To delete a file in Adobe Illustrator, you generally need to do so from your operating system's file explorer (like Finder on macOS or File Explorer on Windows), not from within Illustrator itself. Illustrator doesn't have a "delete" function within the application for deleting entire files.
Here's how:
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Locate the File: Find the Illustrator file (.ai) you want to delete on your computer. This is usually in a folder on your hard drive.
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Delete the File:
- Windows: Right-click on the file and select "Delete."
- macOS: Drag the file to the Trash, right-click the file and select "Move to Trash," or select the file and press Command + Delete.
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Empty the Trash/Recycle Bin: To permanently remove the file, empty your operating system's Trash/Recycle Bin.
- Windows: Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select "Empty Recycle Bin."
- macOS: Right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select "Empty Trash."
Important Notes:
- Deleting a linked file: If the file you delete is linked to an open Illustrator document, you'll receive an error in Illustrator indicating the link is broken.
- Recovering Deleted Files: Deleted files are initially moved to the Recycle Bin/Trash, allowing you to restore them if needed before emptying.
