When using Adobe programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, the applications automatically save backup copies of your work in case of a crash or other issue. These backup files are called “recovery files” and can be invaluable if you ever need to recover work that was lost or corrupted.
What are Adobe recovery files?
Adobe recovery files, sometimes called “auto-recovery files” or “auto-save files,” are copies of your work that the Adobe programs automatically save at regular intervals as you work. They allow you to recover your work in case of a crash, power outage, or other problem that causes you to lose your primary file.
The recovery files contain the entire contents of your document, including all the layers, formatting, edits, etc. up to the point of the last auto-save. This allows you to pick up right where you left off, minimizing the work lost due to a crash or other issue.
Where are Adobe recovery files stored?
The location of the Adobe recovery files depends on which Adobe program you are using:
- Photoshop – Stored in a “Recovery” folder that is created inside the Photoshop application folder. The default location is C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop\Recovery or something similar.
- Illustrator – Saved alongside your Illustrator files with the extension .aiR added to the file name. For example, if your file is named “diagram.ai” the recovery file will be “diagram.aiR”.
- InDesign – Saved in a folder named “Backup” within the InDesign application folder. The default location is C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe InDesign\Backup.
- Acrobat – Saved in a “Recovery” folder within the Acrobat application folder. The default location is C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat\Recovery.
So in summary, each Adobe program stores its recovery files in a specific location, usually within the program’s application folder. Photoshop and Acrobat use a folder specifically named “Recovery” while Illustrator and InDesign take different approaches.
How often are recovery files updated?
Adobe applications will save recovery files at regular intervals as you work, though the exact frequency varies between programs:
- Photoshop – Saves a recovery file every 10 minutes by default.
- Illustrator – Auto-saves every 10 minutes by default.
- InDesign – Saves a new version every 5 minutes by default.
- Acrobat – Saves a recovery file every 15 minutes by default.
You can adjust these auto-save intervals in the preferences for each program if desired. Saving more frequently provides more opportunities for recovery, but creates more recovery files which take up disk space.
How long are recovery files kept?
Adobe will delete older recovery files when new ones are created. The number of versions kept depends on the program:
- Photoshop – Keeps only the 10 most recent recovery versions.
- Illustrator – Maintains the 5 most recent auto-save versions.
- InDesign – Keeps at least the 10 most recent backups.
- Acrobat – Stores the latest 5 recovery file versions.
So Adobe applications do not keep recovery files indefinitely – old ones get deleted as new ones are made. This prevents the recovery file folders from growing huge over time.
Manually saving recovery files
In addition to the auto-save versions, you can manually save Adobe recovery files anytime to create a snapshot of your work:
- In Photoshop, go to File > Save As and choose “Photoshop PSD Auto-Recovery File (.psb)” as the format.
- In Illustrator, go to File > Save As and select “Illustrator Auto-Recovery File (.aiR)” as the format.
- In InDesign, choose File > Save a Copy, then pick “InDesign Auto-Recovery File (.idR)”.
- In Acrobat, go to File > Save As > PDF and enable the “Recovery file” option.
Manually saving like this creates a recovery file you can keep indefinitely without worrying about it being deleted like the auto-save versions. It’s useful for marking important milestones in your work.
Recovering files from recovery files
If you ever experience a crash, power outage, or other issue, here is how to recover your work from an Adobe auto-recovery file:
- Photoshop: Launch Photoshop and look for the recovered file pop-up prompt. If it doesn’t appear, go to File > Open Recent > Recovered Files and browse to the Recovery folder.
- Illustrator: Double click the .aiR file from your file browser. Illustrator will open it.
- InDesign: Launch InDesign, go to File > Open, navigate to the Backup folder and select the auto-recovery file.
- Acrobat: Start Acrobat, click File > Open, browse to the Recovery folder and open the recovery file.
That’s it! The recovery file will open with all your work intact up to the point of the last auto-save. You can then save it normally, replacing the corrupted primary file.
Deleting old recovery files
Since Adobe applications automatically purge old auto-recovery files, there is little need to manually delete recovery versions to save space. However, if desired, you can delete the contents of the recovery folders for each program. Keep in mind:
- Close the Adobe program first before deleting its recovery files.
- Delete obsolete recovery files you no longer need.
- Don’t delete all recovery files or else you lose your backup history.
Again, it’s usually not necessary to manually delete or manage Adobe recovery files. But if you want to purge outdated ones, follow the advice above.
Turning off auto-recovery
The auto-recovery feature can be disabled in Adobe apps if desired. To turn it off:
- Photoshop: Uncheck “Save Auto Recovery Info” in Preferences > File Handling.
- Illustrator: Uncheck “Automatically save recovery information” in Preferences > File Handling & Clipboard.
- InDesign: Uncheck “Automatically save document recovery information” in Preferences > File Handling.
- Acrobat: Disable “Save auto-recovery information” in Preferences > Documents.
However, turning off auto-recovery means you lose this important safety net. It’s usually best to keep it enabled.
Other tips for Adobe recovery files
Here are some other tips for using Adobe recovery files effectively:
- Manually save your main project file regularly as your primary backup method.
- Keep your workfiles on a laptop or computer with an uninterruptible power supply to prevent sudden power loss.
- Save recovery files to cloud storage or another computer for redundancy.
- Know the keyboard shortcut for saving your file in each program (Ctrl/Cmd + S).
- Don’t delete older recovery files yourself unless you’re sure you don’t need them.
Following best practices like these reduces the need to rely on recovery files. But they provide an important failsafe when other precautions fail.
Conclusion
Adobe recovery files are saved automatically in the background as you work. They provide a valuable safeguard to recover work after a crash. Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat each save recovery files in specific folders on your computer. Auto-recovery happens every 5-15 minutes depending on the app. Adobe keeps 5-10 recent versions and deletes old ones. You can also manually save recovery files anytime. If you ever need to recover work, open the appropriate recovery file for your program. Overall, understanding how Adobe handles auto-recovery can give you peace of mind that your work is protected.