Illustrator Mac 2024 freezes on launch, won't start

[tunghoy]

It was running fine, then randomly stopped launching. When I try, it gets to the point of checking and initializing, then freezes. Always a different item that it's initializing when it freezes. What I have tried:

• Uninstalled from CC desktop and from Finder, reinstalled over and over and over.
• Used the Cleanup tool to remove Illustrator and CC desktop
• Deleted font cache using Terminal
• No 3rd party plugins or anything else to remove, no scripts to launch
• Removed Illustrator caches
• Removed beta version
• Rebooted several times

System info:

• M2 with 16 gb
• Sonoma 14.4.1
• System Monitor shows 9 gb free before trying to launch
• Monitor shows 12 gb used when launch attempt is in progress
• 95 gb disk available, trash is empty, iCloud is nearly full
• Other CC apps are installed but not running

Searching here shows this has been an issue for years. Any suggestions before I give up and start using something else?

[Monika Gause]

Can you uninstall, run the Adobe Cleaner tool and then reinstall?

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html 

[Srishti Bali]

Hi @BUSKIRKS.com

We're sorry to hear about the trouble you're experiencing. Few other users have reported a similar issue, and we have found that completely reinstalling the application helps resolve it. While our team is working on resolving this issue, could you please try the following steps and let us know your observations:

• Close all Adobe applications.
• Remove Illustrator and other affected apps using the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool: https://adobe.ly/3LZDS68.
• Reinstall apps using the Creative Cloud Desktop application: https://adobe.ly/3LX80PC.
• Relaunch Illustrator.

Thank you for your patience, and I hope this helps!

Regards,

Srishti

[Hernan270041127hpi]

Any idea what to do? I restarted couple of times already.

[Monika Gause]

There are currently some issues with Adobe betas. Does the released version work for you? Do you have any other Adobe betas installed, like video?

[Hernan270041127hpi]

Photoshop Beta works.

[Monika Gause]

Beta apps have been interfering with the other apps for the last days for pretty much everyone. And uninstalling all betas helped people get the released versions to work again. 

[MNiehof]

So do all Beta apps need to be uninstalled?

[Anubhav M]

Hello @MNiehof,

Would you mind confirming if you have any beta Adobe apps installed on your computer and are having trouble launching the release version of your Adobe apps? If yes, kindly try the following steps as Monika suggested, to check if they help:

- Close all Adobe applications
- Uninstall any installed Beta apps from Creative Cloud (https://adobe.ly/4dBS9ln)
- Relaunch Illustrator

If the problem persists, try removing Illustrator using the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool (https://adobe.ly/4fAGzcb) and then reinstalling and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Anubhav

[MNiehof]

It finally started working again but it took over 24 hours after the beta
programs were deleted. Thank you

[Anna_Boleyn0684]

I am experiencing a recurring issue with Adobe Illustrator (version 27.8.1) on my MacBook Air (model 8,2) running macOS 14.6.1. The application frequently hangs, causing significant disruptions to my workflow.

Details of the issue:

Duration of hang:Approximately 21.60 seconds, with 18 seconds being unresponsive.

System resources:

  - Active processors: 4

  - Free disk space: 61.07 GB out of 233.47 GB

I have attempted the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Restarted my computer.

2. Closed other applications while running Illustrator.

3. Ensured that my macOS and Illustrator are updated to the latest versions.

Despite these efforts, the issue persists. I would appreciate any guidance or solutions you could provide to resolve this problem.

Thank you for your assistance!

[Monika Gause]

Do you have any Adobe Beta apps installed?

If so, uninstall them, reboot and try again.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Anna_Boleyn0684,

We understand that encountering technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind confirming if you have any beta Adobe apps installed on your computer? If yes, kindly try the following steps, as Monika suggested, to check if they help:

- Close all Adobe applications
- Uninstall any installed Beta apps from Creative Cloud (https://adobe.ly/3yEMzjp)
- Relaunch Illustrator

If the problem persists, try removing Illustrator using the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool (https://adobe.ly/4dH74Lo) and then reinstalling and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Anubhav

[paulvesco]

On a Mac

I can successfully open Acrobat and Lightroom, but I can't open Illustrator or InDesign (my 4 basic apps that I use in my business). Both AI and ID show a splash screen and start to load, but never do.... spinning circle and my Mac shows "Program Not Responding". I have a 2-seat license and all the programs open normally on my other Mac.

I have updated my software from OS 14.4 to OS 14.6.1 (after this problem started). I have restarted many times. And historically, I have literally been using ID all week for a project. Illustrator I haven't used for a while, but that's what seemed to be the first sign of this glitch.

I have searched the database and tried several solutions.... None of them worked. Please help. I need to get some work done. For now, I'll have to chase my assistant off of her computer, but this obviously isn't ideal.

My next step is to reinstall my OS which is a 2+ hour job, but I'm hoping for some sort of solution before I do that.

Thank you.

[Monika Gause]

Do you have any Adobe beta app installed? If so, try and uninstall them and reboot. Does it work then?

[Anubhav M]

Hello @paulvesco,

We understand that encountering technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind confirming if you have any beta Adobe apps installed on your computer? If yes, kindly try the following steps as Monika suggested, to check if they help:

- Close all Adobe applications
- Uninstall any installed Beta apps from Creative Cloud (https://adobe.ly/3LZvgga)
- Relaunch Illustrator

If the problem persists, try removing Illustrator using the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool (https://adobe.ly/3M0bX68) and then reinstalling and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Anubhav

[Taylor30664666f25x]

I am trying to open illustrator, but it is freezing at the load in screen. 

I have done the following and it has not helped:

• restarted my Mac desktop
• updated my Mac
• uninstalled Illustrator and redownloaded

None of these have helped. I was in a project earlier and it then crashed and won't load in anymore. Anyone else seeing this or have a solution?

[Taylor30664666f25x]

Reference image for where it is sticking: 

[Monika Gause]

Maybe this is related to the blank start screen.

You could check out what Anubhav mentioned here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-opens-with-blank-window/m-p/14352... 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Taylor30664666f25x,

We understand that encountering technical issues can be frustrating. I hope Monika's suggestions helped resolve the problem. If not, kindly try the suggestions shared in this help article (https://adobe.ly/46yERUD) and let us know if they help.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[Taylor30664666f25x]

Thank you @Monika Gause and @Anubhav M for the help with this issue. I tried to follow the steps in that first link, but was still not getting anywhere. I finally used the Adobe Cleaner tool, removed all apps and then redownloaded them. 

Not my favorite way of solving the issue, but it was able to solve the problem. I opened Illustrator once it redownloaded and it opened without an issue.

Thanks again for the quick responses and ultimately helping me find the Adobe Cleaner tool!

[bryanbarber214]

This is nuts! I haven't been about to run Illustrator for two days. It stopped in the middle of a project. I haven't been able to get support to answer either on the phone or chat. This is frustrating beyond me. 

Is anyone else having this issue?

Bryan

[Monika Gause]

Do you have any Adobe beta applications installed? Photoshop, video apps?

If so, try and uninstall them.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @bryanbarber214,

We understand that encountering technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind confirming if you have any beta Adobe apps installed on your computer? If yes, kindly try the following steps, as Monika suggested, to check if they help:

- Close all Adobe applications
- Uninstall any installed Beta apps from Creative Cloud (https://adobe.ly/3AaVedK)
- Relaunch Illustrator

If the problem persists, try removing Illustrator using the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool (https://adobe.ly/3AiHJZJ) and then reinstalling and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Anubhav

[David30125243i5sb]

Yesterday for some reason my illustrator froze so i tried restarting the app however from that moment on when I try opening the app it is stuck on the loading screen/splash screen with the circling beach ball. I tried restarting my computer, updating both the app and my computer, I even went as far as uninstalling the app and reinstalling it again however nothing is working please help!

[Monika Gause]

Do you have any Adobe beta apps installed? Particularly anything video?
Can you uninstall all the betas, reboot and then try again?

If you do not want to install al betas, please start with Media Encoder, Premiere, After Effects.