BIM Software Tip: Recovering Revit Files in Collaborative Mode
How can you quickly recover Revit files if either the local or central files are accidentally deleted during collaborative design and modeling using central file mode?
Some might say it’s not straightforward. If the local file is deleted, you can simply create a new local copy from the central file. If the central file is deleted, you can find the latest local copy and use it to recreate the central file. But if both are lost, then perhaps you’re out of luck—unless you’ve been backing up regularly.
Here’s an important detail: if your local file is deleted before syncing, the central file won’t have your latest changes. So how do you recover as much of your work as possible in that scenario?
Have you noticed that when you create a local copy from the central file, Revit usually saves it in a folder with the same base name as the local file? The reason we say “base” is that it adds a suffix like _backup to the local file name. You’ve probably seen these backup files, though you might not have used them much. See the example below:
If only the Revit file itself is deleted but the BACKUP folder remains, congratulations—the Revit file can still be restored.
So, how do you use this backup to recover your work? Here’s a quick guide:
First, open Revit without loading any projects. Then, go to the Collaboration tab and select Restore Backup under Manage Models.
Next, you will be prompted to select the path to the Backup folder containing the files you want to recover.
If the project file cannot be found, Revit will ask if you want to proceed with recovery.
Click Yes, and a window will pop up showing all the saved historical backups. You can select the version from the desired date and time, then click Restore.
This will restore the Revit file to the same location. Please note: the BACKUP folder is crucial. Do not delete or move it, as relocating the folder will prevent successful restoration.
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