The first part is correct, only after a failed attempt of already clicking alt and moving it to a different location that it works. If I add shift, it cancels duplicates

Just to clarify — so it NEVER works if you add Shift, but works without Shift after a first failed attempt?
Or does it always work without Shift added?

Hi Egor,

Thanks again for the response & sorry for my late one. Unfortunately I've tried everything in those forums & on reddit, and I've found no solution. I actually wanted to change the shortcut but it's not possible, and I've tried all combinations and order of keys. Resetting everything too.
The persisting problem is that the first time I click alt, the object, or first the object and alt (order didn't matter in this case), and I drag, it doesn't duplicate. Only after I do this, then I can duplicate. But I *cannot* duplicate using shift to keep it in alignement. I tried showing it in the video, sorry about the quality. It leads me to have to spend more time using the alignment panel which does affect my workflow :-(

I personally don’t have this problem... But it’s not the first time this bubbles up :(
1. Holding Alt while dragging an object to copy / duplicate it doesn’t works — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/32365747 — nobody replied if it was fixed for them
2. Alt-Drag to Duplicate (and Shift to align) Only Works Intermittently — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/31354873 — was fixed in 2020, and no-one upvoted this since then — but if fits your description with the Shift held additionally
3. Click-drag fails... snaps back — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/44914921 — this one I was told is under review, but I never got a confirmation from the team it was fixed. Does this one feel like a same problem to you?

Hi Egor,

For my work (Macbook) laptop, it works fine. For my own computer, whenever I try to use alt on any object, it appears to make a copy, but when I release the mouse & key, it instead is just the original object, just moved to where my mouse is. I find that if I click an object at least twice when holding alt, I am able to duplicate it. I cannot duplicate and shift though to copy it in alignment, because otherwise it simply moves the object, like previously mentioned. I've read so many forums and tried so many things and have no idea why it isn't working. Maybe I am just making a dumb mistake?

In Illustrator, unlike in e.g. Photoshop, we have to hold Opt/Alt all the time while trying to duplicate.
Is this what you are observing?

A discussion about the difference in modality paradigms Ai and Ps have:
http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/45916234

I found that it works but only after holding alt down and trying multiple times. I've even tried changing guidelines & properties settings and whatnot but yeah. Just in case someone else finds this thread.

I only read one post about this problem with a GIF example. I'm working on Windows desktop, every time I try to alt + drag to copy something, at first it creates a copy, but when I release the mouse or keys (tested many combinations), it ends up only moving that object to that place instead of creating a copy. It's really frustrating because it's making my job difficult.

@franka, I wonder if it works any better in latest builds of Ai?
If it does not — can you share the specs of the machine you are using?

Yo tambien tengo exactamente el mismo problema... tampoco puedo duplicar y alinear las mesas de trabajo con los comando alt+shift... Sigo buscando alguna solución. Y hasta el momento no he encontrado nada... Por favor solicitamos solucionar este problema tan pronto como sea posible. gracias.

when will resolve this

Alt+Drag works. If I hold Shift too in order to restrict to horizontal or vertical duplicate, well that is messed up.
It only works if i move the mouse perfectly horizontal (or vertical). If mouse goes a bit left or right, it deactivates. Really annoying.

September 2021 and still not working. I simply use command C and Command V, instead as it is reliable.

Still broken

Solution : go to preference-smart guides ( uncheck transform )

I have the same problem!.

sir please change your laptop keyboard driver from 101-102 to xt 84 type via device manager, kowaretaharu@gmail.com

I'm having this same annoying issue. I upgraded to a new Mac in December which let me upgrade to Illustrator 2020. Previously I was using Illustrator 2018. I've been using Illustrator for 25 years and it's never felt so clumsy as it does now. I use shift-constrain all the time but in this 2020 version, I find myself slamming the shift key constantly for it to work. Makes me wanna gouge my eyes out with a spork. I love ya Adobe, but I'm BEGGING you to help! Or anyone else who knows a solid way to make everything work like it used to.

I figured it out for Illustrator 2020. It's a matter of sequence.
• Hold down the Option key first.
• Then select and hold down the button on your mouse (a double arrowhead appears; one solid, one outlined).
• Then hold down the Shift key and move your duplicate (while still holding down the Option key).

This sequence will constrain you duplicate.
If you don't need to constrain your direction of your duplicate, don't do the last step.

I hope this helps

This is still happening for me in Illustrator 2020. Looking forward to a fix.