Illustrator links missing every time

[Paul Niedziela]

Every time I open an Illustrator file, I get an error that it can't find my links and I have to re-link all of my images. Why is this happening, when I haven't moved either the linked image or the Illustrator file? Even if I save my Illustrator file, then open it right back up this happens.

[emil_emil]

If the linked files are in the same folder with the Illustrator file they will never be missing. Illustrator first searches for them in the same folder where the file is. If not then Illustrator searches in the linked file path location and if they are not there too, it shows the warring message. You can see which path location the Illustrator is looking for if you open the file with the missing link after ignoring the replacement dialog, from the Window menu open Document info panel, and from the panel's menu choose Linked Images. The path shown there should be the same as the current location of the linked files.

[Paul Niedziela]

Thanks, I am able to relink the images, but it's tedious to do every single time, especially when many of my files contain several images. I keep them in a central images folder so I don't bog down my project folders. I just need to know why this is happening and how to correct it permanently.

[emil_emil]

So, did you check the Document Info panel? Does it show the same path as the location of the files or it shows a different path?

[cmkrapf]

I know this is an old thread but to this day this issue STILL persists, everyday I spend the first five minutes of my files open relinking files. Unless you only ever work off of your own desktop for some reason why would you ever keep all your links in the same folder as your working files? I would put money that most users work in a shared environment, images and photos and any other asset you would place in your documents would be in a catalog of assets in a networked folder. You can't save everything locally all the time. I've been forced to embed all my placed assets until I'm done with the job and then relink them with the original files hoping I won't need to go back to that particular file again.

[Andy Swift]

Keep your files in a folder called Links next to your AI documents. It will automatically update broken links if you move them around.

It doesn't directly solve your problem, but it means you can replace every single local image with "real" images in one fell swoop without having to click through a bunch of dialog boxes.

Good luck!

[defaultmov1hkulo4ce]

AI isn't doing a task that it has provided seamlessly for DECADES! What's up with this? 

[Andy Swift]

After experimenting with Packages, I found that Illustrator will always look for a "Links" or "links" folder with placed files.

It has to be in the same folder as the AI document.

You can them move the Illustrator file and its placed files where you want and every time you open the AI file the links will be automatically updated.

[defaultmov1hkulo4ce]

Thanks Andrew. 

[jamesbarnardo]

This happens to me EVERY TIME and it's so so SO annying. Can adobe fix this issue please.

[Ton Frederiks]

Where do you save your files?

[nicolaust85934243]

I am having this issue as well, It is a constant problem as I use photos of vehicle to design graphics for them. All of my photos are automatically uploaded to my cloud folder, in this case onedrive, and I link them to the file from this folder. I never relocate any of my photos butI always have to re-establish the links. If we could specify the link folder in Illustrator to the root photo directory this could be a solution.

[Ton Frederiks]

You could try to create a folder named Links next to the Illustrator file and put the images in there.

[Met1]

Which is quicker/less tedious: moving your files to the same folder as your AI file once, or relinking each time you open the file?

Your mileage may vary (auto design joke thrown in for free).

[Zishen5FF6]

As different projects often use the same pictures, it could be space-consuming to copy assets to every folder where each project is.

The problem had persisted since 2012 and really affect the workflow, as many other softwares both developed and not developed by adobe supports links outside the project's folder; this is a problem caused not by the users but the dereliction of the developers, as for the whole 9 years, adobe never have any intention to fix it AT ALL.

[papaonta]

cloud storage like onedrive always sync. when u work on 2 device with one project. It's sometimes conflict. cause onedrive have feature "file on demand". maybe try to make your folder or file is "always keep on this device" to make your folder or files always available.

[J_F_S]

I have this Problem slod everytime. I have the Files in another folder but it can't be that I can't link to another folder.
If I copy the linked file to the new folder than I get a horrible situation because its a logo and every chgange must be constant to every file.

Cheers

[adobewbpcidrc2r34062697]

2022 - Is there some reason why this can't be fixed.  Other apps can use relative file paths with no problem.

[sedesign]

It's been working just fine for YEARS... and it works just fine in inDesign... with the same linked files in the same places. 

Something is funky for sure. I've been putting up with it for the last number of months but i'm over it... this needs a solution. Maybe it's something to do with cloud stored files, and i'd understand that - maybe there's a new protocol that's looking for an IP address or something?? but whatever it is... we need a solution. It's extraordinarily annoying to pay this much money for software and have to spend so much time FIXING things that should work every time we open a file. 

The entire point of linking files is so we don't have to duplicate assets to use them across different documents! Sigh.

[Mark265007204kby]

I struggled with this for awhile. After you have re-linked and restored all of the broken links, in the small drop down menu located upper right of links box, select "embed images" Be sure all layers are unlocked first btw. Once embedded, I have not had a broken link problem since. I cannot believe no one has posted this solution yet....

[Daniel5EF1]

Because it's not really a solution: embedded images will increase the file size massively. The whole point of this is that you should be able to link the same image source to many different .ai files without having to create image duplicates.

[lukasdreher]

Ah if only Adobe cared

in the most polite tone Adobe: what the youknowdamnwellwhatIwanttosay.

Over 10 years... and you're not getting that much better, you get that right?

[Jim Wiley]

You have broken externally linked files ADOBE!!!!!!!

FIX THIS !!!!!

[jeff23827304ya3t]

When you "Save As" there's an Illustrator Box the pops up. Look for the "Illustrator Options" section, then check "Include Linked Files". The picture file should be there the next time you open the project. You won't have to search anymore.

[J_F_S]

Hi,

but include links are not teh same as save external linked images with.
The option you mentioned is embedding a file. This doesn't help if you have CD Logos or even like this and they will be changed automatically if you replace the external files.

Cheers