How To Open Recovery Tab In AutoCAD?

Accessing the Drawing Recovery Manager in AutoCAD 2025

When working with AutoCAD, losing work can be a frustrating experience. Fortunately, the Drawing Recovery Manager provides tools to retrieve lost or unsaved files effectively. Here’s how to open the Recovery tab.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Open the Recovery Manager

1. Using the Menu Bar:

   • Begin by navigating to the top menu bar. Click on the File option.
   • From the dropdown, locate and select Drawing Recovery Manager.

2. Using the Application Menu:

   • Click the Application Menu icon, usually positioned at the upper left of your screen.
   • From the options provided, choose Manage and then select Drawing Recovery Manager.

3. Using the Command Prompt:

   • If you are comfortable using commands, type DrawingRecovery directly into the command prompt and press Enter.
4. Opening Recovered Files:
   • Within the Recovery Manager, you will see a list of files that can be recovered.
   • To open a file, click on the desired root file name, then either right-click and choose Open All or double-click the entry directly.

Locating AutoCAD Recovery Files

Recovery files are crucial when looking to restore lost work. To find them:

• For Windows Users:

  • Access the Options dialog by typing OPTIONS in the command line.
  • Go to the Files tab and navigate to the Automatic Save File Location mentioned there.
  • Alternatively, you can check the file path using the SAVEFILEPATH variable.
• For Mac Users:
  • Open Preferences under the Application tab to find the autosave file location.

Recovering Unsaved Files in AutoCAD

If you have an unsaved file that you need to retrieve, follow these steps:

1. Access the OPTIONS window.
2. Under the FILES tab, identify the AUTOMATIC SAVE FILE LOCATION and navigate to this directory through Windows Explorer (do not use AutoCAD for this step).
3. Look for files ending with the .AC$ or .BAK extensions.

Finding Lost Drawings

If a drawing appears to be lost, you can attempt to recover it as follows:

1. Go to the location of the DWG file you are trying to recover.
2. Look for a file that shares the same name as your drawing but with a .BAK extension.
3. Change the file extension of the .BAK file to .DWG.
4. Open the modified file in AutoCAD.

Understanding BAK Files

BAK files serve as backup copies of your original drawings, enabling file recovery. Here’s how to open a BAK file in AutoCAD:

1. Create a copy of the BAK file and save it to your desktop.
2. Rename the file extension from .BAK to .DWG.
3. Confirm the change if prompted, then open the newly renamed file in AutoCAD.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What should I do if AutoCAD is not responding during recovery?

   • If AutoCAD becomes unresponsive, try restarting the program. You may need to reinstall or repair the software if the problem persists.

2. Are recovered drawings the same as the original files?

   • Recovered files from the Drawing Recovery Manager usually retain most, if not all, of your previous work, but it’s advisable to review them for any discrepancies.
3. Is there a way to increase the frequency of autosave in AutoCAD?
   • Yes, you can adjust the autosave settings by going to the Options window under the Files tab and modifying the autosave interval settings as per your preference.