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How to Ensure Illustrator Files Always Show Artwork Previews on Mac

By Kelly Barkhurst

December 29, 2025

6 Min read

In Print Graphic Design

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Why Some Illustrator Files Do Not Preview on Mac and How to Fix It

If you work on a Mac, Finder previews and Quick Look are a big part of staying organized. Being able to see the artwork instead of the Adobe Illustrator icon makes it much easier to find the right file, especially when you are working with stock assets, client files, or large folders of vectors.

When an Illustrator file does not show a preview, it usually feels like something is wrong with the file. In most cases, nothing is broken. The file just is not saved in a way that macOS can preview.

Understanding why this happens makes it easy to fix and even easier to prevent.

Hi, today I have a quick productivity tip for when you have an Adobe Illustrator file and I use a lot on my Mac this spacebar and I can see a preview and I find that really useful. But sometimes I only see the actual software thumbnail and that is not very helpful. Because, especially when it’s something that I’ve downloaded from Adobe Stock, I have no idea what it is because contextually the name is just a number. Um, so I find this frustrating. So what’s the fix? It’s actually really easy. You’re going to open the file. In this case, I can see that it is a bunch of shapes. When I save it, I can save as the exact same file. I don’t need to change the name. You can see that it’s seeing that this file needed converting, which is probably why preview wasn’t embedded in the first place. But I’ll delete that so I can save over the file, save, replace. Now, this is where the magic happens. I need the change. Checkbox of Create PDF compatible file checked. What this does is create the thumbnail that now preview will show when I use the spacebar or the thumbnail that I see when I’m looking in Finder. So I say, okay. Go ahead and check my file. And now, when I click on spacebar, I can see a preview of the, that file. Also, if I go into my Finder, go to desktop, I will now be able to see the thumbnail of my file, which, I don’t actually, I think it’s this one. There it is. So you can see really small. It is showing me the thumbnail. And of course, I can, I can change how I’m viewing my list view. So if I wanted to see it at the gallery, I can see it here, versus when I have another file, and even my previewing gallery is just that image. So one more time, just so you can see. You double click on the file. Save it exactly as it is. All you’re doing is add, So you want to make sure that the file name doesn’t change. You’re just re-saving files that do not have this PDF compatible file already put into them. So I’m saving, closing, and you can see it changed right here, even in my gallery. I can now see a thumbnail preview. So I hope this helps you, and is just want to, Those small things that delight you throughout the year because it was just one of those nagging things that drove you crazy, and now you know how to fix it. Alright, happy designing.

Why Illustrator Previews Matter on Mac

macOS does not render Illustrator files directly. Instead, it relies on preview data embedded in the file. If that preview data is missing, Finder has no artwork to display and falls back to the application icon.

That is why some AI files show thumbnails and others do not, even when they open normally in Illustrator.

The difference comes down to how the file was saved.

The Setting That Controls Finder Previews

For an Illustrator file to preview correctly on Mac, it must include an embedded PDF preview.

In Illustrator, this is controlled by a single setting when saving a file.

Create PDF Compatible File.

When this option is enabled, Illustrator embeds a PDF version of the artwork inside the AI file. macOS uses that embedded PDF to generate thumbnails and space bar previews.

When it is disabled, the file is still valid, but Finder cannot show the artwork.

Fixing Files That Do Not Preview

If you download an Illustrator file from Adobe Stock or receive one from a client and it only shows the Illustrator icon, the fix is simple.

Open the file in Adobe Illustrator.
Go to File and choose Save As.
Make sure the file format is Adobe Illustrator (ai).
In the save options, check the box labeled Create PDF Compatible File.
Save the file.

Once saved, return to Finder. The thumbnail and space bar preview should update immediately.

This does not change the artwork or flatten anything. It only adds the preview data macOS needs.

Making Sure Your Files Always Preview Correctly

To avoid this issue entirely, make it a habit to leave Create PDF Compatible File enabled when saving your own Illustrator files.

This ensures that every file you create will display a preview in Finder, in column view, and in Quick Look.

The file size will be slightly larger, but in most workflows, the ability to visually identify files is worth it.

This is especially helpful if you work with multiple versions of a file, share assets with others, or store vectors alongside PDFs, images, and design exports.

A Quick Check If Previews Are Missing

If you ever see an Illustrator file showing only the application icon, ask one question first.

Was this file saved with PDF compatibility enabled?

If not, opening it once and resaving it correctly will usually solve the problem.

Final Takeaway

If you want Illustrator files to always show artwork previews on Mac, the key is simple.

Save your files with Create PDF Compatible File enabled.

It is a small setting, but it has a big impact on how usable your files are in Finder.

illustrator productivity

About the author

Kelly Barkhurst

Designer to Fullstack is my place to geek out and share tech solutions from my day-to-day as a graphic designer, programmer, and business owner (portfolio). I also write on Arts and Bricks, a parenting blog and decal shop that embraces my family’s love of Art and LEGO bricks!

By Kelly Barkhurst December 29, 2025