Illustrator gets stuck on hand tool

[elementofblank]

I'm having this problem with my Adobe Illustrator CS3 where I'll be using the pen tool, and out of nowhere (usually after I've undone a couple of things it seems), the program will get stuck on the hand tool, and won't switch to any other tool. Time seems to be the only remedy because the problem will persist even if I try to work on another file, or restart the program. It also carries over to Photoshop, which I don't recall ever giving me this problem. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[_scott_]

Your space bar is stuck on the keyboard. It may be time for a new keyboard.

[LuckyCharms]

It's not the spacebar. I wish it were that easy. I'm having the same problem in Illustrator and InDesign. It started after the Windows 10 update, but I don't know if its the Windows update or the recent Adobe update.

[luis adriánb9512419]

Exactly the same problem... it's very annoying sometimes I get very angry... Still no solutions, 2 months already having this situation 😞 

[evak3417722]

That was it! Thanks Scott!!

[mary2511 · Accepted solution]

Thank you. It was the space bar on my keyboard. That worked for me. 

[HW - VML]

Ding Ding Ding! Problem solved... Much appricted, you just saved me throwing my computer out of a window lol!

[jwhalen72]

YEP, this just got me too. Banged on the keyboard a bit and all is well!

[Joshua266059991vsh]

Nope. Not it. Only restarts work. It's 2023 & 14 years later Adobe still hasn't fixed this bug. SMH.

[christinabgcpat]

Hold "shift" and "Spacebar" together = problem solved!!!

[PrepressPro1]

If you have another keyboard laying around you could try hooking it up to see if you get the hand tool or if this resolves the issue.

[stretched]

Don't think it is a spacebar problem. Look at http://www.davidbisset.com/2007/12/15/photoshop-stuck-on-hand-toolicon/ for shared concern with many people. I have been encountering this on just about all tool-related programs -Illustrator CS4, Painter 11, Photoshop CS2. Every time the problem clears in a few minutes. I have XP Pro, 3 GB of RAM, Duo Core 2.40GHz - no memory issues. I suspect the problem is software related in how it is using computer resources - possible conflict with some Microsoft performance addition.

[Wade_Zimmerman1]

That might or mght not be an issue you are having but i have to say taking the approach orf selective choosintgg the answers will not solve your problem if Scott is correct then all the time you spend looking for your perfect software solution will be very costly.

Why don't you first check it out instead of dismissing what might be a problem with a $30 solution.

[whisselBahre]

I'm having the same issue, also in Photoshop CS4 extended. 

1)  I just re-Ghosted to a pristine Ghost image to rule-out OS/software issues on my end.  I'll post how that goes once I reinstall the Adobe. 

2)  Diagnostics report no memory or other hardware errors.  Also, I've done a Symantec disk check, and no disk errors are reported. 

3)  Also, while the keyboard notion is a good thought, I'm thinking that we can't all have keyboard issues.  My keyboard is almost new and every key works beautifully.  Here is a filtered forum listing of others having the same issue.  As you can see, this is very widespread.

http://forums.adobe.com/search.jspa?q=hand+tool&resultTypes=MESSAGE&resultTypes=COMMUNITY&peopleEnab...

[stretched]

I have found that the spacebar will release the hand tool for normal use, so I now think that the problem is the coding for the hand tool over-riding all other tools when used to move the stage or workspace onscreen. This is, afterall, a programmed use (and a good one) when other tools are selected and you need to quickly adjust the workspace.

[karenc70494664]

thank you!! I was panicking until I beat the crap out of my space bar... worked a treat!

[angelam36896065]

Very Helpful hint, thank you so much!

[luis adriánb9512419]

I wanted to check the link but: "This page isn't available. Try checking the URL or visit a different page."

[Monika Gause]

This is a link from 2009 and the forum has been migrated since. So all older links are invalid.

I suppose your issue is not with Illustrator CS4, right?

So which one are you using?

What you can check:

- hardware issues with the keyboard (stuck spacebar). Yes, the spacebar of a keyboard can stop working. Also check it for dirt

- other apps interfering (the list is long, just turn off everything else. Yes, this includes your browser, e-mail, video conferencing)

- the humble regular computer reboot. Do it daily.

[lackostration]

I have the same issues. I use Adobe Illustrator with the brush tool with my Wacom, which always gets stuck for me. When illustrating in Ai, I use a combination of my pen and the space bar for navigation. The hand tool appears when I use the space bar and goes away when I release it. It gets stuck randomly. When I hit save and the file is large, I attempt to move the page while it's saving a file, or I switch between apps. I don't know what triggers it, but it happens. 

I use a wireless keyboard, and the keyboard spacebar isn't stuck. It's a combo of things happening and a bug. The keyboard, Wacom, and Adobe may think the spacebar is still active, so it doesn't switch back to the previous tool when the spacebar shortcut is activated.

When this bug happens, I cut the power to my keyboard, which triggers the spacebar bug loop to close becuase the system is no longer connected to the keyboard. The tool resets itself, and I can go back to work. 

Hope this helps someone out there! 

[marclenzke]

After viewing a Flash file that switches to fullscreen the hand tool seems locked in. Just click the spacebar to clear the problem.

[whisselBahre]

Thanks!  That works.

[mikaine]

It was driving me insane! (I've expreienced it in AI & PS CS4 after going fullscreen on a flash game from Facebook) The spacebar trick did it, thank you so much!

[staceyseattle]

Pressing the space bar worked for me (after trying all the other more time-consuming ideas...) upvote this suggestion lol

[mlionking007]

hi all,

I had the same problem, but i found some wierd solution (Believe me it works...)

I do photoshop tutorials from Youtube. I use Mozilla most of the time and when i open PS CS4 i get struck with hand tool.

But when i use IE for youtube lessons, i dont get such crapy problems.

When i got struck with hand tool, i closed Mozilla and hit spacebar in PS CS4... hand tool dissapears.....

And it works lot of time and now i stopped using mozilla to open Youtube for my photography tutorials.

Any other suggestions please reply back.........

Regards