"Previous session of Illustrator running" message when launching Illustrator in Windows

[sadieo97]

Below is a screenshot of the error that pops up when I attempt to launch Illustrator. This error has been occurring for 5 days. I have followed the error instructions to wait and try again later, but this has not fixed the problem. Does anyone have any solutions to this problem?

Thanks in advance for your help!

{Renamed by MOD}

[Ashutosh_Mishra · Accepted solution]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. Would you mind sharing some more information like:

1. Version of Illustrator and OS.

2. Have you tried task manager to check if there are Illustrator instances running? (You can right click on Start > Run > type "taskmgr.exe" and check the running instances. If you see Adobe Illustrator in the list, simply do a right click and click on End Task to close. I have attcahed a screenshot for your reference. Once done, try launching the Illustrator.)

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,

Ashutosh

[sadieo97]

Ashutosh,

This worked! My background session of Illustrator has closed successfully.

Thank you for your help!

[kathleenc85146714]

I'm having the same issue with AI 2021 v 25.2.  Yes, the task manager trick works, but I've never had to take this extra step before.  When I save & close, AI shuts down, and I can open it back up whenever.  Now I can't.  This must be a glitch in Adobe.

[justaskingforafriend]

Exactly the same problem

[Gemma 1]

Hello I'm having this problem too and I am wondering if I force the session to close will my data and last session be saved or not? 

thank you gemma

[Monika Gause]

Nobody will be able to give you any guarantee

[Sudhiksha5FD8]

Hi , this is not working for me can you please help me

[Monika Gause]

Please create  a new thread and give us all your system info as well as a description of the issue.

Or contact Customer Care tohave them log into your system to figure it out: https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

[Morrie5C86]

THANK YOU! This absolutely worked for me.

[Guest]

When I open task manager illustrator is not there Im very lost

[Guest]

I figured it out thank u

[Cubicle Fugitive_William]

How did you figure it out? I also get this message and it's not found under the task manager.

[visual5C9C]

Did you got any solution ?

How did you figure it out? I also get this message and it's not found under the task manager.

By @Cubicle Fugitive_William

[Tanvir5FCB]

This is not working for me can you please help me(not find illustrator)

[kathleenc85146714]

I ended up uninstalling the most recent version of Illustrator, since I didn't have this issue with the earlier version.  I don't allow auto-update, and will check with each new version whether Adobe fixed the issue or not.

[an?ela_5047]

This helped me a lot, thanks you so much!