How to Remove Overlapping Anchor Points After Using Live Corners in Illustrator
Clean Up Overlapping Anchor Points in Illustrator Without Losing Your Curve
If you've ever rounded a corner in Illustrator only to find extra anchor points messing with your workflow—you're not alone. Illustrator’s Live Corners feature is great for smooth curves, but it often leaves unnecessary anchor points behind that can make future editing harder than it should be.
In this quick tutorial, I’ll show you how to remove overlapping anchor points without breaking your curve—perfect for anyone working on logos, icons, or smooth vector shapes.
You can check out this video (and lots more!) over on my Instagram Page @hannah.bacon.design
Clean Up Anchor Points After Using Live Corners
1. Spot the Overlap
After rounding off corners with the Live Corner Widgets, check your shape. You’ll often find two anchor points close together—especially at the top of a curve.
2. Unite the Shape First
Select your shape
Use the Shape Builder Tool (Shift + M)
Click once inside the shape to unite the paths into a single shape
This ensures Illustrator sees the shape as one clean path before editing anchor points.
3. Use the Delete Anchor Point Tool
Switch to the Delete Anchor Point Tool (-)
Hold Shift and click on the unwanted point
Holding Shift ensures that the curvature of the shape is preserved as the point is deleted
You should now be left with a single, clean anchor point at the top—no extra overlaps or bumps in your path.
Why I Like This Method:
Cleaner anchor points = smoother curves and more precise edits
Fewer points means lighter, more efficient vector files
Perfect for refining logos, icons, and detailed vector artwork
Want More Time-Saving Tools and Freebies?
This process is just one of the techniques I share across my design templates and digital assets, made especially for designers who want professional results—without starting from scratch every time.
