Cursor isn't changing to show current tool

[cromert]

Help! My cursor isn't changing in Illustrator 2020. It's constantly a black arrow no matter which tool I am using. I'm attaching a screen grab video. I'm using the pen, direct select, rectangle, then type...and it just stays a black arrow. Thanks for your help!

[Monika Gause]

Computer restart doesn't solve it?

[cromert · Accepted solution]

Started working again with a reinstall. Thanks for your reply!

[Propellant]

Ilustrator is sooooo buggy these days, with loads of weird things happening like this, also no regard for standards, odd User experiences ... I don't know what's going on with them... I've been using Adobe since page maker 1.0 ... Illustrator just keeps getting worse.

[Monika Gause]

Please create a new thread, describe your issues precisely and then someone can try to help you. This is a public forum with 95% of participants being not staff.

[TMS51]

I agree - I could list numerous buggy behaviors in the most recent 3-4 versions of Illustrator.  It's getting very difficult to work without stopping to troubleshoot and visit forums that are so varying that it's hard to zero in on a specifc bug.  I seriously long for the old days of Macromedia Freehand, which Adobe bought a killed.  Adobe needs to get more serious about making current versions work flawlessly BEFORE they release anything new!

[Matthewmehi]

It's 2023 and this is still a problem for me. I don't know if I can reinstall these programs anymore. I might have to give up being a designer and just dig ditches. At least shovels always work. 

[Monika Gause]

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@Matthewmehi  schrieb:

It's 2023 and this is still a problem for me. I don't know if I can reinstall these programs anymore. I might have to give up being a designer and just dig ditches. At least shovels always work. 

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If you feel unable to solve these problems, then maybe contact Customer Care and have them do it for you on your computer.

https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html 

[Ryan36010170l4gy]

Felt this deep in my soul lol. I'm right there with you! 

[jasonr77677023]

I was having this same issue with 2023 and just updated to 2024 hoping that the problem would go away but it didn't. Restart does not work. Someone please fix this bug. It is extremely annoying. Attached picture is my computer and OS.

[Anubhav Majumder]

Hello @jasonr77677023,

Sorry to hear about this experience. Would you mind trying to run Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps?

If the problem persists, kindly share a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/49nfVjZ) so that we can investigate this further?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[smn_adb]

Hi all, I just had the same issue.

This last-ditch DIY fix happened to work:

- Illustrator -> Settings -> Selection & Anchor Display

I then un-clicked (deactivated) all boxes that were currently clicked, then re-clicked them to reactivate, then I pressed "Ok" to save the settings.

Out of sheer luck, it worked - the mouse pointer now changes with each tool as before.

Hope that works for everyone!

[ajdewey]

I ahve the same problem - very annoying!!!!!

[Anubhav Majumder]

Hello @ajdewey,

Sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind trying to run Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps? If the problem persists, kindly share more details, like the exact version of the OS/Illustrator, your workflow details, and a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/3GRTzdp), so we can investigate this further.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[Darmawan362956490d3e]

where is the video?

[Monika Gause]

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@Darmawan362956490d3e  schrieb:

where is the video?

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The author has probably deleted that video from wherever they uploaded it.

If you have a problem I would suggest, you describe it. It would be best to create a new thread for that purpose. 

[dDembicki]

This is happening to me too. A reinstall yesterday fixed it, but today it started happening again. I have no idea what causes it, however, having to uninstall and reinstall isn't exactly conducive to a smooth workflow. Is there a fix that is less of a PITA? 

[Monika Gause]

Which system?

Do you have any system extension or mouse driver installed that messes with the cursor?

[Anubhav Majumder]

Hello @dDembicki,

We understand that encountering technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind trying to run Illustrator under Safe Mode (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps? Also, try running Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows / macOS) and share your observations.

If the problem persists, kindly share more details, like the exact version of the OS/Illustrator and a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/3JdZGJV), so we can investigate this further?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav