Link missing glitch.

[Emily Catherine]

For the past three days, I have been having a missing links problem. Except, my links arent missing. And even when I do try to relink them, nothing pops back into the file. All the copy content is gone too, no words or anything anywhere (which wouldn't even be a missing links problem). I'll open an Illustrator file that I had closed 30 minutes previously and the artboards will be there but blank and if I hover over things I can see the bounding boxes but no content. I've had to restart my files 3 times now. 

Things I've tried:

- re linking files

-restarting AI

- restarting my copmuter

- updating AI (there were no updates to make)

- I updated my computer software

On Monday, my files were all fine, thigns were opening like normal. I ran into the problem first on Tuesday morning so I just restarted my design. Now it's happening with almost all my files I open. And the message I get when opening a file is strange too because it doesn't properly display the file naming convention like usual. It's cutting of the last letter of the file type which makes me think it's a glitch.

I'm seriously losing my mind over these corrupt files, I have deadlines to be meeitng and I can't keep remaking files for the day jus tto do it again the next day.

[Ton Frederiks]

Did you try restarting your computer? Resetting Preferences?

Where are these linked files stored? On your computer? On a server or a Cloud connected folder?

Is the path to the linked files very long?

[Emily Catherine]

I did restart my computer.

All files are located in a folder labeled 'images' inside my project folder. It's definitely not far away. To avoid further problems I packaged my design yesterday, today the .ai file shows missing links and continues to not let me open it. 

Which preferences do you recommened me resetting, that's not something I've done before.

[Ton Frederiks]

And your project folder is on your hard disk?

Here is an article on resetting preferences. The renaming Preferences manually is preferred.

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/setting-preferences.html

[Emily Catherine]

Correct, all projects are saved on my computer. Not a cloud or drive.

Resetting preference did not help unfortunately. 

I can open some files but not others. Seems to be files from this week only that are having troubles + plus a file that was started a year ago. 

They are all different files with different links.

Instead of dragging in images I started using place. That didn't help so then I started embeding everything, that didn't help either.

I can open the PDF of the file (if I saved one for the project). But the .ai doesn't work.

[Ton Frederiks]

The PDF always has the images embedded, but it is strange that embedding them in Illustrator does not work. Placing instead of dragging is always recommended (and I speak from experience).

You can try to install a previous version (see Other versions). Multiple versions can coexsist on the same system.

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/download-install-apps/creative-cloud-apps/install-prev...

[EvBond]

I am having exactly the same problem! Infuriating! Basically need to rebuild and relink. I think it may have something to do with longer filenames as the shorter ones are linking OK. Instead of .png or .jpg I am getting .p and .j. This has something to do with v29.8.1 as it started happening the day my Adobe Cloud auto updated Illustrator
My links panel is clearly not right as you can see here

[Anubhav M]

Hello @EvBond, @Emily Catherine,

Could you share a link to a sample file (including the links) after uploading it to a file-sharing service, so we can check it on our end?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[EvBond]

Hi @anubhav

Here is a WeTransfer link to one of the files that, when opened, are looking for links whose exentions have truncated from .jpg and .png to just .j and .p. Upon relinking them they are miles off the pasteboard and about 1000% larger and I cannot move them as the 'moving elements off the pasteboard' error comes up so I was having to Cmd-D the images back in again and delete the errant links.

Funnily enough when I finally got the links back and repackaged it - that illo file opened without an issue.

I have been embedding all images all week as the links were just not working. I also sent a screenshot of my file on open - not the pasteboard is empty the the missing link extensions are truncated.

HTH

[Mr.DCooper]

I'm having the exact same issue, I have to relink all the links and re-size them as they enlarge to 1000% off the paste board area, all the links are shortened file exstentions .jp and .ti instead of .jpg and .tif.

I have only seen this with documents with multiple pages.

The only thing I have tried apart from the obvious rebooting and re-starting the app is reinstalling an older version 29.7.1 but this is the same issue. 

Mac Studio

Mac os26

Apple M3 Ultra 2025

[EvBond]

@Emily Catherine @Mr.DCooper  I am glad this isn't just me! Exactly the same with the 1000% link enlargement way off the pasteboard - they are impossible to relink and bring back and the cut off / truncated filename extensions. I sent packaged files to @Anubhav M to take a look at. And likewise I tried installing an earlier version of Illo to no avail. Interesting you are on a Mac Studio as well. I wonder if that's the issue - I might try and open the errant files on my MBP and see if the issue is reproduced. Really hope it can be sorted soon. ATM I am now embedding every link and that makes them behave but it's not my preference due to the weightly resultant ai files.
I am on
Mac Studio M4 Max
Sequoia 15.6.1