Annoying Flickering Cursor when Photoshop is open
This is still an issue with the latest releases of Illustrator and Photoshop. We shouldn't have to close Photoshop to have the behavior disappear. See my screen capture today attached or on Box.com: https://nic.box.com/s/hemehrwzo9fm0ye3evst9ma41x908ipp

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Jason Heiser commented
I don’t know what good complaining about it here will do, but at least I can get it off my chest.
THIS IS AN INFURIATING BUG AND IT IS INEXCUSABLE ADOBE WILL NOT ADDRESS IT
It also affects cursors in other applications. Whenever you want to resize a browser window or any other UI element with “handlebars”, the cursor flashes from the resize cursor and then back to a normal pointer. This misaligns the hotspot, which means you frequently “miss” the target when you click. It’s like Robert Hays’ drinking problem in Airplane The Movie; he keeps tossing water over his shoulder, missing his mouth by a foot. We keep groping for handlebars, and we keep missing them. We’re grabbing at air. POOF! You missed again.
Whenever this happens, I am reminded. “Oh, Photoshop. I have to quit Photoshop.” But I like keeping Photoshop open because I so frequently use it.
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helenecharb commented
Same as everybody here, my cursor on Illustrator is constantly flickering from the illustrator tool cursor to default Mac cursor when I move it. Even a tiny move such as a vibration on the mouse makes it flicker. It has never happened when I was working on my Windows laptop. Super annoying when trying to do precise work. I have a Macbook Pro 16" 2021 Monterey. It also does it on InDesign.
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melissa commented
Can't have Illustrator and Photoshop open at the same time because the cursor/mouse arrow flickers in Illustrator when Photoshop is also open. Annoying, distracting, and has been a problem for a long time. This is the 3rd computer I've had with the issue. A few other threads are open. Can't understand why there are not more votes for those bugs as I see long, long threads of conversations and multiple youtube videos offering the fix for this problem. Please, please, pretty please fix this! You would be my hero.
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Bleart Restelica commented
The problem occurs all the time in Illustrator the Cursor is constantly flickering from the illustrator cursor to default mac one. It constantly changes, it has become impossible to work on. I have a Macbook Air 13" M1 2020. Does anybody have an idea how to fix this?
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Someone75 commented
They will never fix it, never and it is annoying...
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ryder ripps commented
still have this issue
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moellerart commented
I habe the same problem: If there is one Document open in psd, the Cursor flickers in different other programs – it changes its form from the tool tu the norma cursor very quickly. This problem occurs ind indd, illustrator, Safari, mail eg. when i close all doks ind psd the problem is gone. BUT: I´m workin parallel with all programs, interactive, so i cant always close documents to erase this problem.
Please Adobe fix this problem – in my opinion the problem is bases partially to the tool settings in PSD!
iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020) 3,6 GHz 10-Core Intel Core i9, Catalina, Adobe CC latest, AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16 GB
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moellerart commented
I habe the same problem: If there is one Document open in psd, the Cursor flickers in different other programs – it changes its form from the tool tu the norma cursor very quickly. This problem occurs ind indd, illustrator, Safari, mail eg. when i close all doks ind psd the problem is gone. BUT: I´m workin parallel with all programs, interactive, so i cant always close documents to erase this problem.
Please Adobe fix this problem – in my opinion the problem is bases partially to the tool settings in PSD!
iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020) 3,6 GHz 10-Core Intel Core i9, Catalina, Adobe CC latest, AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16 GB
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Anonymous commented
I am surprised this isn't fixed yet. It's a well known bug which has been around for many years.
It's been bugging me since 2012 and I thought maybe my old 2009 mac with 16gb ram was a factor, but no... I have just upgraded to a 12 core Mac Pro 2020 with 160gb ram. I pay for all the latest Adobe software so it's not my equipment at fault.
The old hack is to hide Photoshop if it's open in the background but this doesn't always work.
Both Apple and Adobe are aware of this bug but no attempt seems to have been made to fix it.
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Théo Barraud commented
I just updated to Big Sur (11.1) and the cursor in illustrator flickers. To be precise, when it's not moving, it return to the default macOS cursor (causing the flickering effect).
I have uninstalled and re-installed it with no effect. And tried disabling the GPU rendering also with no effect.
(I use a MBP 16" 2019)
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ryder ripps commented
this is an issue with both illustrator and indesign.. if photoshop is open your cursor will flicker in these apps, until you close photoshop the problem remains.
Cursor looks like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJzysLNOS2c
Problem also documented here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/cursor-flickers-in-illustrator-2019-when-photoshop-is-open-on-mac-mojave/td-p/10403650?page=1
This has been a problem for YEARS
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Someone75 commented
Great NO answer for 1 year. Thanks a lot Adobe! Your Software is not working with an iMac Pro!!!
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Thomas Jung commented
System Infos text file is here: https://shared-assets.adobe.com/link/f6612853-8062-4b70-6434-a2feeca35e50
I can't upload any attachments, don't know why. -
Thomas Jung commented
So when I open Photoshop in the background, which is the case all day long, the cursor in Illustrator starts flickering. This makes working with Illustrator a lot more tiring, because you automatically concentrate more on which cursor transformer is active.
I work on a MacPro 2019 and OS X 10.15.6 Catalina. VegaPro II Duo as a MPX module. 48 GB Ram and 1TB SSD.
How can I get rid of this problem, except that while using Illustrator I always have to close Photoshop completely. It is difficult to implement from workflow to close Photoshop completely all the time.Youtube:
https://youtu.be/8U4s82SWhIA -
Someone75 commented
I deals with Retina display and setting the UI to very small. Even if one sets GUI size to "normal" which is quite too big for a retina display the flickering ist will appear. Deleting all prefs does not solve anything. Great Adobe! Not support for month...
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Someone75 commented
After it was gone for a while with the newest release the old bugs are back. Would you ever recommend Adobe: No.
Flickering mouse will begin while Photoshop and Illustrator are opened the same time on OS X Mojave, so annoying. The only program where this happens!
Great work Adobe, congrats. -
Someone75 commented
Cannot use Illustrator with retina display while Photoshop is openend in Mojave! Cursor keeps flickering
- There is not 3rd party plugin installed
- have to use UI scaling as I use a RETINA display
- adjust cursor size is not activated. -
Anonymous commented
Bug Report -
macOS Mojave. Illustrator version 23.0.6
Closing Photoshop window entirely will fix this problem, but is frequent.
Bug present for months. -
Anonymous commented
Also having this issue. Not solved by shutting off Ps or by restarting.
As I try to drag a marquee or create a shape, the left click "releases" and drops the action I was in the middle of.
I have found it also happens in Ps as well. -
Jay Scheuerle commented
I've had the jittery Illustrator mouse and never made the connection with Photoshop, but I closed it and Illustrator smoothed out. Not a fix, but at least a direction. Thanks!