How to Recover Corrupted AutoCAD File Online For Free?

AutoCAD files are digital drawings created with AutoCAD, a CAD software by Autodesk. These files store 2D drafts, technical designs, and 3D models. The primary file formats are .dwg (AutoCAD’s native format) and .dxf (for sharing with other software). Other related files include .bak (backups), .dws (standards), and .dwt (templates).

It's not uncommon for users to lose unsaved drawings or encounter corrupted .dwg files on their computers. If you’re facing this issue, don’t worry—there are effective ways to recover lost AutoCAD files and repair corrupted ones. This guide will also help if you accidentally delete your AutoCAD files. 

How to recover corrupted AutoCAD file online for free?

If you want to perform DWG recovery, you can use the fixes in this part. With a powerful tool and 3 recover DWG file online free tools, you can easily repair the corrupted or recover lost AutoCAD files.

Fix 1. Recover AutoCAD files with AOMEI FastRecovery

If you accidentally deleted or lost an AutoCAD file saved on your computer, start by checking the Recycle Bin—you might be able to restore it from there. If it’s not in the Recycle Bin, don’t panic. A better option is to use a recovery tool like AOMEI FastRecovery. It’s designed to scan your hard drive thoroughly and help you recover lost files in just a few simple steps. And it even supports recovering unsaved files like unsaved Word documents, Excel files, or PPT files, and so on.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, Recycle Bin and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering to end.

Fix 2. Recovery Toolbox for DWG Online

Recovery Toolbox for DWG Online is a specialized tool designed to repair corrupted DWG files directly from your browser. It works by scanning the damaged file, extracting readable data, and reconstructing the drawing. To use it, simply upload your file, let the tool process it, and preview the recovered content. While it supports various AutoCAD versions and is easy to use, downloading the fully repaired file usually requires a paid license. This makes it a good option for minor fixes or quick previews.

Fix 3. OnlineFileRepair.com

Another option is OnlineFileRepair.com, a service that handles a wide range of file formats, including DWG. It focuses on salvaging as much data as possible from corrupted files. The process is straightforward: you upload your file, the system works on repairing it, and you can preview the results to decide if the recovery meets your needs. It’s fast and supports most AutoCAD versions, but the full repair functionality often requires payment, especially for larger files. Users should also exercise caution when uploading sensitive data to online platforms.

Fix 4. DWG Recovery by OfficeRecovery Online

For a more AutoCAD-specific solution, DWG Recovery by OfficeRecovery Online is a great choice. This service is tailored to DWG files and excels at restoring not just the drawings but also layers and metadata. It operates much like the others—upload the file, allow the tool to process it, and preview the results before committing to a paid recovery if needed. Its strength lies in handling complex DWG structures, but similar to other tools, free recovery is typically limited to previews or small files. For more extensive recovery, purchasing the full service may be necessary.

Tips: How to use offline AutoCAD file repair tools for DWG recovery?

If you’ve accidentally deleted your CAD files or find that your .dwg files suddenly won’t open or work properly, don’t worry—you still have options to recover them. In this section, we will introduce 3 methods to restore lost or corrupted AutoCAD files.

Way 1. Recover CAD file from backup

Should you lose a saved CAD file or an editing CAD file, you might also visit the CAD folder on your PC and follow the instructions below to restore lost CAD file from its backup file.

Step 1. Go to the local folder which you use to store the CAD files, and locate the backup file with .bak extension.

Step 2. Copy and paste the .bak file in the folder and change the file extension of the copied file from .bak to .dwg, hit Enter to continue.

Step 3. Click "Yes" to confirm that you want to switch the .bak file to .dwg. Then you can double-click the DWG CAD file in AutoCAD.

Your lost or unsaved drawing will be back there; by then, you can save to have this file on your computer. Should you have turned on the AutoSave function in AutoCAD and lose a half-drawing without saving, try the following for assistance.

Way 2. Restore Unsaved CAD files from Autosave

If you have enabled the AutoSave feature in AutoCAD, congratulations, you can directly restore an unsaved drawing when you closed the program or the file without saving. And here are the detailed steps for you to follow to bring the unsaved AutoCAD file back:

Step 1. Open AutoCAD and click on its icon at the Tools column, then select "Options".

Step 2. Go to the Files tab, expand the Automatic Save File Location and check the location of the autosaved files.

The autosaved are usually saved under this path: C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Temp.

Step 3. Copy the autosave file path and paste it to the Windows File Explorer, hit Enter to open the AutoSave file folder.

Step 4. If you can't locate the autosave file, show hidden file extension by opening Options in File Explorer > View > Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types" > OK.

Step 5. Find the auto-saved.sv$ file in CAD, copy it, and then change the name of the copied file from.sv$ to.dwg. Press Enter to confirm.

Step 6. Then you can double-click the DWG file to open it in AutoCAD. 

You can choose to continue your drawing or save it to another secure drive on your computer.

Way 3. Repair Corrupted CAD Files with Drawing Utillities

If you keep getting a warning message like "Drawing file is not valid" whenever you try to open a CAD file, it means the file is broken. You can fix it with "Drawing Utilities." Here are the steps you need to take to start this fix.

Step 1. Use the AutoCAD program to open the damaged file (.dwg). In the top left corner of your screen, click on the AutoCAD icon. From the dropdown menu, go to "Drawing Utilities," then "Recover," and finally click on "Recover" again.

Step 2. Alternatively, you can choose the “Audit” option if the “Recover” option does not work.

Step 3. Click "yes" to go ahead with the command and fix the mistakes, then wait calmly for the process to finish. If you start this fix, all of the problems with your AutoCAD program will be fixed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, to recover corrupted AutoCAD file online free is entirely possible with the right tools and methods. Whether it’s using recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery, online services such as Recovery Toolbox for DWG or OfficeRecovery Online, or AutoCAD’s built-in utilities like backups and autosaves, there are multiple solutions to help you restore your valuable designs. By following the steps outlined, you can effectively retrieve and repair your files, ensuring minimal disruption to your work. Remember to enable AutoSave and create regular backups to prevent future data loss.