Illustrator CC 2017 direct selection tool suddenly stopped showing anchor points and handles :(

[angelaamongstrangers]

It happened abruptly, suddenly it wasn't working. I did not change any settings and the preferences are still the same, but i can't grab handles or see anchor points using the direct selection tool

[Doug A Roberts]

ctrl/command + H? (show/hide edges)

[Earth Guest]

Thank you, Doug!

[MagnoliaRabbit]

I have the same problem, only Cmd (Ctrl) + H doesn't fix it. Neither does Cmd (Ctrl) + B. It's driving me crazy. I can select an anchor point with the direct selection tool, but I can't see that it's selected.

[Bill Silbert]

You may need to reset your preferences.

To do so:

For Macintosh Users: With Illustrator closed launch a Finder Window in column view and click on your home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. Within the Library folder find the following two files and delete them: “Adobe Illustrator <Version #> Settings” (earlier versions of Illustrator might just say “Adobe Illustrator”) and “com.adobe.Illustrator.plist”. When Illustrator is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

After you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, it is a really good idea to create copies of your personalized “mint” preference files (make sure that you quit the program before copying them—that finalizes your customization) and use them in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

For Windows Users: Hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching Illustrator and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset.

[stephenr38052659]

I've tried all of the above, and nothing is fixing the problem. Can someone from adobe please offer a solution? This is making a quick project really long.

[Monika Gause]

stephenr38052659  schrieb

Can someone from adobe please offer a solution?

Do you have a current version?

Then you can always contact: Contact Customer Care

If you don't have a current version, please tell us your system and version and what exactly is happening step by step.

It would also be important to know if you have any third party plugins, which kind of object is affected and if this happens in all your files or just one of them.

[Cheryl23943539i9sq]

Exactly my issue. Adobe just sent me a "Thanks" for responding to the "Community." I'd rather they just fix Illustrator.

[Monika Gause]

Exactly my issue. Adobe just sent me a "Thanks" for responding to the "Community." I'd rather they just fix Illustrator.

By @Cheryl23943539i9sq

And you have version CC2017?

Which system?

Which input device?

[Cheryl23943539i9sq]

I’m using CC online, so I’m not sure of the version. I use Mac Monterey on a 24” Mac. Is this the info you’re looking for? It’s not crystal clear to me.

[Creamer Training]

This thread is over 6 years old. If you are having a problem, I would start a new discussion.

[Doug A Roberts]

The OP stated that the direct selection tool suddenly stopped showing anchor points and handles. They never responded so I have no idea what the root problem was or if it was solved by this thread.

Another user responded positively to ctrl/command + H (show/hide edges).

Another user responded that show edges and show bounding box did not fix their (presumably similar) issue.

Some community experts suggested preferences resets or the Show Anchor Points in Selection tool & Shape Tools preferences option.

Another user seems to have an issue not seeing points with the black selection tool active (probably the Show Anchor Points in Selection tool & Shape Tools preferences option would have helped this person, but they never responded).

So: what is your exact situation? What tool are you using, and in what circumstances can you not see anchor points that you would expect to? Did you try the other solutions in this thread?

[debbiesdebs]

This is terrible, it happened here too. When creating something I can no longer check if the paths are clean, they could be riddled with anchor points but I don't see them. Expanding paths has always been troublesome since CS3 but now I can't even see the points and have to use either the direct selection tool (which is a pain since it only allows selection of elements unless I use a workaround, takes time) or I select it with the selection tool and hold 'Ctrl'.

This is a disaster. I can't create professional paths unless I see the anchor points.

I may have to revert to using CS6.

[debbiesdebs]

angelaamongstrangers, you DID check if the 'Bounding Box' was visible though, right? A shortcut is easily mistyped

To make sure: 'Ctrl-Shift-b' on Windows, 'Cmd-Shift-b' on Mac.

[Monika Gause]

debbiesdebs  schrieb

This is terrible, it happened here too. When creating something I can no longer check if the paths are clean, they could be riddled with anchor points but I don't see them. Expanding paths has always been troublesome since CS3 but now I can't even see the points and have to use either the direct selection tool (which is a pain since it only allows selection of elements unless I use a workaround, takes time) or I select it with the selection tool and hold 'Ctrl'.

This is a disaster. I can't create professional paths unless I see the anchor points.

I may have to revert to using CS6.

Are you sure it's the issue mentioned above and not just the preference setting in Preferences > Selection & Anchor point Handling: "Show acnhor points in selection tool" (wording might be slightly different)

[Cheryl23943539i9sq]

This is what has happened to me. Illustrator appears to "decide" how I'm going to interact with it. I'm not one bit happy.

[Doug A Roberts]

Which of the situations in this thread happened to you?

[Cheryl23943539i9sq]

On tool change, the Direct Selection Tool just stopped showing path and points/handles. Switching to Selection Tool revealed Bounding Box. Going back to DST, anchors, et. al. are missing. I've changed preferences. Quit Illustrator. Restarted. Rerechanged preferences... 

[Cheryl23943539i9sq]

...all resulting in NO anchor points/handles. help, help