I hate this Contextual Task Bar in v27.9 on Illustrator & I want my properties back across the top.

[B_C_E_75]

I updated to Illustrator 27.9 yesterday and instantly became annoyed with the contextual task bar. I also noticed that all of the tools I used to use across the top (align, transform, character, etc.) are gone. I haven't found a way to add them back either. Opening properties opens the same tools, but in a window instead. I am using a cutom workspace and restting it doesn't do it either. What am I missing? 

[Larry G. Schneider]

Is the Control panel toggled on in the View menu?

[B_C_E_75]

Control is toggled in the Window menu. It does nothing though. 

[Larry G. Schneider]

My bad. If you have something selected and the Control panel toggled on, nothing shows in the Control panel? If you look at the hamburger menu at the right side are things checked on?

[B_C_E_75]

So... I found it. I had some work I had to finish before I attempted resetting preferences, but afterwards I did a restart. I opened Illustrator and there was still nothing. I toggled Control Panel on and off several times to no avail. I was just getting ready to reset my preferences, but I decided to restart again. Still nothing. Then, I'm not sure what made me look, but I found it while making sure my actions were backed up.

I have two monitors. My right monitor is my work monitor for Photoshop, Illustrator, Framemaker, NX, Acrobat, etc. My left monitor is where i keep all of my panels. For Illustrator, I have my panels across the entire top of the screen. My control panel was BEHIND all these. It would never come to the front when toggling it for some reason, but I moved my actions panel out of the way and was able to drag my control panel back into place! Ugh!!!!! 

Thanks for the help and ideas! I guess you can never tell what some programs are going to do. 

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear you could solve it.

[B_C_E_75]

Thanks! I felt kind of stupid once I figured it out!

I still don't like the contextual tool bar though. 

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

I still have the Control panel at the top. If checking/unchecking Control in the View menu does not work, you could try resetting preferences (you may have to rebuild some settings).

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/setting-preferences.html