Swift Loop Preview Broken

[HB02221]

Hello, I am having problems with the swift loop tool. The green preview for placement seems to be broken (it isn't appearing) and I cannot place any loops with the tool. I have tested this on the box primitives to make sure it wasn't flipped normals, non-manifold geometry or the standard issues. 
Thought it might be a Viewport display problem but if I switch it off anything besides DriectX 11 3DsMax crashes.
I've uninstalled and reinstalled but the problem persists.  
Is this a known problem with the new update?

Please let me know if there's any solutions to this problem.

[shawnolson]

Sorry to hear about your issue. Can you share what version of 3ds Max you are using? Also, a clarifying question: When you said you tried on box primitives, I'm presuming that those box primitives were converted to editable poly objects before you tried to use it on them?

[HB02221]

I'm using 2026.3, and yes I converted the primitive to an editable poly. 

[shawnolson]

Since this feature is working as expected across all the versions of Max on this machine (including 2026.3) it makes me suspicious that you have a corruption with your user settings. You may need to reset them. Please refer to these instructions: How to reset 3ds Max user preference settings back to default 

[HB02221]

I tried this after my first reinstall. I tried it again just now, and no cigar the problem remains. 

For clarification the button for swift loop is there, all of UI is normal. Once clicked or hotkey-ed swift loop will not show the preview loop and I cannot use it because of that. I can use the cut and quick slice tools - all of their previews work. 

[shawnolson]

Thanks for the information. Does the tool end up making a loop despite not making a preview? I re-read above and see it's not working at all.

[HB02221]

No, it doesn't make a cut and it won't allow me to cancel it with the RMB I have to click on the button again or use a hotkey to switch to a different tool. I attached a screen recording of the behavior. In it you'll see comparison between the other tools.  I feel a little crazy. I've tried see if assigning a hotkey for it would fix it instead of pushing the button but it still results in the same behavior. 

[MartinBeh]

Works as advertised on a box-converted-to-epoly in my 3ds Max 2026.3...

Your comment "anything besides DriectX 11 3DsMax crashes" makes me wonder whether there is something else going on.

Are you using any other 3rd party tools/scripts/plugins?

[HB02221]

I usually use a texel density script but since I've been uninstalling, reinstalling, and clearing all user preferences none of my scripts are running.

[MartinBeh]

Anything in C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins that might be loaded by 3ds Max?

[MartinBeh]

What GPU and driver are you using? 

[HB02221]

I have only the default plugins 3ds Max comes with. My GPU is Nvidia RTX 2000 Ada Generation. I have updated the drivers. 

[lauri_barnhart]

Hello, @HB02221,

Just checking in—did the responses shared by @shawnolson or @MartinBeh help clarify your question?

If so, please consider clicking the "Accept Solution" button. Doing so helps others in the community easily find useful answers.

If your question still needs more attention, feel free to reply here with an update. This way, other members can jump in with further suggestions or guidance to help you move forward.

All the best,

Lauri | Community Manager

[m.gibsonHHC88]

I am also having this issue, I installed 2025 to see if that worked, but it has the same problem. The graphite modelling tools like Optimize and Extend also don't work. The cursor changes to show the tool activates, but they dont do anything.

[m.gibsonHHC88]

So update... installed 2024, its working there. Booted up 2026 and now its working in there as well...

[HB02221 · Accepted solution]

It was Windows. Managed to convince IT to Restore the Image and it works fine now. 

[jamesmUHRM4]

Is there any further insight into how to resolve this issue? Reseting/restoring windows is not easy for me to do currently, but I am experiencing the same issue, many graphite modeling tools such as swift loop, paint connect, and others are not working in the same fashion as the original poster. Is there any other solution besides wiping my computer?

[jamesmUHRM4]

I'll note, I am not experiencing other technical issues the original poster experienced. I am able to run any renderer, and I have tried the other troubleshooting solutions such as resetting to factory settings, but I can't use the tools. I also installed MAX 2023 and 2024, they both have the same problem. 

[lauri_barnhart]

Hi @jamesmUHRM4,

I wanted to check in and see if you still needed assistance, or if you found a solution to your question already? Let us know if you need further assistance by providing an update or if you have found a solution, please share it with the community so other members who may have the same question could learn from your experience.

All the best,

Lauri | Community Manager

[jamesmUHRM4]

I ended up reinstalling windows, which fixed it for awhile. However, today I went to try to do some work in 3ds Max and discovered the exact same issue has returned. I am not able to keep reinstalling windows. I need some support to figure out why this is happening. Any ideas?