Adobe Illustrator keeps saving multiple files of a file I keep resaving?

[kjsedgie]

Every time I have saved a file on ai after I make changes to a file, lately it creates multiple new files rather than just resaving the original file under the same name. For instance, if my file was named "JoeShmo_NewPckgDesign.ai" and I saved it 3 different times throughout the day, it will not override this same file and save it with the new changes under this name. Instead, three completely new files called "JoeShmo_NewPckgDesign 1.ai," "JoeShmo_NewPckgDesign 2.ai," and "JoeShmo_NewPckgDesign 3.ai" show up on my desktop....? Therefore the file with the highest number becomes the latest edition, rather than the actual one I am working on in ai. This is making me unsure which files I should be deleting. How do I stop this from happening? I am running out of storage on my computer and this new feature is NOT helping....

[Monika Gause]

Which version and system is it?

Exactly where do you save your files?

Do you have any autosave extensions running?

[Nilzilla]

It does the same thing to me. If I have a storyboard I designed thats 250mb and I make revisions 3 times and save... I have multiple files that adds up to 750mb on both my computer and cloud.

[Monika Gause]

Can you please answer the questions I posted above?

[Nilzilla]

Im running the latest system on a brand new macbook. It didnt matter where I saved it because it did it regardless. Turns out, after I did an update on adobe, it changed something on my preferences. So what has to happen is you need to quit and restart AI, go to preferences / general then click reset preferences in the bottom right. That should solve the problem.... 15 gigs later...

[liselemon]

Hi there, I am having the same problem. I did as you recommended but it still appears to be saving multiples as opposed to rewriting the auto save. Are there any other solutions?

I am using AI 2021 MacOS Catalin 10.15.7

[Monika Gause]

How are user privileges for the folder set up?

Also: check your antivirus and whatever settings there are in paranoid Mac OS

[liselemon]

Thakns for your reply, I don't quite understand what you mean I'm sorry. User privileges for the folder set up?

[Monika Gause]

Every folder has settings on who is allowed to do what in it. These are called privileges. Please refer to your system's documentation on how to set them up.

[liselemon]

But I've not changed any privileges, why would this be an issue? Would the latest Illustrator update have intervened? 

[Monika Gause]

During the years, operating systems got much more sensitive and Illustrator respects that.

You could contact Customer Care so they take a look into your system. https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

[defaultnh1mprc8kn47]

I'm having the same issue, it gets very confusing and consumes a lot of memory, has anyone found a solution?

[Monika Gause]

Other than resetting the preferences, checking user privileges on your system, checking your antivirus and contacting Customer Care?

[liselemon]

I know, I've tried the advice of Monika Gause and still no luck. I am glad it's not just me. I don't really have the time to go playing around with OS issues, I pay for Illustrator every month so that I don't have to have these issues - I'm a graphic designer not an IT specialist. Rant over and I'll drop Customer Care a line when I can.

[Monika Gause]

There's one more thing you could try: turn off "Save in Background" in the Illustrator preferences.

[liselemon]

It worked! Thanks Monika 🙂

[liselemon]

Thanks Monika, I've given it a go. Only time will tell. It doesn't appear to do it to every document but will report back either way.