Illustrator Crashes When Copying - Illustrator 29.6.1 / Win 11

[Boon23853857gxj4]

I’m experiencing an issue with Adobe Illustrator where I cannot copy anything. Both Ctrl+C and right-click > Copy cause the software to crash immediately. This has been happening repeatedly throughout the day.

Could you please advise on the cause and any possible solution? It’s really frustrating that Illustrator can’t handle such a basic function like copying without crashing.

[natalia_3280]

I can confirm that this issue is still happening. Illustrator can't handle a basic function of copying. It immediatly crashes and this happens often because copying to the clipboard is used all day. This is very frustrating because it stops my workflow.

[Melissa33344119158l]

This error has been propagating through my group for about a week now. It finally hit me yesterday.

After reading this thread, I tried an experiment:

• New file. Draw a rectangle. Control C, Control V. No crash
• Repeated the above in the same new file without saving - still no crash.
• Saved file to desktop. Control C. Seemed ok, no crash.
• Saved to OneDrive. Seemed ok. Tried Control C more times - then started crashing.
• Re launched Illustrator, reopened the file saved to my desktop. Control C - crash.

I tried another experiment:

• new file. do not save. rectangle. Ctrl C. Ctrl V. ok. 
• repeat many times. ok. 
• Save to dekstop. rectangle. Ctrl C. Ctrl V. ok. 
• repeat many times. ok. no crash
• Hit save and close the file.
• Reopen that file. Ctrl C - CRASH.

In this case at least it looks like a new file is ok. Even if saved. BUT once you close that file and reopen it, the error ensues. 

I don't have time to keep experimenting but I hope this contributes to the cause.

[philip_7696]

How many people also have the Esko dynamic barcodes plug-in? 

[RejPL]

I don't use any plugins

[Marc291123795bkn]

Nope. Has nothing to do with the plugin

[keiths55952771]

We use to use that plug-in a few years ago. We use Barcode Studio (by Tec-It) and then we generate the barcode as an EPS and then bring it into Illustrator. Been doing that for 12 years...no issue, now with the crashing, can't do that. I have to do the drag and drop methosd.

[clement_4485]

Hello, same problem here with the 2014 version, It's the last version that we can use in my company so do you know if the patch will be good for us ?

[Carol35262613zs8q]

Last week I installed the latest Illustrator upgrade on my PC and had no problems. Some of my coworkers on PCs entered this nightmare on Friday, but my machine was fine. Today it is happening on my machine upon startup. Please resolve or take us back to the previous version!!!!  (If it's a clue, I had cut/paste issues most of this year due to a conflict with Logi software.)

[keiths55952771]

Just tested Photoshop (latest 26.#) and it doesn't do it there and it is the same computer. 

I am going to try my personal computer this evening since it isn't connected to the corporate network.

Adobe had to have done something within the Illustrator code/framework, or Windows added something with the latest update which I find interesting because I am using Windows 10 and this is affecting 10 and 11. That tells me that this isn't so much a Windows issue as it is a Adobe issue.

[enrique_7417]

I am having the same issue, I have the latest version of Adobe Illustrator but this started happening before the last update.
I found a way to copy and paste without copying a graphic. If you select the graphic you want to copy and move it to another file within Illustrator or move it to another app (PS, ID, etc), the file will be copied without Illustrator crashing. Hope this helps until Adobe figures out the problem.

By the way, some folks had mentioned that it was their Logi keyboards which is what I was using, but I had the same problem with a mac keyboard and other brands. It doesn't seem to be the keyboard but the actual act of copying and pasting. Interestingly, this is only happening on my work PC, not on my personal Mac with the same software upgraded.

[Amanda4lb38n9fc]

Having the same problem, Adobe dropping the ball as usual. Pathetic

[Taryn35212165v16p]

I'm experiencing the same exact issue. This happens for both new files as well as old. I don't use cloud documents/save anything on the Adobe cloud, so can't offer any insight there.

Alt + dragging works fine, but if I need to copy/paste something from another document, I'm out of luck. 

As the original poster mentioned, this is a glaring issue for such a basic command. Hopefully it's adddressed soon.

[Melissa33344119158l]

re: copying and pasting to another document - i was able to make that work, at least when working within 2 illustrator files. tile the windows so you can see both at once and then drag the vector or whatever from one window to the other. it'll copy it to the file you drag it to.

[cathy_6954]

Yes, I've been doing that as well.  Just make sure you have the layer you want it copied to activated when you go the drag and drop.

[Earthling v42.0]

Our company just installed windows 11 (Illustrator 29.7.1) and we are having the same issue. 

After resetting all preferences, it still did this. So I had to select each element and export it as a .svg or png file to paste into another file and/or other programs (PowerPoint).

[Mohamed28516131dqyz]

llustrator Crashes When Copying

[Danielle28302250pv9r]

I'm having the exact same issue. I'm on a company-issued PC. I have the latest version of Windows 11 installed. Tried uninstalling and re-installing Illustrator, but no luck. It doesn't work to save my files on the Cloud. I've tried all the tricks listed. Doesn't matter if it's a new document or an existing one. Alt-drag works, but the minute you save a file, leave it, and reopen it, the same problem happens. Heck, the minute I save a new file and continue working in it, the problem happens. For me, it seems like saving the file is the issue, but I CAN'T NOT SAVE MY WORK. \

I have a ton of deliverables due and this is absolutely unacceptable, since it sounds like this has been a known problem for weeks. I do not have time recreate this artwork in a different piece of software. 

[John23873686q4wy]

I was trying to stay out of just jumping on this thread to complain, keeping my replies to useful information, but note this: There is no workaround for paste in place, which is a huge part of my precision workflow. Really struggling. 
ADOBE TEAM - what is you plan for socializing/pushing out a fix when this is solved? Very tedious to have to monitor this thread.

[Rodrigo Greoles]

Duplicating the layer from the Layers window worked for me. Just drag the layer to the New Layer button (+), and it duplicates in the same spot

LMK

[Daniel355328081jta]

I have come across the same issue. For me the crash only happens when trying to copy from an .ai file. If I save as an .eps and try to copy it works. 

[Carol35262613zs8q]

THIS WORKED!!! I saved my file as an .eps. Closed AI. Then reopened that .eps and (so far) I can copy/paste. Obviously this makes the file ginormous but once I get past deadline I can come back and save my file back down to an .ai format. And at least now I can get some work done. THANK  YOU, DANIEL!!!! 

[stephenb16559011]

We should be getting daily updates from the dev team, this is happening to a lot of users and we have people that need to get work done in Illustrator. Alt-Drag is a terrible option for a workaround.

[JKaroSPG]

**A POSSIBLE SOLUTION OR WORKAROUND**
Apologies if I am too late or this is not an actual workaround. So far for me, this has solved my copy/paste issues, but it has only been a few minutes.

TRY Togging Clipboard History:

Go to Settings > System > Clipboard and toggle Clipboard history off and then back on. 

It seems clear the issue is with copying to the clipboard in Windows. Maybe vectors are too complicated for an update. Try turning off Clipboard History. And if Ai is now working, turn it back on and see if it still works.

[Rodrigo Greoles]

I've tried it, but it didn't work on my end...

Thanks anyway.

RG

[Carol35262613zs8q]

1) Toggling Clipboard and 2) turning Clipboard off totally, did not work for me. However, someone did say it worked to save an .eps. THAT WORKED! I had to save as an .eps, close, then open my .eps and copy/paste works!!! Downside, my file size is now 20 times larger.  After I get past deadline, I'll resave back to .ai format. But at least I can get work done!