Backup and reset app preferences

Last updated on Sep 11, 2025

Learn how to back up your Adobe Illustrator preferences to save custom settings and how to reset them to default when needed.

Backup preferences

Close the Illustrator app.

Go to the Preferences folder:

macOS: ~/Library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator [version] Settings
Windows 11: C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [version]\Adobe Illustrator [version] Settings

Copy the Adobe Illustrator [version] Settings folder to an external drive, cloud storage, or any other backup location.

Quit Illustrator if it’s open.

Press the following keys as you launch Illustrator:

Open the Illustrator app. New preferences files are automatically created in their original location.

Create designs with Illustrator online (beta)
Create graphics that match your style right in your browser.

Restore app preferences

Learn with step-by-step video tutorials and hands-on guidance right in the app.

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