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rjd38150240
Participant
January 12, 2020
Answered

All my Illustrator files are showing as PDF!

  • January 12, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 9521 views

I installed the latest update, and now EVERY AI file I have on my computer (going back years) shows with a PDF icon (I'm on PC, BTW).

 

I know that sometimes an individual file can be corrupted and default to a PDF, but I'm talking about files I have never opened with this new version of Illustrator!  I'm afraid to open any of my old files for fear of corrupting them!

 

Is this an Illustrator error or some kind of virus?  Any ideas?

 

UPDATE: I uninstalled Illustrator and Acrobat, reinstalled (Illustrator first), then restarted my computer.  All of my AI files show an Acrobat icon.  Whn you hover over the filename, it says it's an AI file, but when you open it, it opens in Acrobat!!

    Correct answer rjd38150240

    OK, I accidentally solved the problem myself.  I chose one AI file on my desktop with the Acrobat icon and opened the "Properties" dialog.  I changed the "Opens With" option to "Adobe Illustrator", and it reset every AI file on my computer to open with AI, and all the icons changed back to AI icons.

     

    I'm leaving this post up, just in case anyone else encounters the same problem.  Thanks!

    4 replies

    J
    Jackee35063200xdei
    Participant
    September 26, 2024

    Hello! I have recently come across this issue with AI files for logos our vendor sent, we accidentally clicked "always" open with Adobe as we were just rying to view the file. We tried the option you've listed but do not have AI installed, is there a way around this to revert back to AI as it is forcing to select an option if not Adobe Acrobat?

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 26, 2024

    If you do not have Illustrator, then you would have to paste the icon graphic into the file (if that is possible on your operating system at all).

    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    September 27, 2024

    Hello @Jackee35063200xdei,

    Thanks for reaching out. Would you mind checking the File Type for the exported file by enabling the option to show file extensions (Windows / macOS)? If it shows up as a ".AI," then kindly try changing the file association for the AI file type (Windows / macOS) to Illustrator and share your observations.

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

     

    Thanks,

    Anubhav

    Debkem13
    Debkem13
    Participant
    September 17, 2020

    This was perfect, thank you!

      kelleyh90799612
      kelleyh90799612
      Participant
      August 16, 2020

      Thanks for this info! I had the same problem and this fxed it!!

        R
        rjd38150240AuthorCorrect answer
        Participant
        January 12, 2020

        OK, I accidentally solved the problem myself.  I chose one AI file on my desktop with the Acrobat icon and opened the "Properties" dialog.  I changed the "Opens With" option to "Adobe Illustrator", and it reset every AI file on my computer to open with AI, and all the icons changed back to AI icons.

         

        I'm leaving this post up, just in case anyone else encounters the same problem.  Thanks!

          tromboniator
          Community Expert
          tromboniatorCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          January 12, 2020

          Thanks for posting your solution. Someone else WILL encounter this problem!

           

          Peter

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