Hey, it happens... stuff stops working the way we expect it to, no matter what we try. (SO FRUSTRATING!!!) 

😬💣💀🚮⚠

This CAN happen with Inkscape. There are lots of variables, including: OSs, displays, tablets, versions, other programs running, screen magnifiers, antivirus... the list goes on.

If we try standard solutions and get help from the forum AND STILL THINGS WON'T WORK... relax, take a deep breath...

...and embrace the Zen of starting with Inkscape in its standard configuration, by resetting the preferences.xml file. This will not change existing files.

🙇

The preferences.xml file has settings that change as we use Inkscape (to keep some things the way we left them). But if things go totally off the rails, we can return the file to its original state.

In the System section of the Preferences dialog (Ctrl+Shift+P), there is a big button that says: "Reset Preferences". After clicking this button, we restart Inkscape and get back to work.

On a Mac, the preferences option will appear in the menu as either Inkscape > Preferences or  Inkscape > Settings.

On Windows, the preferences option will appear in the menu as Edit> Preferences.

In the commands bar, the icon looks like: 

SUPER EASY! 😎

Versions of Inkscape before version 1.0 do not have the reset button. The preferences.xml file can be found in the computer's user profile, and the file can be renamed. Inkscape will make a new preferences.xml file with the default settings. The location for the preferences is shown in the line that says "User preferences".

UPDATE: If you update your preferences, custom settings will need to be manually reinstated, including custom autosave directories (if you have set them). 

Thank you ..... 😊 I followed instructions and got the shapes to work.