What an anchor point is and why you need to add them
An anchor point is a dot on a path in Illustrator that controls the shape of a line or curve. When you draw a shape or line, Illustrator places anchor points at the corners and endpoints. To change the shape after you've drawn it — to bend a straight line, add a corner where there was a curve, or move part of a path — you add a new anchor point exactly where you need it, then drag that point to reshape the path.
You add anchor points when you have a path that's already drawn and you want to edit it without redrawing the whole thing. The most common reason is that you need to adjust one section of a line or shape, but the nearest existing anchor point is too far away to give you the control you need.
Key Takeaways
- The Add Anchor Point tool sits in the toolbar on the left side of your screen, or you can press the plus sign (+) key to set up it.
- Click directly on the path where you want the new point to appear — not near it, but on the line itself.
- After you add the point, switch to the Selection tool or Direct Selection tool to move it and reshape your path.
- You can add as many anchor points as you need to a single path, and you can delete them later if you change your mind.
Finding and selecting the Add Anchor Point tool
Open the Tools panel on the left side of your Illustrator window. Look for the Pen tool — it looks like a fountain pen nib. Click and hold on the Pen tool icon, and a menu will pop out showing related tools. The Add Anchor Point tool is the one that looks like a pen nib with a plus sign next to it.
If you don't see the menu, your Tools panel may be in single-column mode. Right-click the Pen tool and select "Show Options" or look for a small arrow next to the tool icon that indicates hidden tools. Once you find the Add Anchor Point tool, click it to select it. You can also press the plus sign (+) key on your keyboard as a shortcut — this works even if you're using a different tool.
Clicking on the path to add a point
With the Add Anchor Point tool active, move your cursor to the path where you want to add a point. The cursor will change to show a small plus sign. Position it directly on the line or curve itself — not above it, below it, or to the side. Click once, and Illustrator will place a new anchor point at that exact spot.
If you click near the path but not on it, nothing will happen. If you're having trouble hitting the line, zoom in closer so the path is larger on your screen. You can zoom using the scroll wheel on your mouse, or by pressing the plus key (+) to zoom in and the minus key (−) to zoom out.
Moving the new point to reshape your path
After you add an anchor point, you need to switch tools to move it. Press V to set up the Selection tool, or click the arrow icon at the top of the Tools panel. If you want to move just that one point without affecting the rest of the path, use the Direct Selection tool instead — press A or click the white arrow icon in the Tools panel.
With the Direct Selection tool active, click the anchor point you just added and drag it to the new position. As you drag, you'll see the path bend and curve around the point. If the point has control handles (the small lines extending from it), you can also drag those handles to adjust how sharply the curve bends.
Adding multiple points to the same path
You can add as many anchor points as you need to a single path. Keep the Add Anchor Point tool selected, and click on the path again at a different location. Each click adds another point. This is useful when you're reshaping a complex curve and need fine control over multiple sections.
Be careful not to add too many points close together — it makes the path harder to edit and can create unnecessary complexity. Add points only where you actually need to change the shape. If you add a point by mistake, switch to the Direct Selection tool, click the unwanted point, and press Delete to remove it.
When to add points versus redrawing
Adding anchor points works best when you have a path that's mostly correct and you need to adjust one or two sections. If you find yourself adding points every few pixels along the entire path, it's usually faster to delete the path and redraw it with the Pen tool, using more careful clicks from the start.
For straightforward shapes like rectangles and circles, use the shape tools instead — they're faster and cleaner than drawing with the Pen tool. For complex curves that need precise control, the Pen tool with well-placed anchor points is the right choice. Add Anchor Point is the tool for fine-tuning after the fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Add Anchor Point and the regular Pen tool?
The Pen tool creates a new path from scratch by placing points as you click. Add Anchor Point only works on paths that already exist — it adds a point to an existing line without changing anything else about the path. Use Pen to draw new shapes, and Add Anchor Point to edit shapes you've already drawn.
Can I add an anchor point to a shape I made with the rectangle or circle tool?
Yes. First, convert the shape to a path by going to Object > Path > Object to Path. After that, you can use Add Anchor Point on it like any other path. Without converting it first, the shape tools won't let you edit individual points.
Why does my new anchor point have control handles sticking out?
When you add a point to a curved section of a path, Illustrator automatically gives it control handles so the curve stays smooth. If you add a point to a straight section, there won't be handles. You can drag the handles to adjust the curve, or press Alt while dragging a handle to adjust just one side.
Can I undo adding an anchor point?
Yes. Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) when ready after adding the point. If you added it a while ago and want to remove it now, switch to the Direct Selection tool, click the point, and press Delete.