How to Remove Guides in Illustrator

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

The thin lines in Adobe Illustrator are there to help you align elements accurately, but you can get rid of them. This wikiHow will teach you how to remove or move all or some guides in Illustrator.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Deleting All Guides

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid12353815-v4-728px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can either open Illustrator, then go to File > Open or you can right-click your project file and select Open with > Illustrator .
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-2.jpg\/aid12353815-v4-728px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll see this menu at the top of the screen and another menu will drop-down.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ac\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ac\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-3.jpg\/aid12353815-v4-728px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Another menu will pop out.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-4.jpg\/aid12353815-v4-728px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will remove all guides from your screen.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Deleting Some Guides

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bc\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bc\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-5.jpg\/aid12353815-v4-728px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can either open Illustrator, then go to File > Open or you can right-click your project file and select Open with > Illustrator .
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-6.jpg\/aid12353815-v4-728px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Click it to select it; if you're having trouble with layers getting in the way, you can click the guide's end-point on the ruler that surrounds your project.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-7.jpg\/aid12353815-v4-728px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If this keyboard shortcut does not work for you, go to Edit > Cut/Edit > Clear . The individual guide you selected will be deleted.
    4. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Moving Guides

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9e\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9e\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-8.jpg\/aid12353815-v4-728px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can either open Illustrator, then go to File > Open or you can right-click your project file and select Open with > Illustrator .
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/33\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/33\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-9.jpg\/aid12353815-v4-728px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Click it to select it; if you're having trouble with layers getting in the way, you can click the guide's end-point on the ruler that surrounds your project.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-10.jpg\/aid12353815-v4-728px-Remove-Guides-in-Illustrator-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can freely move the guide if you have guides unlocked. [1]
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • You can also go to Edit Artboard > Artboard Options (from the properties panel next to your editing area) and deselect "Show center mark," "Show Cross Hairs," and "Show Video Safe Areas." [2]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • If you cannot move or delete guides, you might have them locked. Go to View > Guides > Lock Guides to unlock them.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • To turn off Smart Guides, which are enabled by default, go to View > Smart Guides .
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Add an Image in Illustrator
      How to
      Create an Outline in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Change the Background Color in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Add a Hyperlink in Illustrator
      How to
      Create a Table in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Change Artboard Size in Adobe Illustrator
      2 Easy Ways to Wrap Text in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Add Artboards in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Measure in Adobe Illustrator
      Warp an Object in Adobe Illustrator with the Warp Tool
      How to
      Remove an Effect in Adobe Illustrator
      5 Quick Ways to Change the Background in Illustrator
      How to
      Create a Circle in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Change Adobe Illustrator to CMYK
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/rulers-grids-guides-crop-marks.html
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/WBhf1kOudcI?t=97

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open your project in Illustrator.
      2. Click View .
      3. Hover your mouse over Guides .
      4. Click Clear Guides .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 57,681 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement