Recover Deleted AutoCAD Files: 7 Fixes That Work

Yes, deleted AutoCAD files can often be recovered, but the success depends on how quickly you act and which method you use. This guide covers the most effective ways to get your DWG files back from the Recycle Bin, temporary autosave files, backup copies, and even after a permanent deletion.

Why AutoCAD Files Disappear

AutoCAD files vanish for several common reasons. The most frequent is accidental deletion—you press Shift+Delete or empty the Recycle Bin without thinking. Another common cause is a crash or power failure that interrupts a save, leaving the file in a temporary state. Sometimes the file is not actually deleted but moved to a different folder by a sync service like OneDrive or Dropbox, or it gets renamed by a recovery tool. Understanding the cause helps you choose the right recovery method, because a file that was overwritten by an autosave is different from one that was sent to the Recycle Bin.

Method 1: Check the Recycle Bin

If you deleted the file normally (without Shift+Delete), it should be in the Windows Recycle Bin. This is the simplest and fastest recovery method.

1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
2. Search for your file by name or look for the .dwg extension.
3. Right-click the file and select Restore. The file returns to its original folder.

If you don’t see it, the file may have been deleted from a network drive, a USB stick, or a synced folder—those often bypass the Recycle Bin entirely. In that case, move on to the next methods.

Method 2: Use AutoCAD’s Autosave (.sv$) Files

AutoCAD automatically saves a backup copy of your work every few minutes. These autosave files have a .sv$ extension and are stored in a folder you can find in the Options dialog. Even if your original file is gone, the autosave may contain most of your work.

1. Open AutoCAD and go to Options (type OPTIONS in the command line).
2. Click the Files tab and expand Automatic Save File Location to see the folder path.
3. Navigate to that folder in Windows Explorer. Look for files named like Drawing1_1_1_1234.sv$.
4. Copy the .sv$ file to your project folder and rename it with a .dwg extension (e.g., Drawing1_1_1_1234.dwg).
5. Open it in AutoCAD. If it opens, save it immediately under a new name.

Autosave files are created every 10 minutes by default (you can change this interval in Options). They are overwritten each time, so act quickly—if you close and reopen AutoCAD, the autosave may be replaced.

Method 3: Look for Backup (.bak) Files

AutoCAD also creates a backup file each time you save. The .bak file is a copy of the previous version of your drawing. It is stored in the same folder as your DWG file, unless you changed the backup location.

1. In Windows Explorer, go to the folder where your DWG file was.
2. Enable viewing of file extensions: in File Explorer, click View and check File name extensions.
3. Look for a file with the same name as your drawing but with a .bak extension (e.g., SitePlan.bak).
4. Rename it to .dwg (e.g., SitePlan.dwg) and open it in AutoCAD.

Note that .bak files are only created if the Create backup copy with each save option is enabled in the Open and Save tab of Options. It is enabled by default, but some users disable it to save space.

Method 4: Recover from Temporary Files (.tmp)

During a session, AutoCAD may create temporary files with .tmp extensions. These are not always present, but they can be a lifesaver if the program crashed. To find them:

1. Open the folder where your drawing is located.
2. Sort files by date modified and look for files with .tmp extension that match the time of your last edits.
3. Rename the .tmp file to .dwg and try opening it in AutoCAD.

If that doesn’t work, use Windows Search to find all .tmp files on your system, but be careful—many .tmp files are unrelated to AutoCAD. Filter by date and size to narrow it down.

Method 5: Use the Drawing Recovery Manager

AutoCAD has a built-in Drawing Recovery Manager that appears after a crash. It lists all autosave and backup files that were open when the program closed unexpectedly.

1. Reopen AutoCAD. If the Drawing Recovery Manager does not appear automatically, type DRAWINGRECOVERY in the command line.
2. In the panel on the left, you’ll see a list of drawings with their backup and autosave files.
3. Click on each file to preview it. Select the one with the most recent timestamp and open it.
4. Save the recovered drawing under a new name.

This tool is especially useful after a crash because it gathers all recovery files in one place, saving you from hunting through folders manually.

Method 6: Check Cloud Sync and Version History

If you store your DWG files in a cloud service like OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive, the file might be recoverable from the cloud’s version history—even if you deleted it locally.

• OneDrive: Go to the OneDrive website, right-click the folder, and select Version history. You can restore an earlier version or a deleted file from the Recycle Bin in the cloud.
• Dropbox: On the Dropbox website, click the file and choose Version history. Deleted files are kept in the Deleted files section for 30 days (longer with paid plans).
• Google Drive: Open Google Drive, click the file, and select Manage versions. Deleted files go to the Trash, which you can restore.

If you use AutoCAD’s own cloud storage (Autodesk Docs), log in to the web portal and check the version history there as well.

Method 7: Use a Third-Party File Recovery Tool

If the file is permanently deleted and not in the Recycle Bin, autosave, or backup, your last resort is a data recovery program. These tools scan your hard drive for remnants of deleted files. Popular options include Recuva (free), EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and Disk Drill. The key is to stop using the computer immediately after deletion—any new data written to the disk can overwrite the deleted file, making recovery impossible.

1. Download and install a recovery tool on a different drive (if possible) to avoid overwriting.
2. Run a deep scan of the drive where the DWG file was stored.
3. Look for files with .dwg extension in the results. Preview them if possible.
4. Recover the file to a different drive or folder.

Free tools often have a file size limit, so you may need a paid version for large DWG files. Also, solid-state drives (SSDs) are harder to recover from because of TRIM, which permanently erases deleted data.

How to Prevent Future AutoCAD File Loss

Once you’ve recovered your file, take steps to avoid this situation again:

• Enable autosave and set the interval to 5 minutes (Options > Open and Save > Automatic save).
• Keep backup files enabled (Options > Open and Save > Create backup copy with each save).
• Save your work to a cloud-synced folder so you always have an off-site copy.
• Use the SAVEAS command to create multiple versions of important drawings.
• Set up a regular backup routine to an external drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a DWG file that was overwritten by a save?
Yes, if you have a .bak file, it contains the previous version. You can also check the autosave file, which may have an earlier state. If neither exists, you might recover an older version from cloud version history.

Why is my autosave file not showing up?
Autosave files are hidden by default. In the autosave folder, you need to enable “Show hidden files” in Windows Explorer. Also, autosave only runs while AutoCAD is open—if you never opened AutoCAD after the deletion, no new autosave will be created.

What is the difference between .bak and .sv$ files?
A .bak file is a copy of the previous save of your drawing, created each time you save. A .sv$ file is an automatic save that occurs at set intervals during your work session. Both can be renamed to .dwg and opened.

Is it safe to use a third-party recovery tool on an SSD?
It’s safe, but success is less likely because SSDs use TRIM, which immediately erases deleted data blocks. If you have an SSD, stop using it right away and try recovery as soon as possible.

Can I recover a file deleted from a network drive?
Network drives typically do not use the Recycle Bin. Check if the server has its own recycle bin or shadow copies (previous versions). Ask your IT administrator about restoring from a backup.

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