esc to cancel command not working

[dan]

I cannot simply hit ESC on my MacBook Pro to cancel an active command.  Must now use Command/ESC to cancel a command.  This happened all of a sudden without any input from me that I know of. How do I get back to being able to simply press ESC to cancel?

[maxim_k]

Hi @dan ,

Have you tried:

- Relaunch AutoCAD - use QUIT command and launch it again?

- Restart your Mac?

- Reset AutoCAD?

[dan · Accepted solution]

It worked!! Who knew the universal cure, “When in doubt, power cycle!”,
would work on this, too? Thank you!

[mauryarte]

Title: [ULTIMATE FIX] ESC, Shift, and Right-Click not working in Civil 3D & AutoCAD

Note: Although this guide focuses on Civil 3D, this exact same profile reset is the definitive solution if you are experiencing this bug in plain AutoCAD.

If you've lost control over basic selection commands and the classic system variables aren't fixing it, your user profile is corrupted.

The 3 Bug Symptoms:

1. Useless ESC key: It doesn't deselect objects or cancel active commands.

2. Blocked Shift key: When trying to remove objects from a selection (Shift + Click), it doesn't respond, and the command line activates the <Cycle on> mode.

3. Broken Right-Click (Hide/Isolate): You select objects, right-click to hide/isolate them, and the program immediately deselects them, asking you to select objects again (completely ignoring that the PICKFIRST variable is set to 1).

Why typical workarounds DO NOT work: Modifying individual variables (PICKADD, PICKFIRST, LEGACYCTRLPICK, SELECTIONCYCLING) or trying to fix the ESC key from the CUI menu (where it's often replaced by garbage macros like _AeccVectsCancelPreview) is a waste of time. These are temporary patches. The root issue is that the event handlers in your base profile (e.g., <<C3D_Metric>> or AutoCAD's default) are fundamentally broken.

THE EXACT SOLUTION (Profile Reset): This maneuver restores the factory visual engine without deleting your DWG files or requiring a software reinstall.

1. Type the OP (Options) command and press Enter.

2. Go to the last tab on the right: Profiles.

3. In the list, select your active profile (usually <<C3D_Metric>>, <<C3D_Imperial>>, or the default profile in plain AutoCAD).

4. Click the Reset button located in the right column.

5. Click Yes on the system warning to confirm the reset.

6. Click Apply and then OK to close the options window.

7. Completely close the program and restart it.

When you reopen the program, the interface will be completely purified. The ESC key will drop objects instantly, the right-click will respect previous selections, and Shift will work exactly as it should.