Close unnecessary applications to free up memory.
Last updated on
Oct 21, 2026
Learn how to resolve file access errors using system checks, permission fixes, and recovery methods in Adobe Illustrator.
You can't open or place a file in Illustrator. You may see errors such as Cannot open file, Access denied, Insufficient memory, File is already open, I/O error, File is damaged, or Unknown error.
Complete these checks first: Update Illustrator, verify system requirements, run your operating system's disk repair utility, and restart your computer.
Insufficient memory error
Free up temporary disk space on your computer.
Select Edit > Preferences > Plug-ins & Scratch Disks (Windows) or Illustrator > Settings > Plug-ins & Scratch Disks (macOS).
Select a scratch disk with at least 10 GB of available space.
Restart Illustrator and try opening the file again.
If the issue isn't related to available memory, check whether Illustrator can access the file.
Access denied error
Verify you have permission to access the file.
Use the correct credentials if the file is password-protected.
Copy the file locally if it is stored on a network.
Verify Read and Write permissions.
File is already open
Close all instances of the file.
Quit all Illustrator versions.
End Illustrator processes if necessary.
Restart your computer if the file remains locked.
I/O error
Reconnect the removable drive or network.
Copy the file to a local drive.
Open the local copy.
Safely eject removable media after use.
File is damaged
Open the .ai file in Acrobat Reader or Acrobat.
Save it as a PDF.
Open the PDF in Illustrator.
Save the recovered file as a new .ai file.
Cannot open file error
Verify that the file uses a supported Illustrator format (.ai, .eps, .pdf, .svg, or another supported format).
Copy the file to a local drive.
Verify that you have permission to access the file.
Try opening a backup or recovered copy.
Unknown error
Restart Illustrator.
Restart your computer.
Update Illustrator.
Try recovering the file by opening it in Acrobat and saving it as a PDF, if PDF compatibility was enabled.
Open the PDF in Illustrator and save it as a new .ai file.
Contact Adobe Support if recovery fails.
If you can't recover the file:
- Files damaged beyond repair — Restore a backup.
- Unsupported file extensions — Convert to a supported format.
- Files without PDF compatibility — Restore an earlier version or recreate the file.
If none work, contact Adobe Support.
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