Skip to main content
C
carrieanneo7
Participant
October 27, 2021
Answered

Adobe Illustrator will not open PNG files anymore

  • October 27, 2021
  • 7 replies
  • 17881 views

Illustrator has stopped letting me open PNG files. I never had an issue before until maybe a few days ago. I've tried every way I can think of to open it; right clicking on the image in the desktop, file open in illustrator, etc. No matter what I do, the file just will not open. Illustrator doesn't even give me an error or anything, the image simply just does not open in Illustrator.

Correct answer carrieanneo7

I actually think I found the issue after reading another post where a user couldn't open any type of files. It stated that Adobe searches for a printer when opening an image (not sure why) but the printer that was set as my Default printer no longer works. Therefore, Adobe couldn't connect to it. I changed my default printer in Windows settings and my PNG files will now open.

7 replies

A
Athira._K.Suresh9248
Participant
February 26, 2025

samething happens to me, how to resolve this 

H
Hector27836534z6x6
Participant
January 7, 2023

im having this same problem ive tried uninstalling and reinstalling and the photo/ file would open up a white blank sheet. ive read some on here that its a bug. idk though, have you had any luck?

H
Hector27836534z6x6
Participant
January 7, 2023

i started having this problem today. i tried opening a photo with the place feature and it just pops up as a white screen once i open the image.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 7, 2023

Please continue your discussion here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/blank-white-screen-when-opening-file/m-p/13471563#M350357

Q
Quin27027931vw5d
Participant
November 8, 2022

OMG I am having the same problem and I don't have a "default printer". Does anyone know how to fix this? It only became an issue of Illustrator not opening .png as of a week or so ago. And yes it is TOTALLY messing up my work flow to have to open every PNG in photoshop and resave as a JPEG.

    E
    essemtea
    Participant
    November 8, 2022

    That is exactly what happens to me. Same message, different file name, of course. I tried placing, dragging, resaving new PNG from Photoshop, pasting...replacing link from the links panel, it just won't take any PNGs. I'm using illustrator (2021) 23.0.6. on a mac. I had to re-save everything to work with legacy and use illustrator 2019. Any help would be great.

    Met1
    Met1
    Legend
    November 9, 2022

    Does it have to be an actual printer can you use Adobe PDF or OneSomething (sorry don't remember name and don't have it any more but do remember there was something else in there at one time)? (Edit Print presets→ Edit default → Choose "printer") 

    S
    scenemaking
    Participant
    October 7, 2022

    Has anyone found a better solve for this yet? I don't have a "default" printer at the moment and taking the extra step to export png files as jpg or tiff if need transparency is slowing down my workflow tremendously. I never had a problem until a few weeks ago. 

      P
      Pixeltender
      Participating Frequently
      October 18, 2022

      did you ever manage to solve this? this is suddenly happening to me as of this week

        Ton Frederiks
        Community Expert
        Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 18, 2022

        What version of Illustrator do you use?

        C
        carrieanneo7AuthorCorrect answer
        Participant
        October 27, 2021

        I actually think I found the issue after reading another post where a user couldn't open any type of files. It stated that Adobe searches for a printer when opening an image (not sure why) but the printer that was set as my Default printer no longer works. Therefore, Adobe couldn't connect to it. I changed my default printer in Windows settings and my PNG files will now open.

          Ton Frederiks
          Community Expert
          Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          October 27, 2021

          Good to hear you solved it that way.

          Ton Frederiks
          Community Expert
          Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          October 27, 2021

          And File > Place?

          A
          Athira._K.Suresh9248
          Participant
          February 26, 2025

          its not working, File>Place

          Anubhav M
          Community Manager
          Anubhav MCommunity Manager
          Community Manager
          March 5, 2025

          Hello @Athira._K.Suresh9248,

          Would you mind sharing more details, like the version of the OS/Illustrator, if Illustrator behaves this way with all files or when working with files from a specific folder and a small screen recording of the problem, so I can investigate this further?

          Looking forward to hearing from you.

          Anubhav

          Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
          Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices