Double-click an instance of the symbol in the Symbols panel.
Last updated on
Sep 11, 2025
Learn how to edit, redefine, or replace symbols, modify artwork, update definitions, or swap symbol instances.
You can edit a symbol by modifying the symbol’s artwork or redefining the symbol by replacing it with new artwork. Editing or redefining a symbol changes its appearance in the Symbols panel, as well as all instances of the symbol on the artboard.
Edit a symbol
Edit the object.
Exit the isolation mode by selecting Exit Symbol Editing Mode icon in the upper-left corner of the workspace.
Redefine a symbol with another object
Select the object to redefine an existing symbol by using the Selection tool.
Tip
Make sure to select an original object, and not a symbol instance.
In the Symbols panel, select the symbol you want to redefine, and then select Redefine Symbol from the Symbols panel menu.
Note
The selected object becomes an instance of the redefined symbol. To prevent this, press Shift while selecting Redefine Symbol from the panel menu.
Replace a symbol instance with a different symbol
Select the symbol instance from the artwork by using the Selection tool.
Select a new symbol from the Replace dropdown in the Control panel.
To select all symbol instances in a document, select a symbol in the Symbols panel, and then select Select All Instances from the Symbols panel menu.
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