.ai
AI file: what it is and how to open it
An AI file is Adobe Illustrator artwork, often a logo or illustration. Illustrator edits the original; our Android and Windows apps read the PDF copy saved inside compatible files. Older PostScript artwork opens as drawing commands, not a picture.
Check your AI file here
Nothing is uploaded. This page names the type and shows its details; to view it, use an app below.
What is an AI file?
AI is Illustrator’s working format. It keeps vector paths, text, artboards and Illustrator editing data. Vector shapes can scale without becoming blocks of pixels, but placed photographs still have their original resolution.
The extension covers different generations. Older AI files use PostScript. Newer ones can include a PDF representation when Create PDF Compatible File is selected during saving. A reader that understands this PDF can display the artwork without understanding Illustrator’s private editing data.
What is inside
A PDF-compatible AI contains PDF page objects, fonts, pictures and drawing instructions alongside Illustrator data. The PDF representation is what our apps open, read only. It is not a raster thumbnail.
An older PostScript AI instead holds text commands that describe the drawing. Renaming it to .pdf does not create PDF pages. Our apps show its commands and available title, creator and date, without executing the artwork.
How to open an AI file
Windows
- Adobe IllustratorPaid. Opens and edits AI artwork, including Illustrator features that another editor may omit.
- InkscapeFree. Imports compatible AI files; check text, effects and layout after import.
- Universal File Opener for WindowsOursReads the PDF representation offline, with search, copy and print. Save a copy offers PDF; the AI original stays read-only.
Mac
- Adobe IllustratorPaid. Opens the original artwork for editing.
- InkscapeFree. Imports compatible AI artwork; unsupported features may change.
Android
- Universal File OpenerOursOpen the file to read its saved PDF offline, search or copy text and print. Illustrator layers and paths are not editable.
In a browser
- Ask for a PDF or SVGOur browser opener does not offer AI artwork viewing. Ask the author for a PDF to read, or an SVG for compatible vector tools.
Won’t open?
The app shows drawing commands
It is PostScript artwork, such as Illustrator 8 or earlier, rather than a PDF-compatible AI. Open it in Illustrator and save a PDF copy.
There is no PDF copy inside
Ask the author to save with Create PDF Compatible File selected, or send a PDF. Changing the extension cannot add a missing PDF representation.
I need to edit a path or text object
Our apps read the PDF representation only. Use Illustrator for the original project, or import compatible artwork into Inkscape and check what changed.
Convert an AI file
- To PDFFor compatible files, use Save a copy in our apps. Otherwise open the AI in Illustrator and save an Adobe PDF copy.
- To SVG or PNGExport from Illustrator. SVG can retain vector shapes for the web; PNG turns the artwork into pixels at the chosen export size.
AI files in our apps
Read the PDF representation inside a compatible AI file offline on Android and Windows, with search, copy and print. Save a copy offers PDF. The Illustrator original stays read-only.
All Android tools and limits for AI files
- Open the file to read its saved PDF offline, search or copy text and print. Illustrator layers and paths are not editable.
Limits
- Illustrator layers and paths are not edited.
- Older PostScript AI files show drawing commands and available document information, not the artwork. A file without PDF data needs an export from Illustrator.