Quick save, auto-backup, and recovery settings

Last updated on 11 February 2026

Learn about the quick save, auto-backup, and recovery settings in Adobe Illustrator that help you save files faster and minimize data loss during a crash.

Note

For a faster and more reliable file save and recovery experience, update to Illustrator 30.0 and ensure you meet the requirements.

Save and recovery Settings

Select Illustrator > Settings > File Handling (macOS) or Edit > Preferences > File Handling (Windows) to access the settings:

Setting	Function
Automatically Save Recovery Data Every	Automatically backs up your files at the time interval you select in the dropdown menu. Backup files won’t overwrite your original files. A short time interval may interrupt your flow, and a long interval may increase the risk of data loss during a crash. So, select an interval that works best for you. In Illustrator 30.0, this setting is turned off by default as Save in Background controls both quick save and auto-backup.
Choose	Allows you to select a location different from the default one to save the backup files. Ensure that you have read and write permissions on the folder and that it's not network-mounted.
Turn off Data Recovery for complex documents	Prevents the automatic backup of complex files. Otherwise, Illustrator may pause when backing up complex files and interrupt your workflow.
Save in Background	Illustrator 29.8.2 and earlier versions: Saves your files in the background, allowing you to work with Illustrator during the save process. Illustrator 30.0: Saves your files quickly in the background and also backs up your files faster and more reliably than Automatically Save Recovery Data Every. If selected, Save in Background turns off the time interval dropdown menu.
Automatically Save Cloud Documents Every	Automatically saves your Illustrator cloud documents at the time interval you select in the dropdown menu.

Requirements for the new quick save and recovery experience

For the new auto-backup and recovery experience to work, ensure that you:

Update Illustrator to version 30.0.
Turn on Save in Background from the settings.
Save your Illustrator files with compatibility set to Illustrator 2020 (applies to local documents and not cloud documents).
Don't have third-party plugins or content in Illustrator.
Don't have Live Paint, Shape Builder, or Freeform Gradient content in your files.

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