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How to open .AI files on Mac

To open .AI files on Mac, control-click the .AI file and choose 'Open With'.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Control-click the .AI file and choose 'Open With'.
  2. Select Adobe Illustrator or an alternative like Affinity Designer.

Common issues

AI file does not open in software

The software may not support the latest .AI file version or the file is corrupted.

  1. Update your software to the latest version.
  2. Try opening the file in a different compatible application.

AI file displays incorrectly

Some elements may not render properly in non-Adobe software.

  1. Open the file in Adobe Illustrator for accurate rendering.
  2. Check for missing fonts or linked images and replace them.

Unable to edit AI file

The file may be locked or created with a different version of Illustrator.

  1. Ensure the file is not locked by the creator.
  2. Use Adobe Illustrator to convert the file to a compatible format.

Still can’t open your .AI file?

Recover a deleted or lost .AI file

If the file was deleted by mistake or the drive was formatted, data recovery software may be able to get it back. Stop writing to that drive right away, because new data can overwrite what you want to recover.

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Security note

Only open .AI files from trusted sources to avoid malicious content.

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