Shape builder tool not working

[MrKingSir]

My shape builder tool is not working for some reason. It shows a little anti circle next to the cursor when i try to use the tool. It does not allow me change any options on the tool as well. I tried reseting my settings back to default, restarted the program and tried to make an object on a fresh project but it still did not work. The Shape builder tool is the only tool affected. Can somebody please tell me how to fix this?

[Doug A Roberts]

You should read the documentation on the Shape Builder tool:

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/illustrator/using/creating-shapes-shape-builder-tool.html

You need to create some shapes to use it on, then select them.

[jacaszek]

I have the same problem as the person above but the problem i have is i made a heart by making 2 rectangles, rounding the edges and then combining them using shape combiner tool, i clicked to repeat this heart radially and made a "flower" and it has gradient and every piece of the flower has its own gradient and i wanted to combine this hearts in the flower to make just a shape of flower with one gradient

[Monika Gause]

Can you please point out what you do not like about that result?

[Ton Frederiks]

To combine them into a single object:

Object > Expand

Pathfinder panel > Unite

[meganchi]

You need to have a few shapes drawn first, then select them in order to use the shape builder function.

[Myra Ferguson]

If you were trying to draw shapes with the Shape Builder Tool but there weren't any shapes yet, were you maybe thinking of the Shaper Tool (Shift + N)? Here's more info on the Shaper Tool https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/building-new-shapes-using-shape.html

[defaultaiagf8xja2wl]

It doesn't work if shapes are inside the clip group for some reason.

[Kustenklar]

Yes, you are right. If the layers inside a clip group it wont work, wich is enoying when you for example have created the elements in ADobe Fresco, where every layer is placed in a clip group.

[Anastasia_Kiseleva3561]

Finally the best answer

[Anna Lander]

Shape builder does not work when no shapes are selected. Draw the simple shapes which you want to combine, select them and create what you need.

[aLeez1 · Accepted solution]

You need to have your shape that want marked, then choose shape builder, the "anti circle" should disappear.

[paige_2653]

This same thing is happening to me. I can't seem to select any part of the shape, change or adjust anything to remove the anti circle.

[Doug A Roberts]

Can you show your whole workspace (not cropped) with the shape(s) selected and shape builder tool active?

[christina_2386]

I am having the same problem too. At first, it was working fine and doing it again... now I can't get my items together using the Shape Builder too. 

[christina_2386]

Okay, I think I know what happened. I needed to move my rectangle a little bit up, and then use the  Shape builder too. Yeah, you have to move the rectangle above the other shape in order to use the shape builder. It work for me. 

[Lin_Weni3177 · Accepted solution]

Heyy, sorry for late reply, I just seeing this post in 2025 lol, but whoever out there that still struggle with this problem, i have the same issue also.. at first it is so hard to handle because it is my first time using this shape builder tool, the thing we need to do if that happen is
1. make sure that u making more than 1 shape that connect each other (there is no gap between one another)

2. expand your shape to make that anti circle dissepear (select your shape --> object ---> expand) 
anti circle should be desspear by now

3.  select your shape again and click that shape builder and just drag and re-shape it whatever u want to build

it should be working by now, hopefully this will help, thanks ❤️