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Answered

Illustrator Stuck on Hand Tool cursor/ icon after launch

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
April 12, 2024
5 replies
4620 views

My hand tools get stuck when starting illustrator. When I try to change them it doesn't work. I can't continue working like this. Does anyone know how to solve this. My system and programs are up to date

Correct answer SebastianCrisp37

I just encountered the same issue in March 2025. I'm a bit late in helping with the original post, but for anyone facing this in the future, try SHIFT + SPACEBAR. That solved it for me!

S

SebastianCrisp37Correct answer

Participant

I just encountered the same issue in March 2025. I'm a bit late in helping with the original post, but for anyone facing this in the future, try SHIFT + SPACEBAR. That solved it for me!

S

Selvin22602640t0a5

Participant

Thank you, thats it!!!

K

kalebl43879439

Participating Frequently

I'm having the same issue.

K

kalebl43879439

Participating Frequently

I figured it out on my end. I tried quitting other apps and the one causing the problem was Magnet.app. I quit the app and the hand tool stopped getting stuck. I don't know if you have this app running but if you do quit the app and see if that works for you.

C

clinton_lugert

Participating Frequently

This is so infurating. Nothing I do fixes it.

C

clinton_lugert

Participating Frequently

I'm on an M1 MacBook Pro. All apps are up to date. This app is unusable and it's my job. WTF.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Do you have anything from the list I posted above?

Or do you have Display Pilot? Magnet?

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Is your keyboard stuck?

What happens when you reboot the computer and then launch only Illustrator, nothing else. Not your browser, not your email, nothing.

G

Greisi36553068md9pAuthor

Participant

Hey Monika,

My keyboard works and I try to shift the hand tool but it dosen't change. Also the Illustrator works for a while but than the hand tool appears again.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Here is a list of apps that interfere with the keys:

WebRoot
Apple Terminal
Word, Excel, Powerpoint
»Enable Full Keyboard« in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard on Mac OS
Apple Mail, Outlook
Spacebar is used as a shortcut by the system
Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari
Wacom Desktop Center, Wacom settings
Windows Touch Pad problem
LastPass, Bitwarden (password managers)
The VPN
LangSwitcher app (it needs to be closed and disabled)
Notes

Anshul_Saini

Community Manager

Hi @Greisi36553068md9p,

It sounds like the hand tool getting stuck might be due to third-party interference with keyboard shortcuts. It's possible another app has taken over the spacebar key, making it act as the hand tool. Try booting in Safe Mode (Mac/ Windows), then launch Illustrator first and slowly open other apps to find the culprit.

Let me know if this helps!

Best,

Anshul Saini

G

Greisi36553068md9pAuthor

Participant

Hi Anshul,

Thank you for your help, I will try it and let you now!

Best,

Greisi!

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