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jodym58460117
Participant
Oct 30, 2025 2:39 PM UTC
Answered

Symbols breaking apart when moved in Illustrator

Subject says it all. I use symbols OFTEN for tech pack creation.  When moving these symbols, all the elements break apart.  I have been using a 1+ year old version of Illustator that seems to be OK, but that version is no longer available to download in the CC options. 

 

Please focus less on Ai, and fix these core bugs in your expensive software. 

    Harshika Verma
    Harshika VermaCorrect answer
    Community Manager
    Jun 24, 2026 1:18 PM UTC

    Hi @Too_Many_Words,

    Thank you for your patience. We have logged a bug for this issue, and our team is currently investigating it.

    We’ll keep you updated as soon as we receive any new information from the team or if they require any additional details from you to assist with the investigation.
     

    We appreciate your continued patience and understanding.


    Thanks,

    Harshika

    <Marking this as correct to highlight it on top for future customers>

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    8 replies

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Jul 27, 2026 6:34 AM UTC

    There is a Uservoice topic for this bug, you can add your vote here:

    https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/51545546-content-of-dynamic-symbols-moves-when-moved-with-t

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    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    May 11, 2026 6:12 PM UTC

    Hello ​@Too_Many_Words 

     

    I’m sorry to hear you’re having similar trouble with Illustrator. I was able to replicate the problem with the provided sample file. Kindly allow me some time to check this with the team.

     

    Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have more questions or need assistance. We’d be happy to help.
    Anubhav

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    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 30, 2025 3:27 PM UTC

    Is that still happening after rebooting the computer and resetting the Illustrator preferences?

    Is that also happening in a new file with new symbols?

    If so, can you please post a test file?

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    Too_Many_Words
    Participant
    May 5, 2026 9:57 PM UTC

    Yes, it keeps happening all the time with symbols from a lot of files and origins. Also with new ones. Only when I move them with alt and shift pressed, it seems not to occur, but that is random.

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    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 5, 2026 11:12 PM UTC

    Based on your sample file I can reproduce the unusual behaviour.

    Probably a bug, not easy to inspect.

     

    Can you share a newly created file that contains only one (nested) symbol suffering from the shifting?

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