In Adobe Illustrator on a PC, the shortcut to hide the toolbar is Tab.
Understanding the Shortcuts
According to the reference from Noble Desktop, Illustrator provides convenient keyboard shortcuts to manage the visibility of various interface elements, including the toolbar and panels.
Hiding/Showing Interface Elements
- Tab: This shortcut is used to hide or show all tools and panels, including the main toolbar located on the left side of the screen. Pressing Tab once will hide them, and pressing it again will bring them back.
- Shift + Tab: This shortcut hides or shows all panels except the Tools panel (toolbar) and the Control panel (usually located at the top). This is useful if you want to maximize your drawing area while keeping the essential tool and control bars visible.
| Action | PC Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Hide/Show all tools and panels | Tab |
| Hide/Show all panels except Tools and Control | Shift–Tab |
(Based on information from Illustrator Shortcuts: PC - Noble Desktop)
Using the Tab key is the quickest way to clear your workspace completely, hiding the toolbar and all floating panels, giving you an unobstructed view of your artwork.
