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How to Reset or Turn Off the Perspective Grid in Illustrator

Reset Illustrator’s Perspective Grid to the default view, hide it with Mac or Windows shortcuts, and exit the tool when the X will not respond.

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Quick answer

Reset the grid or get it off your artwork

Reset to the default: Choose View > Perspective Grid > Two Point Perspective > [2P-Normal View].

Turn it off: Press Command + Shift + I on Mac or Ctrl + Shift + I on Windows. You can also use View > Perspective Grid > Hide Grid or press Esc.

Reset restores the grid setup. Hide removes the overlay without changing that setup or your artwork.

  1. Reset a moved grid to the default two-point view.
  2. Hide the grid with a shortcut.
  3. Get the on-canvas X working.
  4. Close the grid and leave the perspective tool.

1. Reset the Perspective Grid to the default view

Hiding the grid gets it out of your way. Resetting it gives you the default perspective setup again. If you only want the lines off your artwork, use View > Perspective Grid > Hide Grid; you do not need to reset anything.

To reset the Perspective Grid in Illustrator, choose View > Perspective Grid > Two Point Perspective > [2P-Normal View]. Use this when you have moved the grid controls and want to start again with the standard two-point layout.

You can also open View > Perspective Grid > Define Grid, choose [2P-Normal View] from the Preset menu, and click OK. The screenshot shows that preset selected in Illustrator 2026 on Mac.

If you want to keep a custom grid before resetting it, choose View > Perspective Grid > Save Grid as Preset first. Resetting the grid is not a way to undo perspective changes you have already made to artwork.

Just trying to close the grid? Keep the hide-grid shortcuts nearby, or see why the X will not respond. Adobe also documents the default-grid reset and Perspective Grid settings.

Illustrator 2026 Define Perspective Grid dialog with the [2P-Normal View] preset selected
Actual Illustrator 2026 screenshot: choose [2P-Normal View] in Define Perspective Grid to return to the standard two-point setup, then click OK.

2. Turn off the Perspective Grid with a shortcut

To hide the Perspective Grid, press Command + Shift + I on Mac or Ctrl + Shift + I on Windows. The shortcut toggles visibility, so pressing it again brings the grid back. Esc also hides the grid.

If you are searching for how to remove, close, or get rid of the Perspective Grid, hiding it is the command you need. You do not need to delete artwork, reset Illustrator’s preferences, or close the document. Adobe lists these controls in its perspective drawing instructions.

Adobe Illustrator artwork with the Perspective Grid visible over the canvas
Timestamp 0:06 The Perspective Grid can appear after a shortcut misclick and sit right on top of your artwork.

Quick reference

Which Perspective Grid control should I use?

Choose Reset when the grid geometry is wrong. Choose Hide when you only want the lines out of the way.

Fastest close
Press Esc to hide the grid without changing tools.
Direct toggle
Press Command + Shift + I on Mac or Ctrl + Shift + I on Windows.
Select the tool
Press Shift + P to activate the Perspective Grid Tool. This does not hide the grid by itself.
Close button
With the tool active, click the small X on the Perspective Grid widget.
Menu fallback
Use View > Perspective Grid > Hide Grid when you prefer the menu or cannot reach the widget.
Reset the layout
Choose View > Perspective Grid > Two Point Perspective > [2P-Normal View].

3. Why can’t I click the X?

The close widget needs a perspective tool active. Press Shift + P to select the Perspective Grid Tool, then click the small X beside the active plane widget. The Perspective Selection Tool also lets you use the widget.

Shift + P selects the tool and shows the grid; it is not the hide-grid shortcut. If clicking the X is awkward, use the keyboard toggle or View > Perspective Grid > Hide Grid instead.

Adobe Illustrator toolbar showing the Perspective Grid Tool and Shift P workflow
Timestamp 0:22 Press Shift + P or select the Perspective Grid Tool in the toolbar before trying to close the grid.

4. Close the grid and exit the perspective tool

Choose View > Perspective Grid > Hide Grid, then press V to return to the ordinary Selection Tool. This gets both the overlay and the perspective tool out of your way.

Changing tools and hiding the grid are separate actions. Selecting the Perspective Grid Tool again with Shift + P can show it again. If the shortcut seems unresponsive, use the menu to run the visibility command directly.

For more small fixes that make Illustrator less interruptive, continue with these five less-obvious Illustrator workflow tips.

Adobe Illustrator perspective grid widget with the Hide Grid control visible
Timestamp 0:36 The X behaves correctly once the Perspective Grid Tool is selected.

Illustrator Perspective Grid Questions

01How do I reset the Perspective Grid in Illustrator?

Choose View > Perspective Grid > Two Point Perspective > [2P-Normal View], or choose that preset in View > Perspective Grid > Define Grid. This restores the standard grid setup. The reset section includes the preset screenshot.

02What is the shortcut to turn off the Perspective Grid?

Use Command + Shift + I on Mac or Ctrl + Shift + I on Windows. This toggles the grid on and off. Esc hides it, and View > Perspective Grid > Hide Grid is the menu alternative.

03How do I exit perspective mode and get back to normal selection?

Hide the grid, then press V for the Selection Tool. Hiding the overlay does not undo perspective changes already made to objects.

04Why will the Perspective Grid X not work?

Activate the Perspective Grid Tool with Shift + P before clicking the small X on its widget. You can also use the Perspective Selection Tool, or skip the widget and choose Hide Grid from the View menu.

05Does resetting or hiding the grid restore the original artwork?

No. Reset changes the grid setup; Hide changes its visibility. Neither reverses transformations already applied to artwork. Undo the artwork edit if you need its earlier shape and that edit is still in the Undo history.