copy & pasting gradients

I'm not sure if it's related to freeform gradient.... I'm not a power Illustrator user like I once was. But, I received a file from a designer and it has multiple gradients. When I paste it into another file, it becomes 'non-native art'.

I'm using Illustrator 2024 and used 'save as' "Illustrator 2020". This still allowed me to edit the gradient points and I can see other controls (ramp direction, etc.).

To test, I've then created a new file, and 'save as' "Illustrator 2020" , but when I paste the gradient (or the artboard) it becomes a 'non-native art' again. I can't edit anything in it.

Is there a way to paste or migrate the original gradient while maintaining the gradient control points? Not sure if I'm using the right terminology.