Select your object in Illustrator, then choose View > Show Bounding Box to restore its bounding box. Use the Selection tool to select the whole object and display its resize controls. If the menu already says Hide Bounding Box, visibility is enabled, so check your selection next.
These fixes cover current Illustrator desktop for Windows and macOS. Start with visibility and selection, then try rendering checks if you also see visual artifacts or other display problems.
The short version
- Show the box: Select your object and choose View > Show Bounding Box.
- Select the whole object: Press V when you are not entering text, then click the artwork.
- Check selection barriers: Locked artwork and path-only selection can prevent you from selecting the intended object.
- Escalate gradually: Use rendering checks for display problems and reserve preference resets for persistent interface issues.
| Method or option | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Show Bounding Box | The surrounding resize box is hidden |
| Bounding-box keyboard shortcut | You want to toggle visibility |
| Selection tool | You need whole-object resize controls |
| Object Selection by Path Only | Clicking a filled area fails to select the object |
| Unlock artwork | A locked object or layer prevents selection |
| Show a hidden layer | The artwork itself is missing |
| Increase handle display size | Visible controls are difficult to see |
| Show Shape Widgets | A live shape's extra controls are missing |
| Reset Bounding Box | The box needs reorienting after rotation |
| Free Transform tool | You need another way to transform the object |
| Transform panel | You want to enter dimensions or rotation |
| Preview on CPU | Visual artifacts suggest a rendering problem |
| Disable GPU Performance | You need further display troubleshooting on a GPU-capable system |
| Update Illustrator | You suspect an application bug |
| Reset preferences in the app | Persistent interface problems suggest corrupted preferences |
| Reset preferences at startup | Normal launch or app controls fail |
| Move preference folders | The ordinary preference reset does not resolve the problem |
| Illustrator product page | You need access to desktop Illustrator |
| Shape tools in Illustrator on the web | You need to resize a live shape in the browser version |
Turn on the bounding box
With an object selected, open View and select Show Bounding Box. If you see Hide Bounding Box instead, the visibility setting is already on. Leave it enabled and continue with the selection checks below.
You can also toggle visibility with Shift + Ctrl + B on Windows or Shift + Command + B on macOS. These are the default shortcuts, and pressing the combination again hides the box. Check the View menu if you are unsure which state is active.
Select the whole object
Click the Selection tool in the toolbar, or press V when you are not entering text, then click the object. This tool provides the object's bounding-box resize controls. The Direct Selection tool targets individual anchor points and path segments.
If clicking a filled area does not select the artwork, check the selection preference. On Windows, open Edit > Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display. On macOS, open the Selection & Anchor Display preferences from the Illustrator menu.
Uncheck Object Selection by Path Only, then try clicking the object's filled area again. For an unfilled object or an object in Outline mode, click the path itself. Once you can select the artwork, check whether the surrounding box appears.
Unlock or reveal the artwork
If the artwork is locked, open the Layers panel and click the lock icon in the layer's Toggles Lock area. Alternatively, right-click the locked object on the canvas, select Unlock, then choose that object's name. Select the unlocked object with the Selection tool.
If the artwork itself is hidden, click the blank space in its layer's visibility column in the Layers panel. Select the revealed artwork with the Selection tool. Once the object is visible and selected, check its bounding box.
Make small handles easier to see
If the box is visible but its handles are difficult to see, open Selection & Anchor Display preferences. On Windows, choose Edit > Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display. On macOS, open the same Selection & Anchor Display preferences from the Illustrator menu.
Under Anchor Points, Handle, and Bounding Box Display, increase Size using the slider. This makes the controls easier to see, but it does not enable a hidden bounding box. If the box is hidden, return to View > Show Bounding Box.
Keep resizing with another tool
For another way to transform the object, select it and click the Free Transform tool, or press E. Select Free Transform in its widget, then drag a point on the bounding box to transform the object.
To enter dimensions or rotation directly, select your object and open Window > Transform. Enter the values you need in the Transform panel. You can resize or rotate the artwork this way without dragging bounding-box handles.
Check for a rendering problem
If the missing controls accompany visual artifacts or other rendering failures, select View > Preview on CPU. Reselect the object and check its controls. To return to GPU rendering, select View > GPU Preview.
On a GPU-capable system, you can also disable GPU acceleration for further display troubleshooting. On Windows, open Edit > Preferences > Performance; on macOS, open the Performance preferences from the Illustrator menu. Uncheck GPU Performance, then select OK. This can help investigate rendering problems, but it is not a guaranteed fix for a missing bounding box.
Update Illustrator for a possible application bug
If the visibility, selection, and relevant display checks have not helped, update Illustrator as a general troubleshooting step for a possible application bug. Save your work and close Illustrator, then open the Creative Cloud desktop app from the Windows taskbar or macOS menu bar. In Home, select Updates, then select Update beside Illustrator.
Reset preferences for persistent interface problems
Resetting preferences resets your personalized settings, so back up your custom preferences first. On Windows, open Edit > Preferences > General. On macOS, open the General preferences from the Illustrator menu. Select Reset Preferences, select OK, then restart Illustrator.
If normal launch or app controls fail, use the startup reset route instead. This also resets personalized settings, so back up your custom preferences before proceeding. Quit Illustrator, then hold Alt + Ctrl + Shift on Windows or Option + Command + Shift on macOS while launching it. Release the keys when prompted and select Yes.
If the ordinary reset does not resolve the interface problem, move the preference folders so Illustrator rebuilds them. Rebuilding preferences resets personalized settings, so preserve the existing folders by moving them to the desktop. Quit Illustrator before moving the folders.
On Windows, press Windows + R to open Run. Enter the following location:
%appdata%\AdobePress Enter, then move Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings to the desktop, using your installed version in place of <version>. Restart Illustrator so it can rebuild its preferences.
On macOS, move ~/Library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings and ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator to the desktop, using your installed version in place of <version>. Restart Illustrator, select your object with the Selection tool, and check View > Show Bounding Box again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you straighten a bounding box after rotating an object?
Resetting the bounding box reorients it after rotation. Select the object, then choose Object > Transform > Reset Bounding Box. Use this for orientation problems; the visibility control is under View.
How do you restore missing live shape controls?
Select a live shape and a shape drawing tool, then select Show Shape Widgets in the Control panel. These widgets have a separate control from the surrounding bounding box.
How do you resize a live shape in Illustrator on the web?
In Illustrator on the web (Beta), select the shape using its corresponding shape tool, then drag its bounding box to change its dimensions. Alternatively, adjust Height and Width in the Properties panel.
Can you access live shape transformation options from Properties?
Yes, in desktop Illustrator, select your live shape and open Window > Properties. Select More Options in the Transform section to access its transformation options.
Why does clicking a drop shadow fail to select the object?
You need to click the actual artwork rather than only its drop shadow or effect boundary. Choose the Selection tool and click the object itself.
Where can you get access to desktop Illustrator?
Use Adobe's official Illustrator product page for product access, purchase, or the Free trial option. If you already subscribe, you can manage your installation through Creative Cloud.
