Summary: This post shares how to recover lost data from Adobe Illustrator's work file if the program crashes or suddenly shuts down due to power cut or other reasons. Also, learn the software-based method to recover deleted Illustrator files from your Mac and Windows drive using Stellar Photo recovery software.
Adobe Illustrator (AI) is a popular vector graphics editor, which is used by beginners and professional designers to create graphics, logos, drawings and illustrations. It saves and exports artworks in EPS, SVG, AI and other file formats.
Many Adobe Illustrator users complain about file loss after sudden crash of the app or the computer. So, how to recover lost data from Adobe illustrator files in such situations?
This post shares the methods to recover lost data from Adobe Illustrator files on Mac and Windows that were lost or not saved due to sudden crash, freezing of the app, system shutdown or accidental deletion, etc.
You can use these methods for any Adobe Illustrator version including CS5, CS6, CC, and others.
Method 1: Relaunch Illustrator app and save the ‘Recovered’ file.
Method 2: Restore lost file from Illustrator backup
Method 3: Recover the lost Illustrator files with Stellar Photo Recovery
While working abrupt system shutdown or crash, may not let you save your work. To recover unsaved Illustrator file, restart the program. It will recover your artwork using the auto saved recovery feature. As you reopen the Illustrator, the unsaved file with the Recovered suffix will be visible on the top bar of the program.
Steps to save the recovered Illustrator file:
Adobe helps you to recover lost data from Adobe Illustrator files in case of loss or crash. But the recovery feature is not enabled upon installation. You have to activate the data recovery preference in the Illustrator ‘Preferences’.
You can save the backup or recovery files at your specified location in a folder. If you don’t specify the location in data recovery preferences, the Illustrator files will get saved by default at the following location on your computer:
Default location of Illustrator file on Windows PC:
C:\>\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <version number> Settings\en_US*\x64\Adobe Illustrator Prefs/\DataRecovery.
Default location of Illustrator file on Mac:
Macintosh hard disk/Users/<username>/Library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator <version number> Settings/en_US*/Adobe Illustrator Prefs/ DataRecovery.
Note: In some Illustrator versions ‘DataRecovery’ may be named as ‘CrashRecovery’
The Adobe’s data recovery feature allows you to:
Steps to recover files from Illustrator crashRecovery/ dataRecovery
You can recover the last saved or previous version of the lost Illustrator file with data recovery feature. However, if Illustrator crashes between the recovery intervals that you had set, you can no longer get back the lost data.
Note: Whenever Illustrator crashes, the data recovery feature turns off automatically. Thus, re-enable it from the Preferences panel to auto save your data.
Steps to set up ‘Preferences’ to recover Illustrator files after data loss:
TIP: The data recovery preference for large or complex files slows down your system, which interrupts smooth workflow. Select Turn off Data Recovery for complex documents in Preference window to avoid slowing down of Adobe Illustrator.
Have you lost your Adobe Illustrator files from backup due to accidental deletion, formatting, or crashing of the computer? Use an Adobe Illustrator file recovery software— Stellar Photo Recovery to quickly restore your Illustrator file. It scans the drive or storage media thoroughly to recover the lost or deleted EPS or other Illustrator files.
The DIY software has a highly intuitive interface and supports recovery from hard drives, memory cards, USB flash drives etc. Its advanced scan engine and search filters can recover the artworks without hampering their original quality.
The Stellar Photo recovery software retrieves Illustrator files on Mac and Windows computers.
Steps to recover lost Illustrator files with Stellar Photo Recovery:
TIP: How to fix Illustrator crash problem? Adobe Illustrator crashes repeatedly? Fix AI crash issue with ‘Run Diagnostics’ Option and then save the recovered file.
After the crash, when you relaunch Adobe Illustrator, a dialog box appears asking to diagnose the problem. Click on Run Diagnostics option.
The app will launch in the Safe mode. Adobe Illustrator identifies and lists the probable causes of the crash such as outdated driver/ plug-in, or a corrupt font. It also shares the solutions to fix them. Follow the recommended solutions to fix the crashing issue. Next, relaunch Illustrator and save your recovered work.
Adobe takes care of data loss and recovery of the artworks in Illustrator. The advanced tool offers a data recovery feature in its ‘Preferences’ wherein it takes backup of your work at regular intervals. In situations of app crash, you can retrieve the lost EPS files from this backup folder. The graphics editor also determines the cause and the relevant fixes with its diagnostic feature.
However, if you lose your Illustrator backup files too due to some reason, Stellar Photo Recovery is the recommended tool to recover them from Windows or Mac drives.
It is 100% secure. Millions of Adobe Illustrator users recommend it due to its high success rate and its ability to recover without harming the original quality of EPS artworks.
is a Writer who likes to blog about technology. She has a keen interest in Data Recovery, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. An avid reader, she has also contributed to some leading newspapers and dreams to own a library some day.
I tried to open the AID FILE and now it wasn’t possible closed illustrator and the files is disappeared from the backup folder ???
Hi Praise, you can use our software to quickly restore your Illustrator file from backup. Thanks!
I had the same issue, problem loading an eps files on adobe illustrator. Thanks for the given detailed information to fix the crashing issue.
Hi Dan, Thanks for your appreciation. Keep reading for our next updates!
I had an issue when I attempt to open EPS file Unfortunately, Illustrator CS 6 crashed. This post helped me a lot. Thanks!
Hi Ryan, Thanks for reading our blog and sharing your valuable feedback with us!
I had just tried to open AL files to work in illustrator on Windows 10. Those files won’t open. After reboot. Any help would be appreciated?
Hi Aaron, Adobe has taken care of the data loss, you can retrieve the lost AI files from the backup folder. If you can’t find the files, I suggest you can try our software demo version and see the preview of recovered files. Thanks!
I had backup eps files but unfortunately system crash or shutdown due to virus. I repair my Window 10 OS all files lost no data available on the drive. Is it possible to recover these files? Please help…
Hi Tim, Yes, Please try our software demo version and see the preview of deleted or lost file.
I had worked for a project for hours and I thought it’s lost. Forever I have downloaded your software for recovery files. It’s too much time take for recovery adobe illustrator file. Thanks!
Hi Bethany, Thanks for choosing our software and share your valuable feedback with us!
I had the same issue illustrator keep crashing. Thanks for given the way to recover files from adobe illustrator. I really appreciate this was helpful for me.
Hi Gulyaev, Thanks for your appreciation!!