Illustrator CC 2018 – GUI doesn't work

[sandro_f]

Hi guys

I just updated all my software to CC 2018. Everything's working just fine – except for Illustrator. I was able to update and even create a new document, but as you can see in the following screenshot, my GUI doesn't work at all...

I tried to reinstall – didn't help.

I tried to reboot my computer – didn't help.

Any guesses what could cause this problem? Thanks everybody.

[John Mensinger]

Window > Workspace > Reset [current workspace]

[sandro_f]

Tried this as well – didn't help.

[John Mensinger]

Hmmmm...I had the exact same thing on my first launch of 2018 and resetting the workspace fixed it. Have you tried a preferences reset?

[sandro_f]

It's a miracle! I just startet Illustrator to reset all preferences – and now it works, without me doing anything! It just started as it should have all the time. Fingers crossed it will work every time now! Thank you very much for your tips, appreciate it!

[Bill Silbert · Accepted solution]

If you didn't trash your old preferences when you updated to CC 2018 you should do so. I've seen several instances of what appeared to be bugs being fixed by trashing preferences.

To do so on a PC:

On Windows 7 and above the preference files are hidden. To find them go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and then click the View tab. Then select “Show hidden files and folders” or “Show hidden files, folders or drive options” in Advanced Settings. Then delete (or rename) the folder at the end of this path: C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [version number]\ Settings\<Language>. Make sure that Illustrator is closed when you do this. When you relaunch the program it will create  new preference files and the program will be at its default settings.

I recommend that after you’ve reset preferences and have redone all of your settings as you like them that (after quitting the program) you make a copy of this new “pristine” version of your preference file and save it for future use. It is a big time saver to be able to trash preferences and replace them with a version that is already as you like them.

[niklass77258784]

Thanks Bill. This solution worked for me.

[lisakristel]

Hi, I've had a sticking hand tool problem that trashing illustrator preferences resolved.

Now the problem has returned, but when I start up with option-cmd-shift, it doesn't ask me if it's ok to trash prefs.

a search for the Adobe Illustrator Prefs file turns up nothing.

The problem persists and I can't get any work done and I'm going to cry or throw my computer.

Please help!

[Bill Silbert]

The route to Illustrator preferences is as follows:

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 folder called Preferences and within it 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.

For Windows Users: You can try the quick way of resetting on a PC which is to hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching Illustrator and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset. There have been some recent reports that the window asking if you want to reset is not popping up but that the prefs are being reset anyway. If this works great but if it doesn’t you may have to manually delete them.

To do so:

On Windows 7 and above the preference files are hidden. To find them go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and then click the View tab. Then select “Show hidden files and folders” or “Show hidden files, folders or drive options” in Advanced Settings. Then delete (or rename) the folder at the end of this path: C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [version number]\ Settings\<Language>. Make sure that Illustrator is closed when you do this. When you relaunch the program it will create  new preference files and the program will be at its default settings.

The advantage of manually deleting preference files is that after you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, you can 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.

[lisakristel]

Bill Silbert's advice on HOW TO DELETE PREFERENCES worked, but that did not resolve the issue I'm having with Illustrator:

1. the hand tool is still stuck

2. The keyboard shortcuts don't work

3. every action moves extremely ssssslloooowly. even scrolling through folders and files in File-Open

Thank you, Bill, for the trashing prefs advice.

Can someone please tell me why I'm paying a monthly fee for Illustrator CC that doesn't work?

[z0mbak]

For me it's looks like Scaling for High-PPI displays issue

[lisakristel]

OK, is there something I can do about that that scaling issue?

[z0mbak]

@lisakristel why don't You try to play with that setting? There are only three variations: disabled, set to scale to lower scale factor and set to scale to higher scale factor. w