How to Remove Selection Box in AutoCAD?

Understanding the Selection Box in AutoCAD

Managing the selection box feature in AutoCAD can enhance your design efficiency. Sometimes, you may want to remove or disable the selection box to streamline your workflow or address selection issues. Here are the methods to achieve this in AutoCAD 2025.

Disabling the Selection Cycling Feature

Selection cycling allows you to choose between overlapping objects by pressing Shift + Spacebar. If the selection box is obstructing your view or causing confusion, you can disable this feature easily:

1. Open the Command Line: Click on the command line at the bottom of your AutoCAD window.
2. Enter SELECTIONCYCLING: Type SELECTIONCYCLING and press Enter.
3. Adjust the Settings: You can turn on or off the selection cycling by entering 0 (off) or 2 (on). If you prefer not to use the cycling selection feature, set this to 0.

Adjusting Selection Methods in Preferences

If you would like to change how selections work in AutoCAD, including modifying or removing the selection box behavior:

1. Access Preferences: Click on the AutoCAD application name in the upper-left corner, then select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
2. Navigate to Cursor & Selection: In the Preferences window, find the tab labeled Cursor & Selection.
3. Modify Selection Options: Look for the option that states “Use Shift key to add to selection.” You may want to uncheck this option depending on your preferences, allowing for more straightforward selection without pressing the Shift key.

Dismissing the Selection Box

To remove a selection box appearing on-screen:

1. Select the Empty Space: Move your cursor to an area in the drawing where no objects are present.
2. Right-Click: Perform a right-click in this empty area to open a context menu.
3. Deselect: Click on Deselect if available, or find an option in the menu that allows you to eliminate the selection box.

Why the Selection Box Might Appear

If you encounter persistent selection boxes despite attempts to remove them:

• Active Object Layers: Ensure no objects are active in your current layer. Sometimes, locked layers can affect selection behavior, creating troublesome selection boxes.
• Viewport Settings: Check whether you are in an active viewport if working in a layout. Inactive viewports can affect your ability to select objects accurately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if there are still selection issues after disabling options?
You may have to restart AutoCAD or check if any other preferences are interfering with selection behaviors.

Can I customize the selection methods available in AutoCAD?
Yes, AutoCAD provides multiple selection methods that you can customize or disable through the Options menu under the Selection tab.

Is there a way to quickly deselect all objects in AutoCAD?
Yes, pressing the Esc key often deselects any selected objects quickly. You can also click in an empty space in the drawing area as an alternative.