How to Disable the Start Screen in Adobe Illustrator

Get rid of that annoying screen!
Zach Zach (248)
2 minutes

This short guide will teach you how to disable the start, or welcome screen, in Adobe Illustrator. This is also known as the Home Screen (or, formerly, the Smart Workspace).

This window pops up by default when you have no documents open. I find it to be a bit of a distraction and I hate it. So let's get rid of it.

Find out how to remove another distraction: the Creative Cloud menu bar icon.

Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator ×1

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Open General Preferences

In the menu, navigate to Illustrator CC > Preferences > General.

Disable the Home Screen

Uncheck the box that says Show The Home Screen When No Documents Are Open. Then, click OK.

You're all done! Illustrator has returned to its former behavior.

Reset your iPhone home screen in seconds!
1 minute

Sometimes, when dealing with reorganizing a messy home screen, trying to track down missing but downloaded apps, or dealing with iOS, home screen issues, it can be difficult to find a practical solution. Oftentimes, restoring your iPhone can be the resolution offered for missing but downloaded apps or home screen issues, but that can be time consuming and ineffective. Alternatively, resetting your home screen to factory defaults can make reorganizing your home screen easier. If an app is missing, but you've redownloaded it or it is already downloaded from the app store, resettings your home screen layout is sure to resolve it as long as the app is not hidden. It also only takes mere seconds to reset your home screen layout! In this guide, I show you how to reset your home screen layout to factory default right within the Settings app. Keep in mind that this reset will reset the home screen layout back to factory defult and should only be done if necessary. If the reorganization of your home screen is insurmountable, you are missing apps from your home screen that have been downloaded, or you are experiencing an issue with your home screen that cannot be resolved otherwise, this is a great option.