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Participant
January 27, 2025
Answered

File backup problem

  • January 27, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 550 views

Hello, I wanted to save as an illustrator file by replacing the old version. Except that the recording crashed and I don't have any file left. I searched my recycle garbage can and my whole computer: no file. What do I do now?

Correct answer Monika Gause

The recovery function is not autosave.

And while those folders exist, it does not save files with that particular filename.

 

If Illustrator crashed while saving, then it's also very likely that recovery did not work. Saving is just a very bad time for a crash.

1 reply

Participating Frequently
January 27, 2025

Hi there. 

I would start with the following two steps...

1. Check Illustrator’s Recovery Folder

Adobe Illustrator has an autosave feature (if enabled). Files are automatically saved in a recovery folder. Here's how to locate it:

  • Windows: C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [version]\DataRecovery
  • Mac: /Users/[Your Username]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator [version]/DataRecovery
  • Look for files with names like Recovered_[filename].ai.
  • If you find one, open it in Illustrator to see what was saved.

2. Search for Temporary Files

  • Use your computer's search function to look for temporary Illustrator files. These often have a .tmp or .aid extension.
  • Windows Search Tips:
    • Open File Explorer and search for *.tmp or *.aid.
  • Mac Search Tips:
    • Use Finder and search for *.tmp or *.aid in your entire drive.
Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 27, 2025

The recovery function is not autosave.

And while those folders exist, it does not save files with that particular filename.

 

If Illustrator crashed while saving, then it's also very likely that recovery did not work. Saving is just a very bad time for a crash.