Recuperare i file di Illustrator: 7 metodi collaudati
.ai file, and a storage problem can make a project disappear. Fortunately, you can often recover Illustrator files if you choose a recupero del disco rigido 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.Supporta Windows 7/8/10/11 e Windows Server
Indice dei contenuti
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 cancellato definitivamente or corrupted file. Therefore, use the table below to choose the safest starting point.
Situazione | Il metodo migliore per iniziare |
Illustrator crashed | Auto-Recovery |
Unsaved file did not reopen | DataRecovery folder |
Soppresso | Cestino o Cestino |
Permanently deleted file | Software di recupero dati |
Deleted cloud document | Creative Cloud Deleted |
Overwritten project | Version History or backup |
Corrotto | Content Recovery Mode |
Formatted storage device | Software di recupero dati |
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 Recuperato.
- Scegliere File > Salva con nome 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
Stampa Vincere + R, inserisci %AppData%, and then open:
Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings\<locale>\x64\DataRecovery
Cercare .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
Nel Finder, seleziona Vai > Vai alla cartella, inserisci ~/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 File > Eliminati. 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 File > Cronologia delle versioni.
Questo metodo può aiutarti 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 Cestino, locate the file, right-click it, and select Ripristino. On macOS, open Rifiuti, right-click the Illustrator file, and choose Rimetti a posto.
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 Storia del file o Versioni precedenti if you enabled them before the loss. On macOS, use Macchina del tempo 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.
Passo 1: Scaricare e installare 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 contenuto.
Supporta Windows 7/8/10/11 e 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.
Per gli utenti che cercano di 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 volte il .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 file.
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
Dopo aver 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, e 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
Il modo migliore per 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 recupero del disco rigido chance to recover Illustrator files without creating additional problems.
Supporta Windows 7/8/10/11 e Windows Server
FAQ About How to Recover Illustrator Files
Illustrator è in grado di recuperare un file non salvato dopo un arresto anomalo?
Sì, se Illustrator ha creato dei dati di recupero prima del crash. Riavvia prima Illustrator e cerca un documento contrassegnato come “Recuperato”. Se non compare nulla, controlla la cartella DataRecovery. Tuttavia, la versione recuperata potrebbe non contenere le tue ultime modifiche, poiché Illustrator può ripristinare solo le informazioni salvate durante il suo ciclo di recupero più recente.
Dove vengono salvati i file di ripristino di Illustrator su Windows?
Illustrator di solito salva i dati di recupero nella cartella %AppData%\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator Settings\\x64\DataRecovery. Cerca i file con estensione .ai o .aid. Tuttavia, le versioni di Illustrator dalla 29.2 alla 29.8 utilizzano dati di recupero con estensione .aishm, pertanto il comportamento del recupero differisce rispetto alle versioni precedenti. Pertanto, verifica la versione in uso prima di seguire tutorial di recupero relativi a versioni precedenti.
È possibile recuperare i file di Illustrator cancellati dopo aver svuotato il Cestino?
È possibile. Innanzitutto, smetti di utilizzare l'unità interessata, poiché i nuovi dati potrebbero sovrascrivere il contenuto dei file cancellati. Quindi controlla i backup o esegui una scansione dell'unità con uno strumento come Magic Data Recovery. Il recupero dipende dalla presenza o meno di dati .ai ancora utilizzabili, pertanto nessun software di recupero può garantire un risultato positivo in ogni caso.
È possibile recuperare un file di Illustrator sovrascritto?
Inizia con la Cronologia delle versioni di Creative Cloud, la Cronologia dei file di Windows, le Versioni precedenti, Time Machine o un altro backup. Queste opzioni possono fornire una copia precedente nota. I software di recupero sono meno affidabili per i file sovrascritti, poiché i dati più recenti potrebbero già occupare i blocchi di memoria che contenevano il progetto originale di Illustrator.
Perché la mia cartella "DataRecovery" di Illustrator è vuota?
È possibile che Illustrator non abbia creato i dati di ripristino, che le impostazioni di ripristino fossero disattivate oppure che l'arresto anomalo si sia verificato prima del successivo punto di backup. Anche la versione di Illustrator è importante. Ad esempio, le versioni dalla 29.2 alla 29.8 utilizzano dati di ripristino in formato .aishm, quindi verifica la versione esatta prima di dare per scontato che il progetto sia andato perso.
Magic Data Recovery è in grado di recuperare file di Illustrator da un disco formattato?
È in grado di eseguire la scansione di dispositivi di archiviazione formattati alla ricerca di file AI recuperabili, qualora siano ancora presenti dati utilizzabili. Smetti di utilizzare il dispositivo, esegui la scansione il prima possibile e salva i file recuperati in un'altra posizione. Tuttavia, una sovrascrittura massiccia o la funzione TRIM degli SSD possono ridurre la recuperabilità, poiché tali processi potrebbero rimuovere i dati sottostanti necessari al software di recupero.
Un software di recupero dati può ripristinare un progetto di Illustrator che non è mai stato salvato?
Di solito no. I software di recupero funzionano meglio quando un file era già presente sul supporto di archiviazione. Se non hai mai salvato il progetto e Illustrator non ha mai creato dati di recupero, uno scanner del disco potrebbe non trovare nulla da ripristinare. In tal caso, controlla prima la funzione di recupero automatico di Illustrator e la cartella DataRecovery, invece di iniziare direttamente con il recupero a livello di supporto di archiviazione.
