Illustrator links missing every time

This is an ancient thread. But as it has been woken-up recently, please find here my answer:

• Links work in Illustrator, as documented and as they should.
• If they do not work, and the paths are OK, you should definitely look at OS or hardware issues. If your assets are located on a network path, you should check if that network device is available and does not need first to establish the connection. Illustrator asks the OS for the asset. If the OS returns an error, Illustrator supposes that the asset is not there. It won't retest seconds later.

I also have this issue with illustrator when switching between a desktop and laptop that both use onedrive. It always asked to relink the missing files despite having the same location path/address. Never had this issue until recently (past month or so). It's a real pain.

To all the people explaining that the AI file must be in the same folder as images: The feature is lacking and it's normal behaviour is corrupt. If AI can't keep links with paths that are in different folders then why give us this option at first. It's a bug that needs to be fixed on Adobe's side. This isn't rocket sience, the linked files can be read anytime if following the path that is assigned when placing the image in the folder.

This makes Illustrator less professional in my opinion and tedious to work with.

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.

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

FIX THIS !!!!!

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?

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

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

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.

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.