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.

[kim_1619]

Just a extra note: .EPS does crash when you try to use the graph-generator and try to copy something from the data-window.

[KatJot_13]

One day later, the issue still is not resolved and I'm late with projects already. Even with some work around ways this is a HUGE drop in productivity, leading to constantly loosing progress. You can't erase years of muscle memory in one evening. Shame on you adobe. 

[belinda_6897]

Don't hold your breath, the first user reported this issue back on 31st July - my own issues started last Monday (4th August).... beyond frustrating.

[KatJot_13]

Truly no words. I miss the old days before the CC, stable software, no subscribtion. We're here fighting this thing as if the world was not making fools of us with AI etc. already. 

[Jackie359439650kjx]

Any update on this? This is getting really hard with deadlines and work mounting. The workaround isn't really effecient. 

[KangarooPastry]

This issue has been going on for nearly 2 weeks, affecting more and more users as their computers update. It affected colleagues early last week, and Friday morning saw my own machine finally succumb to whatever updates I'd been delaying.

Many of us can not disable windows defender in our work environments. Safe option isn't an option as we rely on live updates, cloud server files, and being able to connect with people in other departments.

Alt-dragging is a nice workaround for simpler tasks, but trying to do this between layered groups or clipping masks is a nightmare - one that requires carefully scouring individual objects in the layer window, or pulling apart each group and layer to rebuild it. Just to paste in an object. Your users aren't making five minute power point presentations - this is an industry standard tool for complex layouts and illustrations.

Some colleagues have said the issue doesn't happen with new files - not great for those of using template files already made. In my case even new files have fatal errors if I copy anything as simple as a rectangle.

In the interest of trying to provide some helpful info - because right now I just want to scream at this program - it's in Windows 11 enterprise, and the Illustrator version is 29.7.1 .

Copying within Illustrator causes either a freeze and an error send window, or just an instant crash of the program.

Pasting from outside the program seems to work fine. Along with alt-dragging to duplicate within the program, this made me wonder if it's an incompatibility with how Illustrator's objects are being given to the Windows clipboard. Turning off the clipboard history makes no difference.

I might use paper for a while now. My pencil doesn't crash.

[Wan Reza]

Any update on this? Please solve this. Having the same problem here. 

[living with bugs]

Even though there are so many user reports about this issue, Adobe doesn't seem to be addressing it very actively. They haven't even provided an official statement or page to tell users they're working on a fix. Instead, they're leaving countless users to struggle with the problem on their own. Who knows?

[Easyoldlife]

I can't work like this. It's not even a reportable crash; Illustrator just winks out of existance. 

Yes, the alt-drag works, but if you're looking to paste something onto the same coordinates on a different artboard, I find I'm having to draw an artboard-sized box, dragging that over too, then deleting. Just to make sure my object is where I want it. 

Year on year, this awful, buggy, eye-wateringly software just gets worse. Don't even get me started on Acrobat.

[Viktoria24203226e6hj]

IS there any update on this? It makes it literally impossible to work... Please sort this out ASAP

[Moustafa Idris]

Hi everyone,

I’m facing a recurring issue with Adobe Illustrator: the application immediately crashes whenever I perform a Copy, Cut or Paste action (either via keyboard shortcuts or from the menu).

Here’s what I have already tried without success:

• Updated Illustrator to the latest version.

• Reset preferences and disabled “Include SVG Code” (and other clipboard options).

• Disabled Windows Clipboard History and any clipboard-related apps.

• Tested in new blank files and removed any potentially corrupted objects or fonts.

• Ran Illustrator without any third-party plug-ins.

• Completely uninstalled Illustrator (including preferences) and reinstalled older versions.

The issue still persists across different versions.

Is this a known bug? Any other workaround or fix that might help?

Thanks in advance!

[KatJot_13]

Funnily enough, creating an EPS file and woking on it has been helpful... up until the point I added a PNG QR code generated in Adobe Express. After this, copying any object leads to an instant crash. 

[belinda_6897]

As mentioned yesterday, i was able to use a loan laptop, installed CC and the latest version of Adobe Illustrator and it was all working fine until I was forced to install a Windows update today:

My existing laptop is running Windows 11 Enterprise version 24H2 installed on 1st April 2025, my loan laptop WAS running Windows 11 Enterprise version 23H2 installed on 10th July 2025.... however it is now also running 24H2 and guess what?!!?.... Adobe Illustrator has just started crashing.

[KatJot_13]

Sadly most of us are working on company-owned laptops and are not able to even stop Windows updates from happening.  The fact that it 'only' affected illustrator is both a blessing and a course I guess. 

[221344294fx9]

I had an update 4 days ago for Illustrator, update 29.7.1. Now everytime I copy something on any file it locks-up and then crashes, please help!!!!!!  Does anyone else have this problem???

[jane-e]

@221344294fx9 

This is a known bug and the Illustrator team is aware. I've moved your post from Creative Cloud desktop to the longer thread in the Illustrator forum. Please read the pinned posts and provide the information that Adobe staff is asking for so they can investigate the issue. They have also provided a workaround in the pinned post.

Jane

[keiths55952771]

Everytime it crashes you can send the report to them.....what more can we as users do?.

First they don't renew their agreement with Pantone, and now this

[Easyoldlife]

I'm often not even getting the opportunity to send a crash report. Illustrator just shuts down the second I use Ctrl C. 

[221344294fx9]

I had an update 4 days ago for Illustrator, update 29.7.1. Now everytime I copy something on any file it locks-up and then crashes, please help!!!!!!  Does anyone else have this problem???

[Marc291123795bkn]

Win11 24H2 on every Illustrator Version since 2023. We really need a fix!

[Sébastien33448189os5f]

I'm on 23H2 and it is the same thing. It started crashing this week. Last week it was fine and I don't remember any update having taken place, Windows or Adobe. We had an MS Office update two weeks ago but it was still working fine after that update.

So after a few consecutive crashes this Monday, I checked to see if there was an Illustrator update to download, and there was, but even after installing the update, this is still happenning. 

A lot of people seem to think that this is linked to running W11 24H2, but like I said, I'm still on 23H2 and the same thing is happening. So it must be something else. I just can't believe people have been having this problem since a good two weeks already with no solution in sight from Adobe. I mean, sure, it might be complicated to find the exact source of the problem, but I thought Adobe was a huge company that has a ton of resources.... 

[RH_Coffey]

Only THOUSANDs of people! Adobe has done it again! They ave known about it for more than a week and we're all still swearing beacus they can't own their problem and support their once loyal users!

[221344294fx9]

Typical, take your money and leave you be!!!!!!!!

[Haroon38607467vag0]

Dear Adobe Team,

We are having a lot of work pending for last 3 days and Adobe Illustrator is crashing everytime when we press control + c. It is really difficult to carry out day to day task. Kindly provide patch update immediately to resolve the issue. contact us at haroon@thefreshmarketdubai.com for the bugs and fixes, we are waiting for last 3 days, still not update from adobe team, this is unacceptable from large company like Adobe. This is really urgent, update us and respond to the query.

[KristyGange]

Can someone alert Microsoft to this problem?
I couldn't because I'm on a work PC and it wouldn't let me submit my question or sign into their support site. ( Just to add to my frustration.)

[!] Please fix the following issues to continue:

• We encountered an unexpected error. Please try again later. If this issue continues, please open a ticket at https://sitehelp.microsoft.com

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.

I'm wondering if it's a Windows compatibility issue. It just started out of the blue.

Adobe <----> Microsoft talk to each other and figure this out!!!!

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-crashes-when-copying-illustrator-...