Summary: Need help recovering lost AutoCAD files or drawings? Read this blog to learn how to recover lost, deleted, or unsaved AutoCAD files. Moreover, you can also choose to download AutoCAD file recovery software directly from below to recover AutoCAD files in Windows or Mac systems.
“I was working on a .dwg file in AutoCAD 2023. The next day, when I opened AutoCAD, I could not find the last drawing I was working on. Probably, I forgot to save it. Is there a way to recover AutoCAD files on my PC?”
AutoCAD is a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and drafting software used by industries, project managers, engineers, graphic designers, architects, etc. This software is used for drawing and editing digital 2D and 3D designs. However, it’s not uncommon for users to delete AutoCAD files or close the drawing in a jiffy without saving it. Besides, your AutoCAD files can be lost due to various other reasons.
So how would you recover lost, deleted, or unsaved AutoCAD files?
Methods to Recover AutoCAD Files
Here, you can implement some workable methods to get back the lost AutoCAD files.
Method 1: Recover Deleted AutoCAD files from Recycle Bin or Trash
Check the Recycle Bin in Windows or the Trash folder in macOS for AutoCAD files. If you accidentally delete them, Recycle Bin or Trash will keep these files for 30 days or until you empty them.
If you have emptied Trash or Recycle Bin, AutoCAD images will be no longer available. The only way to get back the permanently deleted files is with the help of a Photo Recovery software.
Method 2: Recover Unsaved AutoCAD files from AutoSave
You can recover unsaved AutoCAD files using the AutoSave feature of AutoCAD applications. However, this method will only work if you have enabled AutoSave.
To check if AutoSave is enabled, go to Options > Open and Save tab. If the Automatic Save checkbox is enabled, you may recover AutoCAD files.
How to recover AutoCAD files using AutoSave?
By default, the unsaved files of AutoCAD are saved at C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp with .sv$ extension on Windows PC and /Users/username/Documents/Autodesk/Autosave on macOS if your AutoCAD application or system closes unexpectedly.
Next time, after the CAD file loss, the Drawing Recovery Manager will appear when you again open the application. It contains an active drawing of when the crash occurred and also shows AutoSave and backup files. You can open the AutoSave file directly in AutoCAD without having to rename those files.
Note – The Drawing Recovery Manager in AutoCAD cannot be launched during normal working session to see the backup or AutoSave files of the current drawing.
Method 3: Recover Lost AutoCAD files from Backup Files
If a saved AutoCAD file is lost, the easiest way is to restore it from backup files; they are stored in the same folder as AutoCAD drawing (DWG) file. To recover the DWG file from the backup, follow these steps:
Note – This method will only work if you have enabled ‘Create backup copy with each save’ in the AutoCAD file.
- Open the folder containing your AutoCAD drawings.
- Locate the backup file you want with the extension of .bak.
- Right-click on the file and select Rename.
- Change the extension from .bak to .dwg. Then open the file in AutoCAD.
Method 4: Recover Deleted AutoCAD files Using Software
If you are out of luck and can’t find AutoCAD files in the Temp folder or Recycle Bin or Backup, AutoCAD recovery software is the only solution.
You can try using a professional photo recovery tool like Stellar Photo Recovery that supports AutoCAD file format recovery. The software can recover lost or deleted DWG, CDR, PSD, PNG, JPEG, and other file types.
If the AutoCAD drawings are lost because of formatting or drive corruption, there is also a good chance of 2D and 3D design recovery using professional software.
Steps to Recover AutoCAD files using a software
- Download and install Stellar Photo Recovery software on the computer.
- Launch the software and select the location from where you want to recover AutoCAD files.
- Before scanning, click Settings at the top menu bar.
- In the Advanced Settings window, select the File List icon.
- In the Photo Format list, uncheck all the formats except AutoCAD and click Close.
- Click Scan. Once the scan is completed, select and Preview the recovered AutoCAD files.
- Click Recover and select a destination to save the recovered CAD files.
To Wrap Up
When the backup file or Recycle Bin is no help, trust Stellar Photo Recovery software to recover lost or deleted AutoCAD files. It is the best and most efficient way to restore hundreds of designs from AutoCAD in no time. Above all, remember to keep the AutoSave option turned on in AutoCAD to avoid any file loss.
