Right click and Open with Illustrator 2019 doesn't work for PDFs anymore on a Windows Machine

[karenl69037135]

Hi,

I did your fix of renaming those files and it works but it's temporary. Every two days there are new files that pop in the roaming that I have to rename. And I have to rename again and again and again every other day (or else I can't use the "open with" when I try to open a pdf from my desktop to AI). I have the most updated version of AI on the cloud. I called support but it's a joke. They keep me on hold and have no idea what I'm talking about. Please help!! I have a PC.

Thanks.

{Branched and Renamed by MOD}

[Srishti Bali]

Hi Karen,

Thanks for reaching out. Folders are renamed so that the new default folders are created. You do not have to rename them every day. As per your query, you are facing problems while opening files in Illustrator. Let us help you make this right.

I would request if you can share a few more details like:

• Brief description and the workflow of the issue.
• OS (Exact version of Windows/MAC)
• Version of Illustrator
• Where the files are saved(Network Drive/ System HDD/ Shared Folder on System /External HDD)?
• Screenshot of Open with window.  

Looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Srishti

[karenl69037135]

Srishti,

Thank you for your reply. I only rename it over and over because the "open with" stops working. When I rename the files it works again.

Here are the answers to your questions:

Pdf files are on my desktop. I right click, "Open With" and open in AI. The issue is quite frequently NOTHING happens and the file does not open. The only way to open the file is by going into AI and opening from there. So, when I rename the files the way you explained it works again until it doesn't.

Illustrator Version 23.0.3

Windows 10 V1809

[Srishti Bali]

Thanks for this information. Does it happen only with PDFs or with Illustrator files as well?

[karenl69037135]

I don't need to do "open with" on AI files. I just open them. And, yes, they work. It's just pdf files and I have uninstalled and reinstalled Acrobat as well. Nothing works.

[Srishti Bali]

Thanks for the additional info. Please share a few more details like:

• Are there any recent changes made to your system? For example, any antivirus, system updates or web extensions installed recently?
• Log in to your system with Safe mode with networking (How to Boot into Safe Mode On Windows 10 (3 Ways) - YouTube ) and let us know if that helps to resolve the issue. If yes, then please perform a clean boot (https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows ).
• If that doesn't help login to Hidden Admin Account and check how it works there?

[karenl69037135 · Accepted solution]

It's a new laptop. I found a fix from someone else's post. I went to Preferences/General and unchecked "Show the home screen when no documents are open" and that seems to have fixed the situation.  Thanks.

[Srishti Bali]

This is something new for us. Usually, this setting is to show/hide the home screen when all there are no open documents on Illustrator. Thanks for sharing this here. It can help others as well.

Regards!

[eurofins2211]

I have the same problem. Preferences did not fix it. Also, it is not a monitor issue (tried disconnecting monitor). This problem happened for me in the middle of working. It worked fine on one file. Then I opened another file and could not right click...but now the entire program will not right click. I updated my mac and adobe, rebooted, and started with a fresh file. Still no right click. It works in other programs, just not adobe. 

The only wild theories I have on what caused it are 1.) I was connected to a separate keyboard with two computers on my desk. I typed something on one keyboard (for the other computer) and accidentally typed it on my mac that has adobe. I thought maybe I accidentally typed some hidden keyboard shortcut for turning off right click, but cannot find this to be true in any settings. Is there a keyboard shortcut that would disable right click only in adobe? 2.) the second file I opened had font issues, again, a long shot.