UI options
Last updated on
Oct 27, 2025
Learn more about the Actions panel overview in Adobe Illustrator to streamline workflow with single or multiple files.
An action is a series of tasks that can be played back on one or multiple files, such as menu commands, panel options, and tool operations. For example, you can create an action that resizes an image, applies an effect, and then saves the file in the desired format.
Actions can also include:
- Unrecordable steps, such as using a painting tool.
- Modal controls that pause playback to let you enter values in a dialog box.
Illustrator includes a set of predefined actions to help you perform common tasks quickly. You can use these as they are, customize them, or create your own actions to suit your workflow.
A. Action set B. Action C. Recorded command D. Delete Selection E. Create New Action F. Create New Set G. Play Current Selection H. Begin Recording I. Stop Playing/Recording J. Toggle Dialog On/Off K. Toggle Item On/Off
You can open the Actions panel by selecting Window > Actions .
UI options |
Functions |
Action set |
Groups multiple actions together for organized access and batch processing. |
Action |
Contains a sequence of recorded commands that can be replayed to automate tasks. |
Recorded command |
Lists each individual step captured during the recording of an action. |
Delete Selection |
Removes the selected action, command, or action set from the panel. |
Create New Action |
Adds a new custom action to the selected action set. |
Create New Set |
Creates a folder to group and organize related actions. |
Play Current Selection |
Executes the selected action or command on the active document. |
Begin Recording |
Starts capturing each step you perform as part of a new action. |
Stop Playing/Recording |
Ends the playback of an action or halts the recording process. |
Toggle Dialog On/Off |
Turns on or off dialog boxes during playback for user input. |
Toggle Item On/Off |
Indicates that a specific command is part of the recorded action sequence. |
Tip
Use the expand icon to expand or collapse all actions in a set or all commands in an action.
You can select the Actions panel menu to apply more options to your action set.
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Functions |
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Duplicate |
Makes a copy of the selected action or set. |
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Record Again |
Re-records steps for the selected action. |
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Insert Menu Item |
Adds a menu command from Illustrator’s menu bar into the action. |
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Insert Stop |
Inserts a pause in the action so the user can read instructions. |
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Insert Select Path/Object |
Adds a step to select a path or object during playback. |
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Action Options |
Opens a dialog to rename or assign function keys/colors to the action. |
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Playback Options |
Lets you set playback speed (accelerated, step-by-step, or pause for dialogs). |
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Clear Actions |
Deletes all actions currently loaded in the panel. |
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Reset Actions |
Restores the default set of actions installed with Illustrator. |
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Load Actions |
Imports saved action sets (.aia files). |
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Replace Actions |
Replaces the current actions with another saved set. |
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Save Actions |
Exports the current set of actions for reuse or sharing. |
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Button Mode |
Displays actions as clickable buttons for quick playback. |
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Batch |
Runs an action on multiple files in a folder for automated processing. |
Note
You can’t view individual commands or sets in Button Mode. In Button Mode, selecting a button executes the entire action, but Illustrator skips any commands you previously excluded.
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