Why can’t I select or edit certain paths in Illustrator?

Question

Sometimes when I'm working in Adobe Illustrator, certain shapes or lines just won’t let me move or edit them. I try the Selection Tool and the Direct Selection Tool, but nothing works. What am I missing?

Answer 1

This usually comes down to one of 3 things.

1. Locked Layers or Objects - Check your Layers panel. If the layer or object is locked, it won’t respond to the Selection Tool. Click the little padlock icon to unlock it. Also check if you accidentally locked the object using Cmd+2 (or Ctrl+2 on PC) that’s a quick way to lock without realizing it.
2. You're Inside an Isolation Mode or a Group - If you double-clicked into a group or symbol, Illustrator puts you in Isolation Mode. That can limit what you can select outside that group. Same thing goes for nested groups—sometimes you’re trying to select a path, but it’s tucked inside multiple layers of grouping. Use the Group Selection Tool or right-click and choose Ungroup to gain better access.
3. Clipping Masks or Compound Paths - This one's trickier. If the object is inside a clipping mask or part of a compound path, you’ll need to dig a bit deeper. Try using the Layers panel to expand the group and see what’s going on, or use the Outline Mode (View > Outline) to reveal invisible boundaries.

Bonus tip: Turn on Smart Guides (Cmd+U or Ctrl+U) to help snap and select paths more easily. They'll show when something is actually selectable or aligned.