.ai file will not open in illustrator

[notthefakelukek]

I have severla .ai files in dropbox that I downloaded on a new computer. The files will not open in illustrator. When I try to open them illustrator says the format is unknown and cannot be opened.  Anyone having the same/similar issue? I attached a screenshot of the message I received.

[Kurt Gold]

You may share a sample file, so one can try it.

[Bobby Henderson]

Were the .AI files created in Illustrator or were they exported from another application?

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

When you say "downloaded", are they in your local dropbox folder or somewhere else, e.g. an external drive?

Are you on a new Mac? If so, make sure your Adobe apps have Full Disk access in your System Preferences > Security & Privacy

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @notthefakelukek,

Thanks for reaching out, and sorry you're running into this issue with your .ai files.

Could you please confirm the version of Illustrator you're using and the details of your operating system? Also, as the experts asked, is the file now saved locally on your system drive and you're still getting the same error? If you're still accessing it via Dropbox, please try saving the file directly to your desktop or another local folder and then open it in Illustrator.

Additionally, I'd suggest re-downloading one of the files directly from https://adobe.ly/3FjmYQr using your browser instead of the Dropbox app, just to make sure the file is fully downloaded and not a placeholder.

If the issue continues, please feel free to share one of the affected files with us so we can test it. If the file contains confidential content, you can DM it to me here on the community.

Looking forward to your update!

Abhishek