I'm having the same problem. Am using an older version of illustrator till it's fixed.

I have the same problem, I m getting so frustrating because it made everything harder than ever, in a few days I learn more about where to get all the tools than ever, and if I close illustrator to work on other software like after effects, and need some changes i have to do it all over again, if you don't fix this I will have downgrade to an older version of illustrator

I am facing the same problem as mention below

I updated Illustrator and upon (re)launching, NONE of my pallets/Windows opened into the application. When I try to switch to built-in or custom Workspaces, nothing changes. The Workspace STAYS selected as my previously-selected Workspace and none show up. If I manually go look at the Windows in the menu, none are open and I can MANUALLY open them and move them around... "Manage Workspaces" and "New Workspace" are disabled (Gray) and no matter what I do, I cannot change or override. I have quit/relaunched numerous times - same results.

Hi,
I am having difficulty with my Illustrator application on my Mac. Every time I open the software it shows me a black screen. This has been happening for about a week.

This totally worked for me!!! Happy I found this forum to help with this glitchy problem, I was on a verge of having a slight panic attack I couldn’t get the workspace to work. February 2021

"Open Ai, dont create a new file just click on the window tab> choose typography> then close Ai. Open Ai again then try creating new file, then you can now choose your preferred workspace"

This happened to me in October 2020 and what worked for me was suggested by Pierce: "Close Illustrator > Open Illustrator, but not a file > While on the home menu, select window>workspace>choose a default workspace (I chose typography). That seemed to unstick something. Then, I could switch back to my custom workspace and the menu functioned normally again."

The open AI, don't create a new file, just choose typography, then close AI, then open AI again and THEN create a new file worked for me, too. Silly workaround, but it works.

"Open Ai, dont create a new file just click on the window tab> choose typography> then close Ai. Open Ai again then try creating new file, then you can now choose your preferred workspace"

Solved my problem to"

Worked for me too.

September 29,2020

"Open Ai, dont create a new file just click on the window tab> choose typography> then close Ai. Open Ai again then try creating new file, then you can now choose your preferred workspace"

Solved my problem to

Yup Hans Method works 100% just tried it today April 22, 2020 5:51pm EST

Open Ai, dont create a new file just click on the window tab> choose typography> then close Ai. Open Ai again then try creating new file, then you can now choose your preferred workspace

I just experienced this same problem in April 2020. The thing that worked for me was suggested by Hans. Close Illustrator > Open Illustrator, but not a file > While on the home menu, select window>workspace>choose a default workspace (I chose typography). That seemed to unstick something. Then, I could switch back to my custom workspace and the menu functioned normally again.

Fixed!!!
It has something to do with your custom workspace.

1. Close Illustrator

2. Go to to saved workspace file

C:\Users\(computername)\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 24 Settings\en_US\x64\Workspaces

3. Find custom files copy them and save them in another folder somewhere else

4. delete custom workspaces from the illustrator folder.

5. re-open illustrator

6. test workspaces without opening a file (window > workspaces > choose any one)

7. if that works close illustrator

8. go back to the illustrator workspace folder, copy and paste all your custom workspaces back into the folder

9. re-open illustrator

10. everything should work fine again

yay.

I followed Hans' suggestion (from October 24, 2019.) I closed Illustrator and reopened it. From the home page--before opening or starting a new file--I went to Workspace and selected Essentials Classic and it magically displayed that workspace. I tested this with other workspaces, including saved custom workspaces, but nothing else worked, only Essentials Classic.

I opened a new file, saved it, and closed Illustrator. When I opened that file back up the workspace was still there. Now to see if I can create a custom workspace but for now I appreciate this workaround! Thanks Hans!

Here is what worked for me. Open Illustrator, but not a file. Go to Window > Workspace and switch to a workspace (i chose classic). It seemed to unstick something. I closed illustrator, and when I went back to an illustration i was working on this week, it opened with the classic workspace. Hopefully, that sticks. This is not a bug I expect from Adobe...

FIX THIS BUG! I'm paying a lot for your product, respect my work and your clients, there are more than 30 complaints about his issue.

Spoke to live chat and this was the answer, worked for me.

Ø Click on start and type %appdata% and
Ø open Roaming.

Go to Adobe> rename all illustrator related folders by adding " .old " in the end .

ok, close the window and launch the Illustrator and check if its any better ?

This has been driving me nuts for months.. I'm outraged that I'm paying for something that doesn't work.

And the Ctrl + Alt + Shift thing does nothing for me.

having the same issue - NO workspace available in the menu and when i choose manually its not responding. my saved workspace is gone too.
and each time i open the illu there are no tools at all and i have to open it manually from the menu again
(i updated the Illu and then it happened)

Still broken; we need a fix.

Soon!

This very thing has just happened to me with the workplaces stuck with nothing visible and unable to be reset.