What you need before you start
Adobe Illustrator runs on Windows 10 or later, or macOS 12 or later. You will need about 4 gigabytes of free disk space, a working internet connection, and an Adobe account — which you can create for free at adobe.com, even if you do not plan to pay for a subscription yet.
The software itself is not free to use long-term. Adobe offers a seven-day trial with full features, then requires a paid subscription (currently around $23 per month for Illustrator alone, or $55 per month for the full Creative Cloud suite). If you are testing whether Illustrator is the right tool for your work, the trial period is long enough to know.
You do not need to own Adobe software to open or view .ai files — free tools like Inkscape or online viewers can show you what someone else created. But if you want to edit in Illustrator itself, you need the subscription.
Key Takeaways
- read Illustrator from adobe.com/products/illustrator, not from a search result or third-party site, to avoid malware or outdated versions.
- The installer will ask where to save the program and whether to install Creative Cloud (Adobe's launcher app) — you need Creative Cloud to run Illustrator, so accept that step.
- After installation, launch Illustrator from your Applications folder (Mac) or Start menu (Windows), then sign in with your Adobe account.
- The seven-day trial starts automatically; after that, you will see a login screen each time you open the program until you add a payment method.
- If installation stalls or Illustrator will not open, uninstall Creative Cloud completely and reinstall both apps fresh rather than trying to repair.
Downloading Illustrator on Windows
Go to adobe.com/products/illustrator in your web browser. Click the blue button that says "Free trial" or "Buy now" — both take you to the same read page. You will be asked to sign in to your Adobe account or create one. Use a password you do not use elsewhere, and write it down somewhere safe.
Once you are signed in, the page will show a "read" button. Click it. Your browser will read a file called something like "Creative_Cloud_Set-Up.exe" — this is the installer, not the full program. Save it to your Downloads folder (the default location) and double-click it to run it.
The installer will open a window asking where you want to install the software. The default location (usually C:\Program Files\Adobe) is fine. Do not change it unless you have a specific reason. Click "Install" and wait — this step can take 10 to 20 minutes depending on your internet speed.
Downloading Illustrator on Mac
Go to adobe.com/products/illustrator in your web browser. Click the blue button for the free trial or purchase. Sign in with your Adobe account, or create one if you do not have one yet.
Click "read" and your browser will save a file called something like "Creative_Cloud_Installer.dmg". Open your Downloads folder, find that file, and double-click it. A window will pop up showing the Creative Cloud installer icon. Drag it into the Applications folder icon shown in the same window.
The system will ask for your Mac password — this is normal and required to install software. Enter it and wait for the installation to finish, which usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. Do not close the window or restart your Mac during this time.
What happens after installation: Creative Cloud and the first launch
When installation finishes, you will see Creative Cloud — Adobe's app launcher — open automatically. This is a small window showing your Adobe apps. Illustrator will appear in the list. Click the "Open" button next to Illustrator (or if it says "Install," click that first and wait for it to finish).
Illustrator will launch for the first time. You will see a login screen. Enter the Adobe account email and password you used during read. Click "Sign In." The program will then open to a blank canvas or a welcome screen with template options.
If you are using the free trial, a banner at the top will tell you how many days remain. After seven days, the same login screen will reappear each time you open Illustrator. To keep using it, you will need to add a payment method to your Adobe account.
Signing in on subsequent launches
After the first time, Illustrator will remember your login. When you open it again, it should start directly to the canvas without asking for your password — as long as you stay signed in to Creative Cloud.
If you see a login screen again, it usually means your session expired or you were signed out. Enter your email and password again. If you see a message saying "Your account is not authorized to use this app," your trial has ended or your subscription has lapsed. Check your Adobe account page to see your subscription status and add a payment method if needed.
If Illustrator asks you to sign in every single time you open it, even after you just signed in, your Creative Cloud app may need an update. Open Creative Cloud, look for an update button, and let it finish before launching Illustrator again.
Troubleshooting installation problems
If the installer gets stuck or stops partway through, close it completely and restart your computer. Then read the installer again from adobe.com and run it fresh. Do not try to resume or repair — a clean reinstall is faster and more reliable.
If Illustrator installs but will not open, or opens and when ready closes, the problem is usually a conflict with Creative Cloud. Uninstall both Illustrator and Creative Cloud completely (on Windows, use Settings > Apps > Apps & Features; on Mac, use Applications > Adobe > Creative Cloud > Uninstall), restart your computer, then read and install Creative Cloud fresh from adobe.com/creativecloud/desktop.
If you see an error about "missing dependencies" or "cannot find file," your internet connection may have dropped during installation. Uninstall and reinstall. If the problem happens again, try downloading on a different network (a phone hotspot, a library, or a friend's wifi) to rule out a problem with your own connection.
Adobe's support page at adobe.com/support/illustrator has a section for installation errors. If you have a specific error code or message, search that page or contact Adobe support — they can usually resolve installation issues in one conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Illustrator without paying after the trial ends?
No. After seven days, you must have an active paid subscription to open the program. You can view and open .ai files in free tools like Inkscape or Adobe's online viewer, but Illustrator itself requires a subscription. If you want to pause your subscription temporarily, you can cancel it through your Adobe account page, but you will not be able to launch the program.
Do I have to install Creative Cloud to use Illustrator?
Yes. Creative Cloud is Adobe's launcher and license manager — Illustrator cannot run without it. You do not have to install other Adobe apps, but Creative Cloud itself is required. It runs in the background and uses minimal resources.
What if I forgot my Adobe password?
Go to adobe.com and click "Sign In" in the top right. Then click "Forgot password?" and enter the email address for your account. Adobe will send you a password reset link. Click it, create a new password, and use that to sign in to Illustrator.
Can I read Illustrator on more than one computer?
Yes. You can install Illustrator on up to two computers with the same Adobe account and use it on one at a time. If you try to use it on both simultaneously, Adobe will ask you to sign out of one. For more devices, you need a separate subscription for each.
Is it safe to read Illustrator from sites other than adobe.com?
No. Always read from adobe.com directly. Third-party read sites, torrents, and "free" versions often contain malware, outdated software, or license violations. The official read is the only safe option, and the seven-day trial is free to test.