Recuperar archivos de Illustrator: 7 métodos probados
.ai file, and a storage problem can make a project disappear. Fortunately, you can often recover Illustrator files if you choose a recuperación de discos duros method that matches the cause. This guide explains seven practical solutions, from Adobe Auto-Recovery and Creative Cloud to Magic Data Recovery for files that once existed on storage.Compatible con Windows 7/8/10/11 y Windows Server
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Can You Recover Illustrator Files? Check the Situation First
Before you begin, identify what happened to the project. An unsaved file needs a different solution from a eliminado permanentemente or corrupted file. Therefore, use the table below to choose the safest starting point.
Situación | El mejor método inicial |
Illustrator crashed | Auto-Recovery |
Unsaved file did not reopen | DataRecovery folder |
Suprimido | Papelera de reciclaje o papelera |
Permanently deleted file | Software de recuperación de datos |
Deleted cloud document | Creative Cloud Deleted |
Overwritten project | Version History or backup |
Corrupted | Content Recovery Mode |
Formatted storage device | Software de recuperación de datos |
Most importantly, ask whether you ever saved the project. If Illustrator never wrote the artwork to storage and no recovery data exists, disk recovery software has nothing to restore. In that case, start with Illustrator’s own recovery features.
What to Do Before You Recover Illustrator Files
A few precautions can protect recoverable data. First, stop saving new files to the drive that contained the missing project. New data may overwrite deleted file content. Next, avoid formatting, repairing, or heavily using that drive until recovery ends.
Also, install recovery software on another drive and save restored files somewhere else. Finally, confirm whether the project lived on local storage, Creative Cloud, or both. These simple checks can prevent avoidable data loss and help you choose the right recovery path.
Method 1: Recover Illustrator Files Automatically After a Crash
If Illustrator crashes, restart it before trying advanced fixes. Illustrator may detect recovery data and reopen the project with “Recovered” added to the filename.
- Close any frozen Illustrator process.
- Restart Illustrator.
- Wait for the recovery process to finish.
- Open the document marked Recuperado.
- Elija Archivo > Guardar como and create a new copy.
This is usually the safest way to recover Illustrator files after a crash because Illustrator uses its own recovery data. However, very recent edits may still be missing if the crash happened before the latest backup point.
If nothing reopens, do not assume the project is gone. Instead, check the DataRecovery folder in the next method.
Method 2: Recover Illustrator Files from the DataRecovery Folder
When automatic recovery does not appear, Illustrator’s DataRecovery folder may still contain useful recovery data.
Illustrator Recovery File Location on Windows
Pulse Ganar + R, introduce %AppData%, and then open:
Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings\<locale>\x64\DataRecovery
Busque .ai o .aid files. If you find a likely project, open it in Illustrator and immediately save a new copy.
Illustrator Recovery File Location on Mac
En el Finder, selecciona Ir > Ir a la carpeta, introduce ~/Library/, and navigate to:
Preferences/Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings/<locale>/DataRecovery
Again, open any available recovery file and save it under a new name.
Check Your Illustrator Version Before Recovery
Illustrator versions do not all handle recovery data in the same way. For example, Illustrator 29.2 through 29.8 uses .aishm recovery data, so older manual recovery instructions may not work as expected. In Illustrator 30.0, Save in Background also plays a larger role in backup behavior.
Therefore, always check your exact Illustrator version before deciding that recovery data is unavailable.
Method 3: Recover Illustrator Files from Creative Cloud
If you saved the project as a Creative Cloud document, check Adobe’s cloud tools before scanning local storage.
For a deleted cloud document, open Creative Cloud and go to Archivos > Eliminados. Restore the project if it still appears there. Meanwhile, if you need an earlier version rather than a deleted file, open the cloud document in Illustrator and check Archivo > Historial de versiones.
Este método puede ayudarte recover Illustrator files after accidental edits, unwanted changes, or cloud deletion. Moreover, version history can be more useful than disk recovery when you need a known earlier copy instead of raw deleted data.
Method 4: Recover Deleted Illustrator Files from Recycle Bin or Trash
If you recently removed a saved .ai file, check the operating system first.
On Windows, open Papelera de reciclaje, locate the file, right-click it, and select Restaurar. On macOS, open Basura, right-click the Illustrator file, and choose Volver a poner.
This approach gives you the quickest way to recover Illustrator files after a normal deletion. However, it will not help if you emptied Recycle Bin or Trash, used permanent deletion, or formatted the drive. In those cases, move to backups or storage-level recovery.
Method 5: Recover Illustrator Files from a Backup
Backups can restore deleted or overwritten projects without scanning raw storage. On Windows, check Historial de archivos o Versiones anteriores if you enabled them before the loss. On macOS, use La máquina del tiempo and return to the folder that originally contained the Illustrator project.
Backups work especially well for overwritten files because they preserve known earlier copies. Therefore, check backup history before trying lower-level tools.
If you keep project files in cloud storage, also review that service’s version history. In many real-world cases, a backup offers the fastest and cleanest way to recover Illustrator files without risking further changes to the original drive.
Method 6: Recover Illustrator Files with Magic Data Recovery
If a saved .ai file disappears after permanent deletion, formatting, partition loss, or another logical storage problem, you may need storage-level recovery.
Magic Data Recovery provides a practical Windows option for this situation. It supports AI graphics files, common storage devices, and thousands of other file formats. More importantly, it scans the storage device itself instead of relying on Illustrator’s recovery folder.
That difference matters. Adobe Auto-Recovery focuses on unsaved work after a crash, while Magic Data Recovery targets files that once existed on storage and later disappeared. Therefore, it fits cases where Recycle Bin, backups, and Adobe recovery features no longer help.
Paso 1: Descargar e instalar Magic Data Recovery
Download Magic Data Recovery and install it on a drive different from the one that contained the lost Illustrator file. This reduces the chance that installation data will overwrite recoverable .ai contenido.
Compatible con Windows 7/8/10/11 y Windows Server
Step 2: Select the Drive Where the Illustrator File Was Stored
Launch the program. Then, from the main interface, choose the partition or storage device that originally contained the missing Illustrator project and start the scan.
Step 3: Scan the Drive for Lost Illustrator Files
Magic Data Recovery automatically starts an Advanced Scan and searches the selected drive for recoverable data. Meanwhile, recoverable files appear progressively as the scan continues.
For the most complete results, let the scan finish, especially after formatting or an older deletion.
Step 4: Preview and Locate the Illustrator File
Next, use filename search, file paths, file types, or available filters to locate the missing .ai project. When preview is available, check the content before recovery so you can confirm that you found the correct version.
This step also helps you avoid restoring unnecessary files when a scan returns many results.
Step 5: Recover the Illustrator File to a Safe Location
Finally, select the Illustrator file you want to restore and save it to a different drive or storage device. Do not save it back to the same location where it disappeared because new data could overwrite other recoverable content.
After recovery, open the restored .ai file in Illustrator and save a fresh working copy.
Magic Data Recovery also offers up to 500MB of free recovery, so you can test the recovery workflow before deciding whether you need more capacity.
Para los usuarios que intentan recover Illustrator files after permanent deletion or formatting, this approach is more relevant than Auto-Recovery because it works at the storage level. Still, it cannot recreate a project that Illustrator never saved or backed up.
In other words, use Adobe’s built-in tools for unsaved work and use storage recovery when you need to recover Illustrator files that previously existed on a drive.
Method 7: Repair a Corrupted Illustrator File
A veces el .ai file still exists, but Illustrator cannot open it. In that case, you face corruption rather than deletion.
Adobe’s Content Recovery Mode can help repair some damaged documents. First, make a copy of the damaged file. Then enable Content Recovery in Illustrator preferences, reopen the document with the required recovery shortcut, and check the same folder for a repaired copy whose filename begins with an underscore.
Use this method when the file exists but will not open. In contrast, use deleted-file recovery when the file has actually disappeared.
Why You May Fail to Recover Illustrator Files
Even good recovery methods have limits. Illustrator may never have created recovery data before a crash. Likewise, new data may overwrite a deleted .ai archivo.
SSDs can make recovery harder because TRIM may clear blocks after the operating system marks them as free. In addition, a corrupted file needs repair rather than deleted-file scanning. Version differences can also affect the location and format of recovery data.
Therefore, no tool can guarantee every recovery result. The sooner you stop using the affected drive and choose the correct method, the better your chances of finding usable data.
How to Prevent Losing Illustrator Files Again
Después de recover Illustrator files, improve your backup routine so the next incident causes less disruption.
First, check Illustrator’s file-handling settings and confirm that recovery or background-saving features are active. In newer versions, Save in Background plays an important role in backup behavior.
Next, keep important projects in at least two locations. Creative Cloud, File History, Time Machine, or another backup system gives you a second copy. Also, avoid editing critical projects directly from unstable removable storage.
Finally, use clear version names such as Logo_v01.ai, Logo_v02.ai, y Logo_Final.ai. This habit makes it much easier to return to an earlier design without relying on emergency recovery.
Conclusion: The Safest Way to Recover Illustrator Files
La mejor manera de recover Illustrator files depends on how the project disappeared. After a crash, start with Auto-Recovery and the DataRecovery folder. For cloud or overwritten projects, check Version History and backups. If the file still exists but will not open, try Content Recovery Mode.
For permanently deleted, formatted, or lost .ai files that once existed on storage, Magic Data Recovery is a practical next step. It scans the underlying drive, supports AI files, works with common Windows storage devices, and offers up to 500MB of free recovery.
Most importantly, use the least invasive option first. That approach helps protect remaining data and gives you the best recuperación de discos duros chance to recover Illustrator files without creating additional problems.
Compatible con Windows 7/8/10/11 y Windows Server
FAQ About How to Recover Illustrator Files
¿Puede Illustrator recuperar un archivo sin guardar tras un fallo del programa?
Sí, siempre y cuando Illustrator haya creado datos de recuperación antes del fallo. Reinicia primero Illustrator y busca un documento marcado como “Recuperado”. Si no aparece nada, comprueba la carpeta «DataRecovery». Sin embargo, es posible que la versión recuperada no contenga tus últimas modificaciones, ya que Illustrator solo puede restaurar la información guardada durante su ciclo de recuperación más reciente.
¿Dónde se almacenan los archivos de recuperación de Illustrator en Windows?
Illustrator suele almacenar los datos de recuperación en la carpeta %AppData%\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator Settings\\x64\DataRecovery. Busca archivos con extensión .ai o .aid. Sin embargo, las versiones de Illustrator 29.2 a 29.8 utilizan datos de recuperación con extensión .aishm, por lo que el proceso de recuperación difiere del de versiones anteriores. Por lo tanto, comprueba tu versión antes de seguir tutoriales de recuperación más antiguos.
¿Puedo recuperar archivos de Illustrator que he borrado después de vaciar la Papelera de reciclaje?
Es posible. En primer lugar, deja de utilizar la unidad afectada, ya que los nuevos datos pueden sobrescribir el contenido de los archivos eliminados. A continuación, comprueba las copias de seguridad o analiza la unidad con una herramienta como Magic Data Recovery. La recuperación depende de si aún quedan datos .ai utilizables, por lo que ningún software de recuperación puede garantizar un resultado satisfactorio en todos los casos.
¿Puedo recuperar un archivo de Illustrator que se ha sobrescrito?
Empieza por el historial de versiones de Creative Cloud, el historial de archivos de Windows, las versiones anteriores, Time Machine u otra copia de seguridad. Estas opciones pueden proporcionarte una copia anterior conocida. El software de recuperación es menos fiable para los archivos sobrescritos, ya que los datos más recientes pueden haber ocupado ya los bloques de almacenamiento que contenían el proyecto original de Illustrator.
¿Por qué está vacía mi carpeta «DataRecovery» de Illustrator?
Es posible que Illustrator no haya creado datos de recuperación, que la configuración de recuperación estuviera desactivada o que el fallo se haya producido antes del siguiente punto de copia de seguridad. La versión de Illustrator también es importante. Por ejemplo, las versiones 29.2 a 29.8 utilizan datos de recuperación con la extensión .aishm, así que comprueba la versión exacta antes de dar por hecho que el proyecto se ha perdido.
¿Puede Magic Data Recovery recuperar archivos de Illustrator de una unidad formateada?
Puede analizar dispositivos de almacenamiento formateados en busca de archivos AI recuperables si aún quedan datos utilizables. Deja de utilizar el dispositivo, analízalo lo antes posible y guarda los archivos recuperados en otra ubicación. Sin embargo, la sobrescritura intensiva o la función TRIM de los SSD pueden reducir las posibilidades de recuperación, ya que esos procesos pueden eliminar los datos subyacentes que necesita el software de recuperación.
¿Puede un programa de recuperación recuperar un proyecto de Illustrator que nunca se ha guardado?
Normalmente no. El software de recuperación funciona mejor cuando el archivo ya existía previamente en el dispositivo de almacenamiento. Si nunca guardaste el proyecto e Illustrator nunca creó datos de recuperación, es posible que un escáner de disco no encuentre nada que restaurar. En ese caso, comprueba primero la función de recuperación automática de Illustrator y la carpeta «DataRecovery», en lugar de empezar por una recuperación a nivel del dispositivo de almacenamiento.
