Skip to main content
G
Grupet_69
Known Participant
December 23, 2019
Answered

Illustrator 2020 keeps crashing on macOS Catalina

  • December 23, 2019
  • 23 replies
  • 40333 views

So, I just got my new 16" Macbook, i9 processor with 64gb Ram.

Only problem is that Ilustrator now keeps crashing. I don't have any issues with my old 2015 Macbook, or my iMac 5K, only with my new 16" Macbook. Only Illustrator crashes, and it happens at least 4-5 times during a day. No pattern. Latest version of Illustrator and lates version of MacOS.

 

I finally found a solution. It was another user who wrote me a message with a solution that at least worked for me.

I haven't had a crash in 2 days now.

Preference > Performance > uncheck "GPU Performance"

 

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Srishti Bali

    Hi all,

     

    We understand how frustrating crashes can be. We have consolidated the most popular solutions that help in fixing these issues and also, how you can recover unsaved documents after a crash. Please check this help article for more details.

     

    If you still need help, feel free to reach out, we'd be happy to help.

     

    Regards,

    Srishti

    23 replies

    Show previous replies
    A
    Andy Swift
    Inspiring
    January 22, 2020

    TLDR:

    After six weeks' use, granting Illustrator full disk access fixed virtually all of the crashes when I was actually using the program.

     

    It still crashes several times a day when I'm using another program or when I'm not there. I come back to a message that Illustrator crashed.

     

    To grant full disk access, go to System Preferences › Security & Privacy › Privacy › Full Disk Access

    • Click the + button to add Adobe Illustrator.
    • Restart Illustrator.

     

    Before this change it was crashing more than 30 times a day while I was actively using it.

     

    I can confirm that disabling GPU Performance in the preferences fixes all the crashes, but at the cost of making all the artwork ugly. Not really an option.

     

    I have also tried disabling Automatic Graphics Switching in my system preferences but it didn't change anything.

     

    Original post:

    Yesterday I was using Illustrator all day and it crashed at least 30 times.

     

    I have a Macbook Pro 16" (fall 2019) with 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD.

     

    Everything is up todate: Catalina 10.15.2 and Illustrator 24.0.3

     

    · · ·

     

    Based on this thread, here are all the things I tried:

    • verified that dictation Service is off in keyboard prefs
    • left my wifi-connected printer turned on
    • verified that no external disks or monitors were connected
    • turned off data recovery in Illustrator
    • turned off "optimize file open and save on slow networks"
    • changed "update links automatically" to "ask when modified"
    • hid the rulers
    • changed update links to "manual"
    • gave all permissions on my working folder:

     

     

     

    $ chmod -R 777 /Users/Username/Documents/Working\ Folder

     

     

     

     

    None of that helped. Illustrator still crashed constantly.

     

    Here are a few crash instances:

    • resizing a rectangle over a placed image
    • moving three separate lines of text
    • opening about 12 documents at once
    • while saving one of the 12 documents when they were all open
    • when I wasn't doing anything
    • when I wasn't there

     

    I assume that these crashes happen because Illustrator is trying to access files that are now protected because of changes in Catalina.

     

    Many files that used to be accessible by default now require disk access to be explicitly granted by the user.

     

    However, my previous (2018) Macbook was running up-to-date versions of Catalina and Illustrator and I never had this problem.

     

    I believe that the default permissions on a new computer sold with Catalina are different than those of an older Mac that is updated to Catalina.

     

    So it wouldn't be surprising if a new buyer of a different model had the same issues.

     

    · · ·

     

    Finally, I tried granting Illustrator full disk access (see the top of this post), and it seems to have fixed the problem.

      dgotschall1
      dgotschall1
      Inspiring
      March 4, 2020

      Thanks man. I'm gonna try this and PRAY it helps. I'm also having this same issue occasionally in Acrobat (and more rarely in Indesign, not Photoshop tho...I don't believe). Do we think granting full disk access to those programs would help that as well? Suppose it can't hurt....   

       

      I loved one of their other suggestions: "Turn off rulers". Hahahaha, yeah, I kinda need those...on occasion. 😛

       

      Thanks and lets hope this works! 

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 4, 2020

      "I loved one of their other suggestions: "Turn off rulers". Hahahaha, yeah, I kinda need those...on occasion. 😛"

       

      You don't understand debugging.

      If there are issues, the first thing is to try and locate where it is. Trying out a lot of different (sometimes stupid things) is necessary to do that, because the cause of the issue is not the same for everyone and even if you and your coworkers all experience the issue, that doesn't mean everyone else has it too.

       

      Turning off important functionality is not meant for solving the issue permanently. It only help with debugging and in case some time is needed to fix an issue, it might help you to get the application to work at all. I assume you would always prefer a partly working app to one that doesn't even launch, won't you?

      Srishti Bali
      Community Manager
      Srishti BaliCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      December 28, 2019

      Hi there,

       

      Sorry to hear that Illustrator is crashing unexpectidely. I would like to know if the steps suggested by Monika worked for you, or the issue still persists. If not, please share the crash report by following the steps shared on this help article (https://helpx.adobe.com/in/illustrator/kb/crash-next-steps.html).

      While submitting crash report use the same email address, with which you are signed in on this community. This will help us find the crash report and help accordingly. 


      Kindly update the discussion if you need further assistance with it.

      Thanks,
      Srishti

      G
      Grupet_69Author
      Known Participant
      December 30, 2019

      No, none of the above have helped.

      Everytime it crashes, I sent the crash report to you guys with the same email address with which I signed in to this community.

      G
      Grupet_69Author
      Known Participant
      January 9, 2020

      Thanks for sharing the crash report. Please try turning the Rulers (View> Rulers > Hide Rulers) in the document and check if that helps.

       

       


      I've now been testing with hiding rulers and unfortunatley it doesnt make any change. Still keeps crashing 4-6 times a day. Again, it happens a lot when I move an object, but also when I save a document or using the Marquee tool.

       

      It's really getting frustrating, because I spent a lot of money on new hardware to get a faster workflow, and instead it done the opposite!

        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        December 23, 2019

        Please tell us version numbers (system and Illustrator)

        Is the dictation service in the system turned off?

        G
        Grupet_69Author
        Known Participant
        December 23, 2019

        Hi Monika,

         

        I'm using macOS Catalina (10.15.2) and Illustrator 24.0.1

        Not sure what you mean about dictation service? Is that under System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation?

        If yes, then it's off.

         

        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        December 23, 2019

        Yes, that one.

        Can you tell us when Illustrator crashes? Is that when saving or printing?

        Where do you save your files? Server, harddisk, synchronized folder?

        Do you have a printer set up? Illustrator needs one.

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices