Troubleshoot file saving issues

When the .ai file is found to be damaged, try the following resolutions to recover the affected file contents in a new and healthy file:

• Save with a different file format
• Copy contents to a new Illustrator file
• Identify and remove damaged components

Change the .ai file to a different format (.svg, .png) and then try to save the file again.

Save the Illustrator file as a PostScript file, and then open and save the PostScript file in Illustrator.

Note: To perform this solution you must have a PostScript printer driver installed. For information about installing Postscript printers in Windows Vista and XP, see the Windows Help Menus.

To determine whether an object is damaged, delete it from the new file, and then save and reopen the file.

• If an Illustrator-drawn object is damaged, re-create the object with the drawing tools.
• If a linked image is damaged, re-create the original image, and then replace it in your artwork.
• If a text object is damaged, convert the text object to outlines or change its font.

• Change fonts
• Delete unused swatches, custom colors, color groups, brushes, symbols, or styles
• Identify the damaged pattern, gradient, or custom color

Eliminate a problem caused by a damaged swatch, brush, symbol, or style by deleting unused swatches, custom colors, color groups, brushes, symbols, or styles.

Choose Select All Unused from the Swatches panel menu, from the Brushes panel menu, from the Symbols panel menu, and from the Styles panel menu, and then press Delete.

To determine if the problem is caused by a damaged pattern, gradient, or custom color:

Choose Edit > Select All and change the fill and stroke to process black. Check if the issue still occurs in a new file that does not contain patterns, gradients, or spot colors. If the issue does not recur, re-create the pattern, gradient, or spot color in the original file.

Note: You may lose the transparency and layer information.

If no resolution works, re-create the file in Illustrator after resaving or re-creating graphics, templates, and custom colors used in the original file. 

Apart from the damaged documents, there are some other general issues that can result in files not getting saved. For example, issues related to memory, access permissions, network, and removable media.

For more information about them, see Identify and troubleshoot file issues.