changing my workspace/keyboard shortcuts to see if that made a difference--nada.

Translate
Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
Mar 10, 2023 6:42 PM UTC
quote

PITA!  This began occurring daily after we upgraded to Adobe 2022 on Mac OS Monterey--


By @quoz

 

Please read the complete thread. There are pointers to possible solutions.

Translate
Inspiring
Mar 10, 2023 8:15 PM UTC

I did read the entire thread. In addition to combing through Chrome, putting it to sleep, preferences reset, etc, plus I tried changing my workspace/keyboard shortcuts. The problem continues to occur suddenly and sporadically even with no other programs running, which makes it difficult to pinpoint. As noted the only solution I've found so far is to reboot with fingers crossed. 

Translate
Participant
Mar 3, 2023 4:00 PM UTC

Glad I found this post. Its years later and I just ran into this issue for the first time even in my 20+ years of using Adobe products. Turns out it was my open terminal that was stealing the spacebar function. Once I closed, it was working again again in Illustrator.

Translate
Participant
Mar 1, 2023 2:38 PM UTC

I had the same problem and started to close my programs. The space bar "thief" was the native Mail app in MacOs. Closed it and it works like a charm 🙂

Translate
Participant
Aug 12, 2024 2:44 PM UTC

Hello from Aug. 2024! THIS was the solution for me. I had the native Mail app open and didn't even know it (I never use it). THank you!!!

Translate
Participant
Feb 17, 2023 7:04 PM UTC

Hey guys i just figured how to fix it fast, put your computer to sleep and wake it up and it works. Seems like at the core it's the os fighting the program.. Adobe vs Apple Keyboard Kombat lol, hope this helps!!

Translate
Participating Frequently
Jan 12, 2023 9:38 PM UTC

Fastest way to fix this issue: Put your device into sleep mode, then turn it back on. No resetting your computer, no re-opening programs. Takes only a few seconds.

Translate
Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
Jan 12, 2023 10:40 PM UTC
quote

Fastest way to fix this issue: Put your device into sleep mode, then turn it back on. No resetting your computer, no re-opening programs. Takes only a few seconds.


By @Scott24505759lv8d

 

Definitely worth trying, but for sure it won't work for everyone.

 

Please do read the complete thread.

Translate
Participant
Jan 2, 2023 8:17 AM UTC

Thanks so much.. was breaking heads on this 🙂 

Translate