How To Save Bak File In AutoCAD?

Understanding BAK Files in AutoCAD

BAK files in AutoCAD serve as essential backup copies of your primary drawing files (.DWG). Each time you save a DWG file, AutoCAD creates a corresponding BAK file to preserve the previous version. This mechanism allows users to recover designs in case of system failures or accidental overwrites.

Default Location of BAK Files

By default, AutoCAD stores these backup files in a specific directory on your system. For AutoCAD 2025, the typical location for BAK files is:

C:\Documents and Settings\\Local

This path may differ based on user settings or configurations.

Steps to Save a BAK File in AutoCAD

1. Open Your Drawing: Launch AutoCAD 2025 and access the drawing file you want to save. Ensure that you have made all the necessary edits.

2. Saving Your Work:

   • Click on the Save icon in the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + S. This action triggers AutoCAD to save your current drawing, automatically generating a BAK file of the previous version.

3. Verify BAK File Creation:

   • Navigate to the default directory where BAK files are stored. Confirm that a new BAK file has been created, which should have the same name as your DWG file but with a .bak extension.
4. Custom Save Location (Optional):
   • If you wish to change the default save location for BAK files, go to the Options dialog box:
     • Type OPTIONS in the command line and hit Enter.
     • Select the Files tab.
     • Locate Automatic Save File Location and set it to your preferred directory.

Restoring from a BAK File

If you need to revert to an earlier version of your drawing:

1. Locate the BAK File: Find the appropriate BAK file in its saved location.

2. Rename the File:

   • Right-click on the BAK file.
   • Select Rename and change the file extension from .bak to .dwg. For example, if the original drawing was named drawing1.dwg, rename the backup file to drawing1.dwg.
3. Open the Renamed File: Launch AutoCAD and open it just like any other DWG file. The software will recognize it as a drawing file, allowing you to access the previous version of your work.

Disabling AutoCAD Backup Files

If you prefer not to create BAK files:

1. Access Options: Type OPTIONS in the command line and press Enter.

2. Open Save Tab: Look for the Open and Save tab.

3. Disable Automatic Save:
   • Uncheck the Automatic Save option.
   • Alternatively, set the system variable SAVETIME to 0 to completely disable the auto-save feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I recover an AutoCAD drawing without a BAK file?

• If your drawing was not saved or a BAK file was not created, recovery through AutoCAD is not possible. However, you may explore other recovery tools or check if an autosave file exists.

2. Is it safe to delete BAK files?

• Yes, you can delete BAK files if you are confident that your DWG files are intact and you have no further need for earlier versions. BAK files are primarily for backup.

3. How do I convert a BAK file back to DWG format?

• Simply rename the BAK file extension to .dwg as outlined earlier, then open it with AutoCAD to access your backup drawing.