You may require read and write permission to delete the preferences folder.
- Illustrator User Guide
- Get to know Illustrator
- Introduction to Illustrator
- Workspace
- Workspace basics
- Create documents
- Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
- Accelerate workflows using the Contextual Task Bar
- Toolbar
- Default keyboard shortcuts
- Customize keyboard shortcuts
- Introduction to artboards
- Manage artboards
- Customize the workspace
- Properties panel
- Set preferences
- Touch Workspace
- Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
- Undo edits and manage design history
- Rotate view
- Rulers, grids, and guides
- Accessibility in Illustrator
- Safe Mode
- View artwork
- Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator
- Files and templates
- Tools in Illustrator
- Tools at a glance
- Select tools
- Navigate tools
- Paint tools
- Text tools
- Draw tools
- Modify tools
- Generative AI (not available in mainland China)
- Quick actions
- Illustrator on the web (beta)
- Illustrator on the web (beta) overview
- Illustrator on the web (beta) FAQ
- Troubleshooting issues FAQ
- Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the web (beta)
- Create and combine shapes on the web
- Add and edit text on the web
- Apply colors and gradients on the web
- Draw and edit paths on the web
- Work with cloud documents on the web
- Invite collaborators to edit on the web
- Illustrator on the iPad
- Introduction to Illustrator on the iPad
- Workspace
- Documents
- Select and arrange objects
- Drawing
- Type
- Work with images
- Color
- Cloud documents
- Basics
- Troubleshooting
- Add and edit content
- Drawing
- Drawing basics
- Edit paths
- Draw pixel-perfect art
- Draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool
- Draw simple lines and shapes
- Draw rectangular and polar grids
- Draw and edit flares
- Trace images
- Simplify a path
- Symbolism tools and symbol sets
- Adjust path segments
- Design a flower in 5 easy steps
- Create and edit a perspective grid
- Draw and modify objects on a perspective grid
- Use objects as symbols for repeat use
- Draw pixel-aligned paths for web workflows
- Measurement
- 3D objects and materials
- Color
- Painting
- Select and arrange objects
- Select objects
- Layers
- Group and expand objects
- Move, align, and distribute objects
- Align, arrange, and move objects on a path
- Snap objects to glyph
- Snap objects to Japanese glyph
- Stack objects
- Lock, hide, and delete objects
- Copy and duplicate objects
- Rotate and reflect objects
- Intertwine objects
- Create realistic art mockups
- Reshape objects
- Crop images
- Transform objects
- Combine objects
- Cut, divide, and trim objects
- Puppet Warp
- Scale, shear, and distort objects
- Blend objects
- Reshape using envelopes
- Reshape objects with effects
- Build new shapes with Shaper and Shape Builder tools
- Work with Live Corners
- Enhanced reshape workflows with touch support
- Edit clipping masks
- Live shapes
- Create shapes using the Shape Builder tool
- Global editing
- Type
- Add text and work with type objects
- Reflow Viewer
- Create bulleted and numbered lists
- Manage text area
- Fonts and typography
- Convert text within images into editable text
- Add basic formatting to text
- Add advanced formatting to text
- Import and export text
- Format paragraphs
- Special characters
- Create type on a path
- Character and paragraph styles
- Tabs
- Find missing fonts (Typekit workflow)
- Arabic and Hebrew type
- Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
- Creative typography designs
- Scale and rotate type
- Line and character spacing
- Hyphenation and line breaks
- Spelling and language dictionaries
- Format Asian characters
- Composers for Asian scripts
- Create text designs with blend objects
- Create a text poster using Image Trace
- Create special effects
- Web graphics
- Drawing
- Import, export, and save
- Import
- Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
- Save and export
- Printing
- Prepare for printing
- Printing
- Automate tasks
- Troubleshooting
Learn how to reset preferences to fix various issues with Illustrator.
Try to reset Illustrator preferences if you face one of the following issues:
- Slowness, lag, freeze, or crash related issues
- App interface or Home screen issues
- Plugin issues
- Tools related issues
- Keyboard shortcut issues
Before you proceed, create a backup copy of your existing preferences folder (Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings):
macOS:
- ~/Library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings
- ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator version number
- %AppData%\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings
To reset preferences, open Preferences > General (Cmd/Ctrl+K), and then select Reset Preferences.
You can also delete the preferences folder to reset Illustrator preferences. Watch the 1-minute video below.
macOS
Windows
Delete the preferences folder:
macOS:
- ~/Library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings
- ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator version number
Windows:
- %AppData%\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings
Example: ~/Library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator 25 Settings
Folder names may vary based on the installed language version. A new preferences file is automatically created the next time you launch Illustrator.
macOS
Perform this procedure, once each for the following folders:
- ~/Library/Preferences/
- ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/
- Open Finder, and navigate to the path given above.
- Control-click the folder and choose Get Info.
- If the item is locked, click the lock icon () to enter an administrator’s name and password.
- In the Sharing & Permissions section, from the Name column, select your name (or a user profile).
- From the Privilege column, choose Read & Write.
- In any subsequent prompt, choose to apply the permission to all subfolders as well.
- Click the lock icon () to save your preferences.
- Launch Illustrator.
Windows
Perform this procedure, once each for the following folders:
- C:\Program Files\Adobe
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe
- C:\ProgramData\Adobe
- %AppData%\Adobe
- %AppData%\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings
- Open Windows explorer. Select the View tab, and select Hidden items check box.
- Navigate to the path given above.
- Right-click the folder and choose Properties.
- Click the Security tab, and then click Edit to set permissions.
- In the Permissions dialog, select your user name. In the Permissions area, deselect the Deny check box.
- Click OK twice.
- Launch Adobe Illustrator.
In folder paths, replace <version> with the version of Illustrator you are using.
Tips to avoid preferences-related issues
To avoid preferences-related issues in the future:
- Be cautious while installing a third-party plug-in as it may auto-update your preferences file.
- Ensure that Illustrator quits properly. An abnormal exit may result in damaging your preferences file.
Related resources
Talk to us
We would love to hear from you. Share your thoughts with the Adobe Illustrator Community.