Remove Background from Vector File

[defaultfcwekm8025r8]

Hi there,

I have illustrator and photoshop.  I've downloaded a vector file but I can't figure out how to remove the checkered background in illustrator.  I've lucked out before and just copied an pasted the single element, but this is a snow setting, so I can't copy and past every single element.  There must be an easy way to remove the background in AI?  Any help is much appreciated.

Thank you!

[Abambo]

Hi there,

I have illustrator and photoshop. 

By @defaultfcwekm8025r8

What version? Best is to have the latest version of Ai, as you don't have information on the Illustrator file format version.

There must be an easy way to remove the background in AI? 

By @defaultfcwekm8025r8

You go to the layers panel. If there is not a background layer, click the ">" on the probably only layer. The background object will be the bottom object. You can test that by switching visibility on or off.