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What is a .ai file?

An .ai file is an Adobe Illustrator drawing — vector artwork that scales to any size without going blurry. Logos usually arrive as .ai.

This extension has been used by more than one format

20 different formats have claimed .ai over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.

How to open a .ai file

  • WindowsIllustrator
  • WindowsInkscape (free)
  • WindowsPhotopea in a browser
  • MacIllustrator
  • MacAffinity Designer
  • MacPreview shows a preview only

How to convert a .ai file

  • Save as .svg or .pdf for general use, or export .png at the size you need.

MIME type

When a .ai file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:

application/postscript

What's a MIME type?

The technical record

For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .ai.

Format nameVersionMIME typePUID
Adobe Illustrator10.0application/postscriptfmt/559
Adobe Illustrator15.0application/postscriptfmt/564
Adobe Illustrator14.0application/postscriptfmt/563
Adobe Illustrator12.0application/postscriptfmt/561
Adobe Illustrator CC 2020 Artwork24-24.1—fmt/1863
Adobe Illustrator88application/postscriptfmt/417
Adobe Illustrator5.0 / 5.5application/postscriptfmt/420
Adobe Illustrator CC Artwork17-23—fmt/1862
Adobe Illustrator6.0application/postscriptfmt/422
Adobe Illustrator4.0application/postscriptfmt/419
Adobe Illustrator7.0application/postscriptfmt/423
Adobe Illustrator3.0 / 3.2application/postscriptfmt/418
Adobe Illustrator13.0application/postscriptfmt/562
Adobe IllustratorJapanapplication/postscriptfmt/421
Adobe Illustrator11.0application/postscriptfmt/560
Adobe Illustrator CC 2020 Artwork24.2+—fmt/1864
Adobe Illustrator9.0application/postscriptfmt/558
Adobe Illustrator8.0application/postscriptfmt/557
Adobe Illustrator1.0 / 1.1application/postscriptx-fmt/20
Adobe Illustrator16.0application/postscriptfmt/565

Got another one?