Illustrator will not let me edit or select anything in my file.

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
October 20, 2018
6 replies
151893 views

I have an issue with one of my Illustrator files, it will not let me select or edit anything in the file. I have tried the same file on a different computer and same thing. I tried renaming the file, restarting my computer. There are no locked layers. Nothing seems to help at all, I cannot do anything. I also tried updating Illustrator (the problem started before I updated), but it's still doing the same thing. Does anyone have any ideas what the problem is?

Correct answer GB5E5A

F7 key and unlock layers panel
Unlock a selection Alt + Ctrl + 2/ Option + Command + 2

S

sawyer_8407

Participant

I can't figure out how to edit my AI file. I saved it as an AI, but when I put it back into Illustrator, I couldn't edit the text or shapes as if they were PNGs or JPEGs. I tried everything I could think of. I checked to see if the layers were locked and grouped or saved as symbols. Any help would be great.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

How do you "put it back"? You will have to open it: File > Open

Is that what you are doing?

G

GB5E5ACorrect answer

Participant

F7 key and unlock layers panel
Unlock a selection Alt + Ctrl + 2/ Option + Command + 2

B

Biddu5C71

Participant

It worked. Thanks.

A

asandersdesign23

Participant

I'm having this problem, but in a different way. After a recent Illustrator update, 'Unlock All' or Opt+Cmd+2 doesn't work the way it used to. About 1/4 of the time, I'll use the keyboard shortcut, and I still can't select something I locked earlier with Cmd+2. I have to go to my layers palette and sometimes dig down into the multiple layers to unlock it manually. It's very annoying. Anyone else experiencing this?

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savvydavilaAuthor

Participant

I couldn't figure out how to properly select my question as answered, but yes it turns out I had locked all the objects on my art boards and forgot about it!