A file with an .ai extension is an Adobe Illustrator document: logos, illustrations, packaging, flyers. If a designer sent you one and you don't have the program (which is paid), you don't need to buy it just to view the file. Here are three ways to open it.
First: what's inside an .ai file?
For more than two decades, Illustrator's native format has been PDF-based. When it's saved with the "Create PDF Compatible File" option (turned on by default), the file includes a full PDF view of the design. That's what lets you open it without Illustrator.
Method 1: an online viewer
The fastest way is to use a viewer that reads that PDF view right in your browser. With this site's AI and PDF viewer, you just drag in the file, and you can zoom, switch artboards and download the image as a PNG. The file isn't uploaded to any server: it opens on your own device.
Method 2: change the extension to .pdf
If the file includes the PDF view, it's often enough to rename it from design.ai to design.pdf and open it in your browser or any PDF reader. If it works, you can view and print it. If your system says it's damaged, it was probably saved without PDF compatibility.
Method 3: a free vector editor
If you also need to edit the design, programs like Inkscape (free) or Affinity Designer can import .ai files. It's normal for some effects, fonts or transparencies to look slightly different from Illustrator, so check the result against the original.
| Method | Do you install anything? | Can you edit? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online viewer | No | No | Reviewing and approving a design |
| Rename to .pdf | No | No | A quick look |
| Vector editor | Yes | Yes | Making changes |
If you want an image
To use the design in a presentation or on social media, convert it to an image with the AI to PNG or JPG tool. Use PNG if you need a transparent background.
If it won't open
It's almost always because the file was saved without the PDF compatibility option. We explain it step by step in what to do if your .ai file won't open or shows blank.