AutoCAD File Recovery: Recover Deleted AutoCAD Files

How do I run recovery in AutoCAD?

AutoCAD is a widely employed computer software for drafting and designing. Architects rely on it to create intricate blueprints for structures like bridges and computer chips. While most users encounter no issues with this software, there are instances where accidents happen, and work gets deleted.

AutoCAD files are typically saved in the DWG format with the .dwg extension. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to recover deleted AutoCAD files, read on. This article explores various methods to recover AutoCAD files that have been deleted or left unsaved.

Recover Deleted AutoCAD Files: 3 Easy Methods

Can unsaved or deleted AutoCAD files be recovered? The answer is yes. We understand the time-consuming nature of rendering drafts in AutoCAD. Losing a file not only results in wasted efforts but can also lead to missed deadlines. Fortunately, there are several approaches you can take to recover unsaved AutoCAD files.

Method 1. Restore Unsaved AutoCAD Files from Backup

Method 2. Utilize the Recover Command to Retrieve AutoCAD Files

Method 3.Recover Deleted AutoCAD Files Using a Professional Tool

Method 1. Recover Unsaved AutoCAD Files from Backup

How to recover AutoCAD files from backup? There are some different options. Keep reading and choose the suitable one for your AutoCAD file recovery.

Utilize the .bak file backup method

To execute this method, simply change the file extension of the BAK file to DWG. You can accomplish it in Windows Explorer by following these steps:

1. Locate the backup file in Windows Explorer, identified by the .bak extension.

2. Right-click on your file, then click on Rename.

3. Then, you can change the extension to .dwg.

After the above, you can open the AutoCAD file normally.

Employ the Automatic Save method (.sv$)

How to recover unsaved AutoCAD file? You can follow these steps to recover unsaved AutoCAD files using the Automatic Save feature:

1. Begin by locating the autosave folder location (usually found at C:\Users\AppData\Local\Temp).

2. Identify files with the .sv$ extension, which have similar names but different dates and times compared to the corrupted .dwg file.

3. Rename the file extension from .sv$ to .dwg.

Attempt to open the new file, and you should be able to recover the unsaved AutoCAD file.

Retrieve temporary files with the .ac$ extension

To recover deleted AutoCAD files using the approach of the temporary file, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the path of the temporary file, typically labeled as "C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp." Alternatively, you can access it by pressing Win+R and typing "%temp%".

2. Search for files with the BAK or ac$ extension to identify the relevant file, using either the file size or partial name as a reference.

3. Copy the selected file to the local server to avoid corruption of the temporary files.

4. Open the AutoCAD application, go to drawing utilities, and choose the recover option. This will prompt the opening of an "Open File" dialog box.

5. Locate the previously saved temporary file and, upon completing the recovery process, regain your unsaved AutoCAD file.

Method 2. Utilize the Recover Command to Retrieve AutoCAD Files

The Recover Command serves as a direct means of restoring your deleted or lost AutoCAD files. Follow these steps to employ this method successfully:

1. Open a new drawing in AutoCAD.

2. Click on "File," select "Drawing Utilities," and choose "Recover."

3. Select the desired drawing from the dialog box and click "OK."

By following these three simple steps, the Recover Command will efficiently restore your lost AutoCAD files within minutes.

Method 3. Recover Deleted AutoCAD Files Using a Professional Tool

To make AutoCAD file recovery easier and faster, you need a professional data recovery tool like AOMEI FastRecovery.

With AOMEI FastRecovery, you can recover more than 200 types of files, including AutoCAD files, Office files, video files, audio files, compressed files, and more.

Once you download and install AOMEI FastRecovery on your computer, you can follow the easy tutorial for AutoCAD recovery files easily.

1. hover the mouse over the partition or disk where your AutoCAD files were saved before. Then, click Scan to scan it.

2. AOMEI FastRecovery will operate Quick Scan and Deep Scan automatically. You can filter the files with date, size, and path to locate your AutoCAD files quickly.

3. Choose the AutoCAD files that you want to recover. Then click Recover x files. Please choose a new safe path to keep them then.

AOMEI FastRecovery can also help you recover deleted files from hard drive, USB flash drives, SD cards, and different storage devices.

How to Protect AutoCAD Files Better

To ensure the protection of your work, it is essential to enable the Autosave feature in your AutoCAD files, similar to the Autosave functionality in Google Docs. By activating this feature, you can prevent the loss of your work. Follow these steps to enable Autosave:

1. Access the CAD options dialog box and open it.

2. Right-click on the open and save options within the dialog box.

3. Customize the autosave interval according to your preferences and enable the Autosave option.

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