"unable to save your file for auto-back up" Illustrator 2025

[lucyw.art]

Hi everyone, just started this week, when I started using Illustrator, this error shows up "We're unable to save your file for auto-back up." And it sugguests me to change folder. I tried to find the default folder in both System Library, and User folder, the Shared folder, Adobe folders, etc. No where could I find what's suggested online. Has anyone has the similar problem? How did you solve it? What folder did you put for the new folder? Thank you so much!!

[derekwatson]

It is definitely a permissions issue, I have seen this in the past. You could try checking and changing permission as in the help post below or select a new folder in your Documents FOlder or even and external drive.
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchlp1203/mac

[Anubhav M · Accepted solution]

Hello @lucyw.art,

I hope Derek's suggestions helped resolve the problem. If not, please check if Illustrator has Full Disk Access (https://adobe.ly/4d8LujP) and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Anubhav

[lucyw.art]

Thanks Anubhav! I tried, but "Active Protect" isn't an option and doesn't exist in my setting panel. I did however turn on the allowance for AdobeCreative Desktop. 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @lucyw.art,

Thanks for the update! You're right, you won’t find an option called "Active Protect" in the settings. Instead, you just need to click on the plus sign (+) under Full Disk Access in System Settings > Privacy & Security and manually add Adobe Illustrator to the list. That should do the trick to grant it the access it needs.

Also, I saw that you were able to create a new folder in your Documents folder for recovery. That's great! Just wanted to check if that has resolved the issue for you completely now. Let me know how its going.

Looking forward to your confirmation!

Abhishek 

[lucyw.art]

Hi Abhishek, thank you for following up! I have just added Illustrator to
the list in the setting. I didn't create a new folder or change the backup
directory setting in Illustrator. It is still set to the folder that
mysteriously doesn't exist. Yet, so far there hasn't been any warning sign
when I open Illustrator. I am assuming it's okay now(?)

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @lucyw.art,

Thanks so much for getting back!

That's a good sign that the warning isn't popping up anymore. Even though it's working now, I'd still recommend creating a new folder (like "AI Recovery" or something similar) inside your Documents folder and setting that as the new backup location in Illustrator's Preferences. It helps avoid any future issues in case Illustrator tries to save to a path that doesn't exist or gets removed during system updates.

Let me know how it goes after setting the new folder, or if the warning ever pops back up again. 

Abhishek

[lucyw.art]

Thank you for sharing that! I just found out that the directory folder where those files were previously saved (as shown in my screenshot) actually no longer exist on my computer. Which new folder would you best recommand me saving in? 

[derekwatson]

The default data recover folder is ideal but You could also create an Adobe folder in Documents if you prefer

[lucyw.art]

Thanks! it's helpul to know that I can create a folder in Documents for that.

(It's still mysterious as to why there isn't a defualt folder exited on my computer ...)

[Monika Gause]

Please do not forget that although being called like that this is not a backup solution.

You still have to save your files regularly and make your own backups. And while you are inside your system preferences anyway: turn on Time Machine.

The file recovery function in Illustrator should never be your only way of saving and/or back upping your files. It's the icing on the cake when everything else is working.

[derekwatson]

I agree! I have a Time Machine drive, a weekly clone backup and a continuous Backblaze backup! You can never be sure!!