Where Is Drawing Recovery Manager in AutoCAD? Recover Now!

Preface

Where is the Drawing Recovery Manager in AutoCAD after AutoCAD crashed? That little tool can be a lifesaver when unsaved drawings vanish or crash-recovered files look weird.

This guide walks you through exactly where the Drawing Recovery Manager is located, how to open it, what to do if it won’t open, where AutoCAD stores recovery files, and provides a practical, step-by-step guide to recover your DWG files quickly.

Where is Drawing Recovery Manager in AutoCAD?

The Drawing Recovery Manager is built into AutoCAD and appears automatically after a crash or unexpected shutdown.

You can also open it manually from the application menu. How to open Drawing Recovery Manager in AutoCAD? Check the following information:

Way 1. Type DRAWINGRECOVERY at the AutoCAD command line (alias: DR on some versions).

Way 2. Go to the AutoCAD Application Menu (big A) → Drawing Utilities → Open the Drawing Recovery Manager.

Way 3. If you prefer the ribbon, the command can sometimes be found under the View or Manage tabs, depending on your AutoCAD version and workspace setup.

Check AutoCAD Recovery File Locations and File Types

To guarantee you can recover your work, the first step is to confirm that AutoCAD's autosave is active and to locate its storage directory. Below, we'll detail how to find these automatic backups and decode their file extensions.

AutoCAD Recovery File Types

AutoCAD uses several file types during work and recovery:

• .sv$ — Autosave files created at intervals (rename to .dwg when recovered).
• .bak — Backup of the last saved drawing (AutoCAD creates this when you save).
• .ac$ — Alternate temporary/recovery files (older or specific configurations).
• .dwl/.dwl2 — Lock files that indicate the drawing is open; sometimes hold path info.

AutoCAD Recovery File Locations

Where AutoCAD stores these files:

• Local temp directory — AutoCAD often writes autosave files to the Windows Temp folder (e.g., C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\Temp).
• Specified Autosave Path — Check AutoCAD Options → Files tab → Automatic Save File Location. This is the definitive AutoCAD recovery file location.

• Project or same folder as DWG — Backup .bak files are stored in the same folder as the DWG by default.

Quick tip: If you’re hunting for a lost file, check both the Automatic Save File Location from AutoCAD’s Options and the user temp folder.

Fixed: AutoCAD Recover Drawing File is Not Valid or Not Opening

If you get an AutoCAD message like “Drawing file is not valid” or the AutoCAD Drawing Recovery Manager does not open, there’s still hope. Below, we’ll troubleshoot those exact situations.

If the Drawing Recovery Manager doesn’t show up or the drawing file is not valid, try these steps in order:

1. Run the DRAWINGRECOVERY command manually. If that works, the auto-launch is the only issue.

2. Check AUTOSAVE settings: Type OPTIONS → Files → Automatic Save File Location. Confirm path and free space.

3. Clear temp folder: A bloated TEMP can block writes. Close AutoCAD, empty %temp%, then restart AutoCAD.

4. Repair, install, or run as admin: If UI elements don’t load, run AutoCAD as administrator or use the Repair option in Control Panel.

5. Check antivirus/quarantine: Some AV tools block temp files or rename them, making them unreadable. Temporarily disable or whitelist AutoCAD temp paths.

6. Open file manually: Navigate to the AutoCAD recovery file location and try opening .sv$ or .bak directly in AutoCAD. Rename .sv$ to .dwg and open.

If an attempted recovered file triggers an AutoCAD recover drawing file is not valid, it may be partially corrupted — that’s where dedicated file-recovery tools like MyRecover come in.

Fast Recover DWG Files with MyRecover

If built-in recovery and manual opening fail, it’s time to use a dedicated recovery software. The main part below focuses on recovering files with MyRecover — a reliable file-recovery app that can find deleted or corrupted DWG files and restore them.

MyRecover stands out while recovering AutoCAD files:

High DWG File Recovery Success Rate. MyRecover is designed to detect deleted, lost, or even partially corrupted .dwg, .bak, and .sv$ files that AutoCAD can’t recognize anymore.

Supports Multiple AutoCAD File Types. Besides DWG, MyRecover can recover AutoCAD’s autosave (.sv$), backup (.bak), and even temporary (.ac$) files.

Quick & Deep Scan Modes. You can start with a Quick Scan for recently deleted DWG files or perform a Deep Scan that analyzes your entire drive sector-by-sector. This flexibility ensures both speed and thoroughness, depending on how long ago the data was lost.

User-Friendly Interface. Even if you’re not a tech expert, MyRecover’s clean interface guides you step-by-step through the recovery process.

Recovers from Any Storage Device. Whether your DWG files were stored on a local hard drive, external drive, SSD, USB stick, or SD card, MyRecover can handle it. It supports NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, etc.

So, how to recover DWG files for AutoCAD with MyRecover? Check the following steps:

1. Stop using the affected drive once files are deleted or damaged, close AutoCAD, and avoid saving new files to the same drive.

2. Download MyRecover and install it on a different drive than the one you’re recovering from.

3. Open MyRecover, hit Deleted Files Recovery, and select the drive or partition where your AutoCAD files were stored (e.g., your system drive or a project drive), and hit Scan.

4. Hit OK when it’s done.

5. Choose the files and hit Recover, then select a location to save these DWG files.

Tips:✎...

Use the file-type filter to show only .dwg, .bak, .sv$, or other AutoCAD-associated files. Narrowing results speeds up finding your drawing.

MyRecover allows previewing many file types. Preview candidate DWG files to verify they contain your drawing data. This helps avoid restoring the wrong version.

To recover files from unlimited computers, try MyRecover Technician now.

Best Practices to Avoid Losing DWG Files

Prevention beats recovery. Here are practical habits and settings to avoid repeating this stress.

• Autosave frequency: Set it to 5–10 minutes. Shorter intervals increase the chances of recovery.
• Backup copies: Save periodic manual copies or use version control (e.g., keep numbered saves).
• Project folders on backed-up drives: Store active work on drives with daily backups or cloud sync.
• Use AutoCAD Sheet Set Manager or Xrefs sensibly: Keep external references organized; broken Xrefs can complicate recovery.
• Keep temp paths monitored: Ensure the AutoCAD recovery file location has ample free space and is writable.

FAQ About Where is Drawing Recovery Manager in AutoCAD

Why is the Drawing Recovery Manager not opening after a crash?

A: It may fail because the autosave path is full or blocked, antivirus quarantines temp files, or AutoCAD’s profile is damaged. Run DRAWINGRECOVERY manually. If it still won’t open, clear %temp%, check the autosave path, whitelist AutoCAD, or run it as admin. If needed, repair or reset AutoCAD.

Can I recover DWG files that were deleted before I noticed them?

A: Yes. If data hasn’t been overwritten, tools like MyRecover can scan and restore deleted DWG files. Stop using the drive, install recovery software elsewhere, and preview before saving recovered files.

How do autosave (.sv$) and backups (.bak) differ, and which should I use?

A: .sv$ autosave files are periodic snapshots; .bak files are copies of your last manual save. Try .sv$ first for recent changes, then .bak for older versions. Rename .sv$ to .dwg to open and recover work.

Will renaming .sv$ to .dwg always work to recover a file?

A: Not always, but worth a try. Rename the extension to .dwg, open it, and run AUDIT or RECOVER commands. If it still fails, use MyRecover to locate an intact autosave or deleted version.

How do I configure AutoCAD to minimize future recovery headaches?

A: Set autosave to every 5 minutes, choose a reliable save folder (preferably on an SSD), save with versioned filenames, and back up to cloud or external drives. Regularly test recovery and keep AutoCAD and drivers updated.

Can AutoCAD recover files from a formatted drive?

A: Sometimes. Use MyRecover to deep-scan the formatted drive before new data overwrites old sectors. Run the scan from another PC or external boot drive for the best recovery results.

Wrap up

Knowing where is drawing recovery manager is in AutoCAD and how to act when things go sideways saves time and headaches.

Use the command line to open the manager, verify your AutoCAD recovery file location, and, if AutoCAD’s built-in tools can’t do the job, use a dedicated recovery workflow like the MyRecover steps above to restore your work. Besides, you can also recover files from a RAW hard drive, a formatted SSD, etc.

With a few preventive settings — short autosave intervals, organized backups, and a recovery plan — you’ll be ready for the next surprise.