How Do I Open an Autosave File in SolidWorks?

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Have you ever experienced a sudden crash or unexpected shutdown while working on a project in SolidWorks? It can be incredibly frustrating to lose all your progress.

Fortunately, SolidWorks has an autosave feature that automatically saves your work at regular intervals. In this tutorial, we will guide you on how to open an autosave file in SolidWorks.

Locating the Autosave Folder

Before we proceed with opening an autosave file, we need to know where the autosave folder is located on your computer. To find the folder, follow these steps:

  1. Launch SolidWorks and go to the Options menu by clicking on Tools > Options.

  2. In the Options dialog box, click on the System Options tab and then select the File Locations button.

  3. In the File Locations dialog box, select Autosave/Recover from the list of file types.

  4. You will see the path of the Autosave folder in the right pane. Note down this location as we will need it in the next step.

Opening an Autosave File

To open an autosave file in SolidWorks, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the Autosave folder using File Explorer or any other file management tool based on your operating system.

  2. In the Autosave folder, you will find multiple files with different names and extensions. These files represent your autosaved versions of various projects.

  3. Identify the autosave file that you want to open based on the date and time stamp or any other relevant information.

  4. Once you have identified the correct autosave file, double-click on it to open it in SolidWorks.

  5. SolidWorks will now load the autosaved version of your project. Review your work and save it with a different name or overwrite the original file if desired.

Tips for Autosave Management

Here are some additional tips to help you manage autosave files effectively:

  • Regularly clean up your Autosave folder by deleting unnecessary autosave files. This will prevent clutter and save disk space.

  • Adjust the autosave interval in SolidWorks to better suit your working style. You can do this by going to the Options menu, selecting System Options, and then choosing Autosave/Recover.

  • If you frequently experience crashes or instability while working on large projects, consider reducing the autosave interval to avoid losing significant amounts of work.

In Conclusion

The autosave feature in SolidWorks is a lifesaver when it comes to recovering lost work due to unexpected incidents. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily locate and open an autosave file in SolidWorks.

Remember to regularly manage your Autosave folder and configure your autosave settings according to your preferences. Happy designing!