Adobe Illustrator requires Preferececes folder to be "Read-Write" in order to open...but it is!!!!

[defaultnld7gx3euqn6]

Just downloaded/installed Illustrator.  Trying to open it and getting the error message from above ("Preferences folder needs to be "read-write" but currently is "read-only").  Followed all the steps from Adobe's help page to manually set the all the listed folders to be 'read-write'.  They now all are (including a few more that I set to that for good measure...).  I've restarted the computer several times, checked and double checked that the permissions stayed that way.  I've done everything the help page says to do but it still won't open!!  (Running most current version of OS Big Sur.) 

 

[Kat Gilbert · Accepted solution]

Not sure if this will help but did you go to "command I" and change the file to open with Illustrator and check to make sure that the permissions do read as "read-write."

[defaultnld7gx3euqn6]

Thanks Kat!  Actually, it's not a file that won't open, it's Illustrator itself. For instance, if I go to applications and select it, then it fails to launch and gives me the error message.  So, I can't even create a new illustration because the program won't even open.  Don't know if it helps but I'm not having the same issue with Photoshop, that one launches just fine. 

[Kat Gilbert]

Then try this- click and hold on the Ai icon and go to "Options" and choose "Show in Finder":

When window opens in finder check to see if you have custom access- unlock and change if not so:

I am also on the latest version of Big Sur and there are no issues for me. I hope this helps and if not please ding back here and we'll try another route....

[Kat Gilbert]

If these are the steps that you tried and it didn't work then I would uninstall and reinstall the app. The Ai that I had on my desktop is not the latest release as I test Ai through Adobe. I am now downloading to see if I run into any of the issues you are seeing. Will post back here when completed.

[Kat Gilbert]

Downloaded and opened with no issues so.... There is a glitch somewhere!

[Rob5EEE]

I am having the exact issue. All of my permissions are read-write. I MEAN ALL OF THEM. Even my system admin cannot figure it out. And of course, I cannot get help from Adobe. They had to remote in last time this happened and now that isn't possible.  Beyond frustrated.

[defaultnld7gx3euqn6]

Sorry for the delay....  I went back and deleted/reinstalled it like you suggested, with no improvement (I'll attach the screenshot I get, which is pretty much identical to the one you showed)  So, that makes about three times now of deleting/reinstalling with no change. 

I wonder if the root of this lies with the fact that in addition to running the latest version of Big Sur, I also have the newest version of the mac, with the new M1 chip.  Could that be contributing to this? 

Thanks again for all the help!

[Test Screen Name]

None of these screen shots are showing the permissions on preferences. The are all showing permissions oni the application, which doesn't seem relevant. Perhaps some people at least are not looking in the right place.

[Doug A Roberts]

For preferences, the folder it needs might be the one at Username/Library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator Settings... rather than the app package.

[Test Screen Name]

Might be there, or it might be in ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe. I'd hope people are checking all permissions on all files and subfolders in both places.

[defaultnld7gx3euqn6]

From the original post, I mentioned that I already set all the permissions for the Preferences folder, as well as the Application Support folder to Read & Write (and a bunch more folders for good measure...).  That's where I started this whole process because the error message links to a help page that outlines those two places.  Since that didn't work, that's where the rest of this thread came from.  Does that help clarify?  Or perhaps spark more ideas about what might be going on?

Thanks for the continued help!

[Test Screen Name]

Only to check you did all the subfolders too. Maybe screen shots of that. The discussion seemed to be diverted into talking about the app - which should absolutely NOT be read/write, and I was trying to get it back on the target.

[Kat Gilbert]

Sorry that no solution has been found for you. I did more research this morning and found nothing that would help. Do you have TechTools or another program that you use to check your system? If so I would run that and see if anything could be found.

[Ashutosh_Mishra · Accepted solution]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about this. I see you've followed the troubleshooting which didn't help. I agree with @Kat Gilbert here. You may connect with Adobe technical support. Please click on the chat icon at the bottom of the page to begin the conversation. Team here will be able to help you remotely on  a live session.

Regards,

Ashutosh