Illustrator won't open files when it's running except via ctrl-O

[jenwardacc]

A few days ago Illustrator stopped opening files except via ctrl-O or file > open. Files will no longer open when I double-click them in Windows Explorer, right click to choose Open or Open With..., or drag it to the taskbar icon.

UNLESS Illustrator is not currently running, in which case it launches Illustrator and opens the file just fine.

My version is up to date: Illustrator CC 2019 v 23.0.1

[Rob de Winter]

Hey, maybe the file type association isn't correct at the moment? Can you try to right click on the file in Windows Explorer and then click Open With? Maybe Windows still tries to open the file with the 2018 version of Illustrator...

[jenwardacc]

No, as I said in my original question that does not work.

[Bill Silbert]

What version of Windows are you using? Has it recently run an update?

[jenwardacc]

10.0.17134 build 17134

I don't recall when the last update was run, but it was well before I started having this issue. Ditto for the last Illustrator update.

[jenwardacc]

Okay, so I was having the above problem for a few days and now, just like that, everything is opening again regardless of method. This happened to me once before, and that time it resolved itself also. I haven't restarted my computer, installed updates, or even closed Illustrator between the last time I had the problem and now. This makes no sense. What the heck could be going on?