[Solved] Adobe Illustrator won't save to PDF

I'm making this post because I recently ran into this problem when making some last minute changes to a poster. When I went to save my .ai document as .pdf, Illustrator would hang/freeze and then crash. Some googling on the topic eventually led me to the solution.

The trouble lies in corrupt preferences settings. Not sure how this file got damaged, but the fix is simple. First, locate your Adobe Illustrator settings. For me (windows machine) I found it in my *hidden* AppData folder.
C:UsersThorAppDataRoamingAdobe




Make sure Illustrator is closed and locate the folder "Adobe Illustrator CS4 Settings" and delete it. I made a back up copy just in case something went horribly wrong, but deleting this should be fine.

Then hold down Ctrl+Alt+Shift when you open Illustrator. A dialog may pop-up saying something about the preferences. Now that Illustrator is up and running, open your document and try saving to .pdf. Problem should be solved!

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 7, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    Thank you for the fix :-) Problem trying to supply print ready artwork solved.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 25, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    It worked. Thanks.

    Be warned, this will delete your saved workspace preferences (like which tools you want where). Small price to pay though.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ashley McFarlandJanuary 23, 2012 at 10:56 AM

    Thank you SO much. This issue has been driving me nuts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    Thannk you! I had to print my brochures today!! You saved me day lol!

    ReplyDelete
  5. PrescottFebruary 26, 2012 at 10:02 PM

    totally worked. MAC: Library>Preferences>Adobe Illustrator CSx Settings>en_US>Adobe Illustrator Prefs

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousMarch 13, 2012 at 3:39 AM

    Worked for me too - thanks, that's been a real problem. (My workaround was to place the AI file in InDesign then Export. Works but tedious when you're busy.)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tim SherryMay 5, 2012 at 1:26 PM

    Sorry, did it work for you?

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMay 29, 2012 at 5:37 AM

    Perfect!! Thanks for that!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJuly 12, 2012 at 1:40 AM

    Fabulous, thank you! Can't believe I've been putting up with this shit for a year before googling it...

    ReplyDelete
  10. VpointJuly 31, 2012 at 11:46 AM

    THANK you!! I had this problem once before and couldn't remember how I fixed it...it wasn't by doing this, but this seems to work so I'm hoping it works more permanently than whatever I did last time to resolve the issue. Many thanks for taking the time to share this info with your peers!

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousAugust 6, 2012 at 2:59 AM

    thanks for the advise works perfect now :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. RebeccaAugust 27, 2012 at 5:09 PM

    Tried this fix for illustrator cs5.1
    Program still crashes when saving pdf files. It's weird, I delete the adobe cs5.1 settings file, but file re- appears every time I restart illustrator.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tim SherryAugust 28, 2012 at 2:09 PM

    The file is a settings file that Illustrator will create. This is where it will save the information for settings such as custom workspaces, ect. So, Illustrator will create this file when it can't find it. Sorry to hear this fix didn't work for 5.1. When you find a solution, could you let me know and I will update the post. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousNovember 7, 2012 at 12:52 PM

    Thank you so much! Saved the day!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Mikey BauerNovember 19, 2012 at 12:40 PM

    Any idea on a fix for AI6? I can't locate this folder so maybe it is different.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Tim SherryNovember 19, 2012 at 12:50 PM

    Sorry, I don't have AI6. Sometimes configuration files like this are hidden, so check to see hidden folders. Otherwise maybe try a search for it? Or look for something similar through all your various adobe folders. If you find a solution, would you mind posting it and I will update the post with your fix. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  17. RamiMarch 1, 2013 at 8:12 AM

    Thank you! Regards from Portugal :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. fizzleboomMarch 29, 2013 at 8:18 AM

    Yes! This worked and now I am happy. :0) Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Stacy KenyonApril 2, 2013 at 6:19 AM

    Not great to see so many people had the same problem, but it was great to find a solution. Thank you, it worked perfectly.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ben PaindavinApril 17, 2013 at 6:03 AM

    TXS works great for CS5.5 also!

    ReplyDelete
  21. JennyApril 18, 2013 at 12:10 AM

    ...and can't believe that I then forgot all about it, googled the same problem, and landed on the same page to find my own comment from a year ago...

    ReplyDelete
  22. Tim SherryApril 18, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    I'm not sure why or how the configuration file gets corrupted. Maybe a newer version of Adobe has fixed this.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Erickzone HoumaneMay 21, 2013 at 7:45 PM

    thanks!!! it works out fine for me

    ReplyDelete
  24. bufftallicaJune 16, 2013 at 11:13 AM

    Very helpful, worked like a charm. Adobe's 'solution' to convert text objects to outlines was useless...

    ReplyDelete
  25. KarolCholewaJune 23, 2013 at 2:18 AM

    You are a star! Thank you. Not only did your tip solved saving to PDF but also Placing and linking PDFs! Very much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Bin182July 10, 2013 at 2:11 AM

    BRILLIANT

    THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Chris PayJuly 10, 2013 at 9:11 AM

    You Sir are a gentleman and a scholar! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  28. natebaileymediaJuly 11, 2013 at 8:01 AM

    You da man, man!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Mckie ChanSeptember 5, 2013 at 2:42 PM

    poor me :( can't work with CS3

    ReplyDelete
  30. AdiApril 15, 2015 at 5:36 PM

    I have Illustrator CS5 and I'm having the same issue. Haven't had any luck yet. Will spend hours working on something and then can't save it. Very frustrating.

    ReplyDelete
  31. DarcyMay 12, 2015 at 9:57 AM

    THANK YOU!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. CoenieJuly 13, 2015 at 11:42 AM

    Thank you! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  33. J.DesignAugust 20, 2015 at 7:32 PM

    Hey thanks guys for this post, it absolutely solved my issue! Link helped me find what I was looking for on Mac, using OS X 10.9 and Illustrator CS4 and second one will answer finding the file is they are hidden from view.

    https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/preference-file-location-illustrator.html#IllustratorCS4

    http://osxdaily.com/2009/02/25/show-hidden-files-in-os-x/

    ReplyDelete
  34. Julien C.November 27, 2015 at 9:23 AM

    It didn't workedfor me on CS5.1 on windows 10...

    If anybody find a solution, please post !

    ReplyDelete
  35. marileeDecember 8, 2015 at 2:18 PM

    Worked for me today! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  36. LaurenFebruary 29, 2016 at 7:26 PM

    This didn't work. In fact, in completely deleted the file, even though AI was closed and I have saved multiple times before that. Not even sure how you managed it, but thanks for that!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Athul JohnyAugust 25, 2016 at 9:58 AM

    thanks a lot.....

    ReplyDelete
  38. RalphSeptember 26, 2016 at 3:41 PM

    Worked on my illustrator CC. Thanks

    ReplyDelete

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