When N key is pressed to get the Pencil, it says "an unknown error occured"
I am in AI 27.0.1 on a 2021 MacBook Pro running Monterey. Each time I hit the N key to get the pencil, it says "an unknown error occurred." It doesn't crash, but I can't use the pencil.
The problem got 'solved' by unplugging a Dell monitor connected to MacBook Pro. Changing the resolution also helps.
However, this is not a true solution, but a workaround. If you have this issue too — please vote and comment.
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Casey Robertson commented
Same issues as reported below, absolutely unacceptable resolution pace, Adobe. Maximum frustration with your product, maximum dissapointment in your service.
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Phyllis Mitchell Dobbs commented
It's happening and I updated to 2024 version. Obviously, Adobe doesn't care or they would have fixed it. I'm working with iMac so unable to change monitor It happened with a prior version of Illustrator but quit temporarily when I updated to 2023. Then it started happening again and also with 2024. I can't work without the pencil tool and I have immediate deadlines.
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David O commented
Today, only rebooting the Macbook seems to help. This is costing me hours a week.
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David O commented
Other tools continue to work.
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David O commented
On Illustrator 28.0 on macOS 14.2.1 (as well as earlier versions), after a while (between minutes and hours) of working extensively with pen and a handful of other tools, heavily using layers:
When selecting the pencil (via mouse click or the N button on the keyboard), and then moving the cursor on(to) the artboard, an error message is thrown and use of the pencil is impossible. None of the suggested help articles under "More Info..." help, but a restart of Illustrator will usually fix the issue for a little while.
I have two windows open of the same file, one on an external monitor driven by the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), and one on an iPad Pro connected via WiFi "Screen Mirroring". The lid of the MBP itself is closed.
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Casey Robertson commented
I'm having this issue as well. Really tired of this impairment. It's an everyday thing, multiple times a day.
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David O commented
Same here. :-(
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Nick commented
I can repeat the problem by rotating the canvas then un rotating it. I use a wacom display. t6his hurts my work flow
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Nick commented
I have the problem a lot when using the pencil tool to edit a path. after a reboot of the program it works until it don't again. I get it often when edit a path on a simi-complex file. I got it one time after I drew a spiral. this really effect my work.
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Yes, you can send the file over to sharewithai@adobe.com — the team reads it all the time, but I personally doubt this can help, since you both say it’s not file-specific... correct?
Again, you were not able to verify if disabling the second monitor change anything. The bug is rare enough, and limiting it at your side can be very helpful for the team. Try to work with your MacBook only and unplug temporarily your Apple Studio Display. -
Jon commented
Is there any way I can send you my file and have it tested to see if your team can replicate the error?? This is insane.
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Jon commented
Switched from AI 2023 to AI 2022. Was able to work for an hour before getting this error again. Now I've quit AI 2022, and will be relaunching, only to know that literally any time, I'll get this error again, and will have to repeat this process again. And again. AND AGAIN. AND AGAIN.
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Jon commented
Issues still persist. No logical pattern; it's all seemingly random. The only common thread is the use of the pencil tool. THIS IS SO INFURIATING.
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The plot thickens :(
Thanks for keeping it updated... -
Jon commented
I would like to add the AI 2023 seems to be less stable with regard to this issue than AI 2022. Example: I was working in AI 2022 using the pencil when I encountered this error. I quit, then opened the file in AI 2023 and began using the pencil tool again. Literally the 2nd time I selected the pencil tool, I got this error. At least in AI 2022 I get a few minutes — and sometimes a few hours — of usage out of the pencil tool before getting this error.
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Jon commented
Repeated issues with this today. But now it's happening sooner (doesn't take hours to fail), and way more frequently. The only workaround — and it's a ****** workaround — is to quit and relaunch Illustrator. Imagine being on a deadline, and having to do this 5, 7, 10 times a day, just to be able to use one tool that is required for the project. Imagine how much wasted time you'd have after several weeks and months of this.
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Jon commented
Of course, after posting this last update, this issue is happing with a lot more frequency. Like every 5–10 minutes. I've even restarted my computer several times. WTF.
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Jon commented
Been switching back and forth between AI 2022 and 2023 today. Each time this issue presents itself — again, usually hours after I start working — I have to save and quit, and relaunch the file in the other version — only for the same thing to happen hours later. THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING.
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Jon commented
Shift+N is the Shaper tool. I would like to add that one of the other suggestions was to try using the pencil tool in an earlier version of AI. I switched to using AI 2022 for the project I'm working on that demands lots of pencil usage, and things seemed to be working fine. Then, all of a sudden, after two days of using the tool for several hour stretches, I finally got this error. I really don't understand the randomness of the error, or why it seems to happen after HOURS of using the tool. It's so unbelievably infuriating.
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I wonder what changes if the tool gets reassigned to, say, Shift+N instead? Will the error still pop up? This would allow to see if the tool is somehow faulty, or rather the hotkey N itself.
But I can see this is not comfortable at all, so it’s just an idea I’d personally test...