Can't open ai file

[Seung_Nam0942]

I’m reaching out to request help recovering a corrupted Illustrator (.ai) file that is critical for my job application portfolio. The file was saved successfully in Adobe Illustrator and closed without any errors. However, when I tried to open it the next day, I received the following error:

"Illustrator could partially read this file. We recovered as much of the file as possible, but some content might be missing."

This project is extremely important for my career, and I’ve already tried all available solutions listed on 

I try

- Renaming the file extension to .svg and reopening
- Attempting to open the file as a PDF (error: file is damaged)
- Importing into InDesign (failed with “can’t open”)
- Checking the Illustrator recovery folder (no recovery files found)
- Using Convertio and other online file converters (failed)

[Monika Gause]

When working on critical files:

- turn off Save in background in the Illustrator preferences

- always save early and often

- save on the internal disk

- always save different versions

- on different harddisks

- get something similar to Apple's Time Machine for your Windows and use it

- when you have all of this, then Illustrator's Recovery Mode can be the icong on the cake

Before trying any kind of measure on a file that Illustrator can't read, make a copy that you then do not touch anymore. Then what you can do:

- check if the file still opens in Acrobat

- install an earlier or later Illustrator version (depending on what you have) and try if it opens.

- trying to open in InDesign makes no sense, same goes for any other third party app (those access the PDF part of the file and you already tested that with Acrobat)

- Recovery tools might perhaps help

posting on this forum can also help, because members of the Illustrator team sometimes can recover some more than other tools can. But really: make backups. That is the only thing that helps. Relying on just one copy of a file has never been a good idea.

@Anshul_Saini can you please try and recover a file?

[Bobby Henderson]

Was any of the artwork created or edited outside of Adobe Illustrator in other applications? The reason I'm asking is because the current 29.3.1. version of Illustrator won't open .AI files exported by rival applicaitons like CorelDRAW if they contain any live text objects. The same error box (Illustrator could partially read this file) is displayed when attempting to open the file. I can open those files successfully in the 28.7.5 build of Illustrator. If I re-save those files in that version of Illustrator they will then open properly in Illustrator 29.3.1.

You can have more than one version of Illustrator installed on the same computer. It could be a prior version or even the beta version. It's possible one of those versions might be able to open the file as long as the file hasn't been corrupted. Rival graphics applications, such as CorelDRAW and Affinity Designer, can import Illustrator AI files and PDF files, but have limits on doing so. They may require files saved in older file versions and won't import certain Illustrator-dependent effects.

[Camilo Gutierrez Ch]

Don´t forget that saving in AIC is always a good and secure option, many times the discs have write errors. 

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @Seung_Nam0942,

I’m really sorry you’re facing this issue, especially with such an important file. I understand how frustrating this can be.

You’ve already tried several great troubleshooting steps. As suggested by other experts in the community, checking different Illustrator versions, disabling Save in Background, and always keeping multiple backups are good preventive measures.

To take this further, could you DM me the file so I can try recovering it on my end? While recovery isn’t always guaranteed, I’d be happy to take a closer look and see if anything can be done.

Looking forward to your response!

Best,
Anshul Saini