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?

[cristall_7777]

Same uninstalled and installed but still said damage

[Monika Gause]

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@cristall_7777  schrieb:

Same uninstalled and installed but still said damage

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You uninstalled the betas and then installed them again? 

Uninstall them. No reinstall until further notice. Does that work?

[seanborja]

Thank you, Ton. That did the trick, uninstalling all of the Adobe Beta apps that I had installed. I had done so before, in part, assuming apps like Efter Effects, Premiere Pro, or Media Encoder would be as relevant to the operation of Illustrator, as InDesign or Photoshop might have on its function.

For whatever reason that exists in the Beta builds, something is toxic in its makeup that completely shuts down Illustrator’s functtion. I had been experiencing regualr crashes with Illustrator Beta whenever a new update was released, causing me to have to reconfigure my desktop each time—a very annoying routine.

[qwishunas4549300]

Hello,

As I go to launch Illustrator the pinwheel just keeps spinning and it never opens, any ideas?

[Anubhav M · Accepted solution]

Hello @qwishunas4549300,

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 to check if they help:

- Close all Adobe applications
- Uninstall any installed Beta apps from Creative Cloud (https://adobe.ly/46LMOWv)
- Relaunch Illustrator

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

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Anubhav

[qwishunas4549300]

Hi, I dont see any beta apps, what should I do now?

[Rene Andritsch]

Can you please state your operating system with the exact version number, your computer specs and which version of Illustrator you try to launch. That will be helpful for the team in assisting you.

[qwishunas4549300]

Can I get telephone support, I really need to get into the program

[Rene Andritsch]

Some users also report problems after updating to macOS 14.6.1 – though I cannot confirm that, stay on 14.4 for now so you don’t add another variable to the puzzle.

Follow the advice in this post: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/can-t-open-the-illustrator-and-photoshop-keep...

That seemed to help some users.

If that doesn’t help try the chat that might eventually connect you with an Adobe employee (It’s a little further down on that page): https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

[Actovate]

I am having the same problems!  Losing so many hours trying to resolve this!

[Monika Gause]

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@Actovate  schrieb:

I am having the same problems!  Losing so many hours trying to resolve this!

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Do you have any Adobe Beta app installed? video apps for example?

[yaminniechandrra]

I have just updated all the apps and illustrator still won't start. It freezes as soon as start showing initializing. How is everyone else working around this issue? I'm unable to work.

[Monika Gause]

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@yaminniechandrra  schrieb:

I have just updated all the apps and illustrator still won't start. It freezes as soon as start showing initializing. How is everyone else working around this issue? I'm unable to work.

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Please post information about your system. 

Additional hardware, Illustrator plugins, system and hardware information.

How many fonts are installed?

[yaminniechandrra]

602. Most of these are system fonts that are locked.

[Monika Gause]

Please post more infos about your system and hardware.

[yaminniechandrra]

Hello,

Ever since I updated illustrator 2025, it's not been opening. Earlier, it
would open if i opened it the thing on the macbook pro before opening other
applications. Now, it just freezes at initialisation.

Macbook pro Sonoma 14.6.1
250.69 GB HD is showing up as:

- 82.47 GB for applications
- 50.39 GB as photos- although i took backup and deleted all pics from
iphoto
- 5.12 GB as documents
- 84.64 GB systems data
- 18.55 GB mac OS
- 7.84 GD free

I don't have a single file saved on my macbook pro. Everything is on an
external hard drive. I have got another harddrive for scratch disks which I
am unable to set up for illustrator as it won't open. i was able to set it
up for photoshop.

I have run malware scan and nothing. deleted cache files.

What can I do to open illustrator and use it?

My work is suffering

please let me know.

thanks and regards
Yaminnie

[keefers510]

My problem was getting an error trying to Open my Adobe illustrator Beta version.  Did what andrew n14 said and unstilled all my beta progams. Re installed my adobe beta illustrator and wallah!  Worked like a charm.