If you are a Mac user, you may have encountered a situation where you were working on an unsaved AI file in Adobe Illustrator, only to have it disappear after a system crash or accidental closure. This can be a frustrating experience, especially if you have put a lot of time and effort into creating the file. However, there are several methods you can try to retrieve and restore your unsaved AI file.
First, it is important to note that Adobe Illustrator has a built-in auto-recovery feature that creates temporary backup files at regular intervals. These backup files can be a lifesaver in situations where the original file is lost. Here are some steps to help you locate and retrieve the unsaved AI file on your Mac:
1. Access the Adobe Illustrator Auto-Recovery folder:
– Open the Finder application on your Mac.
– In the top menu bar, click on “Go” and select “Go to Folder…”
– In the dialog box, type in the following path: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator [your version]/en_US/AutoRecover
– Replace “[your version]” with the version of Adobe Illustrator you are using, such as “CC 2019” or “CC 2020”.
2. Search for the backup file:
– Once you have accessed the AutoRecover folder, look for files with the “.ai” extension.
– These files are the temporary backup copies created by Adobe Illustrator.
– Sort the files by date modified to help identify the most recent backup of your unsaved file.
3. Restore the unsaved file:
– Once you have located the backup file, copy it to a safe location on your Mac.
– Change the file extension from “.ai” to “.ai” and double-click on the file to open it in Adobe Illustrator.
– Save the file with a new name and in a permanent location on your Mac to prevent future loss.
In addition to the auto-recovery feature, you can also check the “Recent Files” list in Adobe Illustrator to see if the unsaved file appears there. Simply open Adobe Illustrator and go to the “File” menu, then select “Open Recent” to view a list of recently accessed files.
If the above methods do not yield any results, you can also try using the “Time Machine” feature on your Mac to restore previous versions of the file. Time Machine is a built-in backup solution that allows you to travel back in time and recover lost or deleted files.
To access Time Machine, follow these steps:
– Click on the Apple menu and select “System Preferences”.
– Click on “Time Machine” and turn it on if it is not already active.
– Use the timeline on the right side of the screen to navigate to a point in time when the unsaved file existed.
– Select the file and click “Restore” to bring it back to the present.
In conclusion, losing an unsaved AI file in Adobe Illustrator on your Mac can be a stressful experience, but with the right tools and methods, you can often recover the lost file. By leveraging the auto-recovery feature, checking the “Recent Files” list, and using the Time Machine backup solution, you can increase your chances of finding and restoring the unsaved AI file. Remember to always save your work regularly to avoid the risk of data loss in the future.
