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ljm15472618
ljm15472618
Participant
October 15, 2018
Answered

Illustrator 2019 - File Type Association (WIN) *Bug*?

  • October 15, 2018
  • 46 replies
  • 21043 views

No matter what I try I cannot change the default file type .ai to always open/be associated with Illustrator 2019.

The files always show up as blank icons and I have to now always right click and 'open with' and choose Illustrator 2019.

Bug with the new updated?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Srishti Bali

This does not work Srishti. There is an inherent fault when you click on the apply button after selection the illustrator.exe file as the default. You see it trying to action but then it just doesn't kick in. The same happens if you go to Windows Default program settings. Try to click on Illustrator 2019 and nothing happens.

Now, Windows has no changed, only Illustrator has, so it is something in the way that Adobe have coded the software registry - it's like it isn't being recognised by Windows as a registered software application within Windows. My guess is someone at Adobe stuffed up the registry process on this latest version.


Hi there,

All the users on this thread have a similar issue but not the same. Every situation here has a different fix.

XD defaulting to AI on Windows

  • Please update to latest version of XD (13.1.32) to resolve the issue.

PS defaulting to AI on MAC

  • Please update to latest version of Illustrator (23.0.1) to solve this issue.

For other issues: Please try these steps to correct general File association errors: How to fix broken file type associations for Creative Cloud apps

If you have tried all of these then please report your issue here: New update CC 2019 (v23) File Association Issue - Windows 10 – Adobe Illustrator Feedback and contact our support team for One-to-One support: Contact Customer Care

Regards,

Srishti

46 replies

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GkhnBzdg
GkhnBzdg
Participant
October 17, 2018

I'm solved same problem this way.

Open regedit as admin. Find this path "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS6 (64 Bit)\Support Files\Contents\Windows\Illustrator.exe" and replace all matched path as "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CC 2019\Support Files\Contents\Windows\Illustrator.exe"

J
johnp42
Participant
October 17, 2018

Had the same problem on my PC. Fixed it by installing Illustrator 22 from the CC Apps panel, removing 23, then upgrading to 23. Seems to be working fine now.

    AshutoshChaturvedi
    AshutoshChaturvedi
    Legend
    October 17, 2018

    johnp42  wrote

    Had the same problem on my PC. Fixed it by installing Illustrator 22 from the CC Apps panel, removing 23, then upgrading to 23. Seems to be working fine now.

    Thank you for posting the workaround and helping the community. In windows world the last program to associate to a file type wins. I am expecting a simple uninstall - install of version 23.0 should also have worked.

    ComacDesign
    ComacDesign
    Participating Frequently
    October 16, 2018

    Same problem here, none of the solutions suggested so far work.

      matthewr21431833
      matthewr21431833
      Participant
      October 16, 2018

      Immediately noticed this issue yesterday after updating. Have gone through every suggestion on this thread multiple times to no avail. Every attempt to re-associate the file type is ignored. I have uninstalled the programs, restarted my computer, and reinstalled Illustrator first, then XD yet the associated type for .ai files is still XD.  This isn't a deal breaker, but quite the inconvenience for the time being as I use these files every day for work and have to consistently go through extra steps just to open my work.

        MJ1974
        MJ1974
        Participant
        October 16, 2018

        Hi,

        I guess there are more People out there with the same Problem.

        Please get a hotfix for that and not a regedit….

        K
        Kinsi
        Inspiring
        October 16, 2018

        Same problem! Persists after all the procedures you have adviced...
        Need a fix really fast!

        I
        Integra Connect
        Participant
        October 16, 2018

        Just did that. The problem persist.

        juantedin
        juantedin
        Participant
        October 16, 2018

        I´ve installed Illustrator and XD in another pc with windows 10 (as the first one), and the association isn´t broken.

        I will try to find why and report back with my findings.

        [The last solution doesn´t work]

        Srishti Bali
        Community Manager
        Srishti BaliCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        October 16, 2018

        Hi there,

        In case it is showing XD as the default app for .ai files then please uninstall both XD and Illustrator.

        Install Illustrator first and then install XD this should fix the issue.

        In case it is showing blank or Coral Draw then try above-mentioned methods.

        Regards,

        Srishti

        AshutoshChaturvedi
        AshutoshChaturvedi
        Legend
        October 16, 2018

        On Windows the last one to register file gets precedence. Here is a simple fix go to any .ai file in  one of your folders right click on the file then do Open With > Choose another app . Select the application that you want to prefer and do not forget to check Always use this app to open .ai file

        Cyberbob87
        Cyberbob87
        Participant
        October 16, 2018

        I have already attempted this and it does not work. I uninstalled XD and Illustrator and reinstalled only Illustrator. File association would not happen after install or when choosing 'open with' and checking the box.

          C
          Cristian Dita
          Participant
          October 16, 2018

          did you also choose always use this app option to make it sticky? Open With > Choose another app > Always use this app to open .ai file


          As stated above multiple times, this solution does not solve the problem. With or without the checkbox being ticked. Neither does the registry edit. I have uninstalled XD as well and had the same result as the other users. Ai files remain blank, unassociated. Even after that, trying the "open with" solution doesn't do anything.

            N
            nenime
            Known Participant
            October 16, 2018

            windows 10, complete messed up files associations. psd files open with XD. When I try editing an AI smartobject it opens XD....

            Trying to change files associations in the windows settings doesn't work at all. keeps XD as default. I've also tried resetting the files associations same result, nothing happens. Fix this since we cannot edit smartobjects anymore because of this!!! Next time you should consider a Creative Cloud Beta upgrade program before releasing your products to everyone. We are not labrats, we are paying and working with those softwares! thx!

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