Create any illustrator artboard. Place an embedded image then save and close the document. Now reopen the document and the welcome screen appears. Sometimes this happens and sometimes not. You have to click the Home icon then the Ai Back button to get to your document. Clicking on the Recent icon will say it's already open. macOS 10.13.5 Illustrator 23.0.1

Same issues here. Restarting SOMETIMES works to open files. This is a waste of time.

You can add me to the list: If I double-click an AI file in Windows Explorer (Win10) when Illustrator (CC2019) is closed, the computer will launch Illustrator and open the file. As long as Illustrator remains open, I can only open another AI file from the File>Open function within Illustrator. Double-clicking the file in Windows Explorer does not open the file. Unfortunately the workaround cited by Lauren earlier in this thread will not work for me, as this happens even when "Show the Home Screen When No Documents are Open" is unchecked in the Preferences>General menu. Hope Adobe fixes this soon — it's about as basic a UI function as it gets.

Got the exact same problem. Only helps if I open illustrator before opening the illustrator-document (most of the times)

Unable to use Ai at all as the starter screen blocks all artwork windows. There is no way to close or reduce it!This is FULLY PREVENTING any use of Ai. I can see the windows that are open in the Windows menu, but cannot access them, assumngly, behind the starter splash.

I have the same issue as Misha:

Just updated to latest version of illustrator.
Opening illustrator lands on standard launch page (see Screenshot #2)
Nothing I do can open a doc. Can't launch a new one or open an existing one. Only the home screen shows and when I try to open again it tells me it's already open.
It appears to be that the launch window will not disappear and the active window will not render.

System details attached (Screenshot #1 is capture of 'About This Mac')

Just updated to latest version of illustrator.

Opening illustrator lands on standard launch page (see Screenshot #2)

Nothing I do can open a doc – can't launch a new one or open an existing one.

When I check 'Window' menu, file appears to be launched (see Screenshot #3) so... issue appears to be that the launch window will not disappear and the active window will not render.

Please resolve asap as ability to work in Illustrator is critical to my workflow.

Same problem, double click the first file of the day, Illustrator will open, after that I have to go to File-Open and select a file, double clicking on file will not work. It is annoying. Hope they fix it soon.

Unfortunately, the workaround only worked for me once.
When I try to open a file now, the program opens and looks as if you have opened a file (including toolbars), but the document window is missing and it only shows up, if I drag the file into the program.

When opening vector illustrations, Illustrator displays the contents in the layers palette, but does not show the original graphic or the drawing board. Instead, the home screen is presented with the open graphics in the thumbnail palette, but opening the documents from there does not display them either as they are presumed to be open already.

Thank you Lauren

I'm working on windows 7 and I've updated Ilustrator to version 23.0.1 last week. Since I did it, I cannot open a file by double-clicking on it in my computer files. It doesn't open at all. It will launch illustrator but not the file. The only way I can open a document is by using the Files/Open. Is there any solution to that ?

This is NOT a good user experience.

This is happening for me too. Just contacted Adobe Support over web chat and their 'solution' was to force quit, reopen Illustrator from scratch, and reset my workspace. This is an absolute pain - and not something I expect from software that I'm paying £19+ per month for. Never have issues like this with Sketch or non-Adobe products.

FYI, I just updated to Mac OS high Sierra, MacBook Pro, running latest version of Illustrator.

Two recent issues that have arisen: When I try to directly open an Illustrator CC file by double clicking on it, I get this: (screenshot below). Illustrator launches but fails to open my file.

Secondly, the direct cursor tool won't select an item or path. I have to cut and past the item into a new document, whereby the curser works fine for a while, then I have the same issue. Please help!

Thanks, Lauren.

I do appreciate that there is a workaround, but I hope this doesn't stop them responding to the actual bug. I like to have the start workspace visible when docs are working, so it's still an inconvenience to have to uncheck that option to make this work.

A workaround that solved it for me was posted on October 18, 2018 10:32 AM by user "K"
I'll repost it for anyone that hasn't tried it (I can't reply to anyones comments).

Go to: Preferences>General>
Uncheck "Show the Home Screen When No Documents Are Open" (might also be called 'the Start Workspace')

Same problem. I have tried resetting the preferences (command + option + control + shift) while opening the program, uninstalling cc 19 Illustrator and reinstalling, opening the program and then opening the files, importing files as pdf's to conver to .ai, hard boot my mac, restart my mac, updating my software. All my other CC programs work fine. However, I cannot open files I only get the wheel. I let it load just to see how long and it was 30 minutes when I came back. HELP.

Lord help me. I have a dealine tomorrow.

Still happening. Adobe please acknowledge that this has been received.