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.

[brandon_9137]

@Paweł5E57 Not a OS reinstall, but we did try a new windows profile to no avail. 

[efficient_captain1991]

Yes, I’ve tried that as well but the issue keeps recurring after a few hours..

[Paweł5E57]

thx, for feedback

[efficient_captain1991]

Even after reinstalling the OS and trying an older version of illustrator like v28.0 the same issue persists.

[Juan291364316xl2]

ADOBE!!!! Any updates to this issue this is wrecking my ability to produce any work. 

[Paul34707978fpvu]

I uninstalled 29.7.1 and re-installed it this morning. Opened a new file, created a shape and copy pasted without crashing. 

Woot! Back to work.

[efficient_captain1991]

New files are thriving, while existing ones are still in a drama!

[Bobby Henderson]

This situation has me wondering if one culprit could be something in artwork not originally made in Illustrator. A few days ago I was having a problem with Illustrator locking up when copying artwork to the clipboard. This was PDF content provided from a customer, and the artwork wasn't created in Illustrator. Rather, it was something put together in either Figma or Canva. I haven't had any clipboard issues with art files I've created on my own.

[Jennifer32470918dli7]

I agree!! This sounds accurate - miraculously I was able to copy paste this morning without crashing, but I was working in document with no external material. The document that was giving me crashing problems yesterday (and again today after testing!) had screenshots pasted in using microsofts clipping tool (which copies the screenshots to the clipboard). This is an interesting theory! 

[Hannah28417173g6qs]

I am finding the same - the files I'm having issues with have content from a vector pdf. If I create a brand new illustrator document with no external content, it seems to be fine.

[efficient_captain1991]

In this situation, even when creating new designs within an older Illustrator file like with branded templates, copying my own work within that file still leads to crashes.

[Anubhav M]

Hello everyone,

The team has requested additional information. Can you kindly check if Illustrator behaves this way when using it with another application running on your computer or after installing a recent Windows update? To test this, kindly try running Illustrator under Safe Mode (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Kyra25828911yph8]

I ran illustrator in safe mode and the copy function is not making it crash. I restarted (not in safe mode) and copy is still not crashing. So far so good!

[Kyra25828911yph8]

Nevermind, I spoke too soon. Illustrator is crashing again when I copy. 

[StrangeShenanigans]

Ok, I've tried closing every other application but illustrator (I know safemode works in the same way as I'm about to describe as that was how I was working through it before). 
In a brand new document I am not experiencing the copy issue, as long as all elements are built from scratch - I've not thoroughly tested mind as I dont have the time, but certainly with symbols and created shapes and pen tool lines it's fine. 
I've also discovered that SVGs I've created in the past (which are created from illustrator, 1 artboard, no other information svg1.1s) can be copied, both into the new file and within their own file. 
If I drag an element from an old file (pre-dating this issue) into a new file, close the old file and then try and copy that element within the new file it also breaks (this works whether the file is a simple line of text, a graphic or a symbol regardless). 

The only way I've found that I am able to work with an old file (which isn't predicatable) is if the file crashes and I go to open illustrator again and miraculously it has decided to 'recover' the file, at this point that file is useable and every element can be copied. However as soon as you save that file down and close it then it becomes unuseable again.

I hope that helps, I'm just about teaching myself not to copy, but sometimes my fingers have a mind of their own, so as soon as it's sorted we'll all be greatful!

[federico224194217q54]

Hello, I am having the same issue: Illustrator freezes and crashes whenever I use Ctrl+c or select "copy" from the menu. I'm using version 29.7.1 and this issue started on 31 July 2025, after a series of Widnows 11 Updates were installed on my laptop (see attached image). I also managed to take some screenshots for the error report and it seems to me that the issue is caused by the failure to upload a DLL file. Could you please have a look ans see if this can be solved? This is heavily impacting my work...

Kind regards

[philip_7696]

I wonder about the windows update. 
I have the same issue and also had a recent windows update "Windows 11 Version 23 for x64-based Systems"

[Simran31086489uqgw]

Same issues, and it started for me only this morning. I was using Illustrator just yesterday and was not having this issue. Waiting for this issue to be resolved!!!

[belinda_6897]

Unfortunately due to company IT restrictions, operating in safe mode is not an option for me (and possibly others)

[default17fc8zz21qa6]

I am also having this problem. Two of my ten other coworkers using Illustrator now have the same issue.  I have ran it in Safe Mode and done a clean reboot with no success of resolving the issue. So it seems to be an Illustrator issue clipboard issue.

[kanchan_6750]

Dear Adobe Team,

Kindly address this issue on the highest priority. It is unacceptable that such basic functions are not working. Our business operations have been affected, and our in-house designers are unable to deliver their work on time. This problem has been persisting since last week, and no effective action has been taken so far.

We request your immediate intervention to resolve this matter.

[Jimnuel35123359boyv]

Adobe Support remotely accessed my laptop, uninstalled all Adobe apps, ran the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner tool, and then reinstalled both the latest and older versions. I also tried uninstalling the most recent Windows updates, disabling MS Defender, and updating the graphics driver to the latest version, but the issue still persists. Strangely, other apps like InDesign and Photoshop work fine when I do copy and paste.

[Arman32963341mqjn]

I have the same issue with my work computer, but not with my personal computer, and the only difference is that my personal computer is AMD. Are there compatibility issues between the new NVIDIA and Intel driver updates and Illustrator?

[John23117312vwyg]

Thisis very frustrating. Nothing I am doing can stop the crash the second i copy anything, be it a complex path or a simple jpg. I've searched this thread and haven't found a solution, just a lot of requests for information. 
This is core, it stops work. It isn't acceptable, and it seems as if this issue if going on for weeks now with nothing resolved.

[Myra D]

Still having this issue. When will it be fixed? My company IT says not to roll back to another version or work in safe mode.