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AreliMedia
Known Participant
January 13, 2026
Answered

Illustrator can only partially read this file...in Illustrator 2026 only

  • January 13, 2026
  • 5 replies
  • 238 views

I've been working with a file off and on without issue, and today I tried to open it to receive a "Illustrator can only partially read this file" error, and it to open it all as links.

 

I downloaded a way back previous version of the file from my cloud to receive the same error.

 

Pulled up Illustrator 2025 and opened the original file and the old version, both without issue.

 

Reeeallllyyyy?? Come on Adobe. I don't have time for this. Why suddenly can't I open a perfectly fine file I used yesterday in Illustrator 2026, I now have to use Illustrator 2025. This is insane.

 

Running OS 15.6.1, Illustrator v30.1

    Correct answer philwareham

    HI @Anubhav M -  have installed the latest beta of Illustrator now (v30.3 beta) and opened one of the files that was affected. And confirm that this issue seems to have been fixed in the beta. So thanks for that. I will contnue to run v30.0 for now until a new verison arrives (would this be the next release or would there be a v30.2 beforehand that potenrtially would still have the issue?).

    Regards, Phil.

    5 replies

    Z
    Zed 248
    Inspiring
    January 25, 2026

    Same here! 
    I experienced this issue roughly 3 weeks ago. No improvement to date.
    Ai 30.1

    B
    Community Expert
    Bobby HendersonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 21, 2026

    I've been dealing with a similar issue. My workplace has a couple of CorelDRAW installations; the app can export files in Adobe Illustrator format. But if those .AI files have any live text objects in them they will not open in either versions 29 or 30 of Adobe Illustrator. The files will not open in the beta version of Illustrator either. That same error box gets displayed, "Illustrator could partially read this file." The file opens as a blank document.

     

    I'm having to keep a copy of Illustrator 28.7.10 installed just to open Corel-generated .AI files and re-save them so they'll open in the current version of Illustrator.

    MT_HK
    MT_HK
    Participating Frequently
    January 21, 2026

    I updated my AI version last week (today is 21 Jan 2026), and the exact same issues come to me.... 

    I work on few project and create many of artwork.

    Some of them sudden cannot open.

    It is extreme SCARY !

    Please can Adobo STOP the new version of AI immediately and let people go to the backk version for now?

    Also please just help me ... (I will downgrade my AI version now to see what will happen)

    P
    philwareham
    Known Participant
    January 21, 2026

    For the moment a fix is to downgrade to v30.0, which you can do from the Creative Cloud app (click the 3 dots next to the app and select a previous version to install). Files open fine again. I'll test the new beta later today and let the group know if it fixes the issue too.

     

    However, you'll need to set any preferences again and custom workspaces, plugins and suchlike, as the downgrade will erase all traces of the current version.

    P
    philwareham
    Known Participant
    January 20, 2026

    I am getting the same issue with latest version of Illustrator (v30.1) - it's happening on quite a few diffrerent files that were totally fine in the previous version of AI, all of which I know are perfectly fine (not corrupted) files. It definitely seems like a (pretty serious) bug. Now I need to find a way of downgrading to an earlier release.

      Anubhav M
      Community Manager
      Anubhav MCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      January 20, 2026

      Hello @philwareham,

      I'm sorry to hear you're having similar trouble with Illustrator. Could you try installing the latest Illustrator (beta) release (https://adobe.ly/49v3CnL) to see if it helps?

      Looking forward to hearing from you.

      Anubhav

        P
        philwarehamCorrect answer
        Known Participant
        January 23, 2026

        HI @Anubhav M -  have installed the latest beta of Illustrator now (v30.3 beta) and opened one of the files that was affected. And confirm that this issue seems to have been fixed in the beta. So thanks for that. I will contnue to run v30.0 for now until a new verison arrives (would this be the next release or would there be a v30.2 beforehand that potenrtially would still have the issue?).

        Regards, Phil.

        Anubhav M
        Community Manager
        Anubhav MCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        January 13, 2026

        Hello @AreliMedia,

        That does seem strange. Could you share a link to a sample file after uploading it to a file-sharing service here or via DM, so we can check it with the team?

        Looking forward to hearing from you.

        Anubhav

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