How to Fix Corrupted AutoCAD Files Easily

BIM Software Tip: How to Repair Damaged AutoCAD Files

Problem: Your AutoCAD drawing file (.dwg) may be corrupted or damaged, causing one or more of the following issues:

• Unable to open the file.
• AutoCAD hangs or crashes when opening the file.
• Reduced performance during editing or manipulation.
• Error messages when opening or working with the file.
• Commands not working properly or experiencing significant delays.
• Unexpected increase in file size.
• Display or regeneration problems.
• Missing graphic elements.

Possible Causes:

• Third-party applications running within AutoCAD.
• DWG files created or saved by non-Autodesk or non-RealDWG products.
• Crashes occurring during the save operation in AutoCAD.
• Use of outdated graphics repeatedly over the years.
• Network issues such as transmission errors, file locks, or delayed writes.
• Storage media degradation (e.g., bad sectors on hard drives).
• Faulty or insufficient RAM.
• Operating system problems.
• Power supply voltage fluctuations.

Solution: Follow these guidelines to clean, repair, and restore your drawing files.

If the .dwg file cannot be opened:

Your drawing may display error messages such as “The drawing file is not valid”, or AutoCAD may hang, crash, or fail to display the file properly.

Sometimes, you might find hidden files with the same name but with extensions .dwl or .dwl2 in the folder where your DWG resides. To view and delete these:

• Go to Windows Control Panel > Folder Options.
• Under the View tab, enable Show hidden files and folders.
• Navigate to the folder containing your DWG, then delete any corresponding .dwl or .dwl2 files.

After deleting these, try opening the DWG again.

If the file still cannot be opened, proceed with the following steps. Attempt them one by one, testing if the file opens after each step. Stop if the file opens successfully.

• Open a blank DWG and run the RECOVER command, then select the damaged file. AutoCAD will try to recover and open it.
• Alternatively, open a blank DWG, run the RECOVERALL command, and select the problematic file.
• Open a blank DWG and use the INSERT command to insert the damaged file as a block. If successful, run CHECK and CLEAR commands, then use SAVEAS to save a new file.
• Check if there is a backup file (.BAK) in the same folder. Rename the .BAK extension to .DWG and try opening it.
• Look for temporary files in C:WindowsTemp with names similar to your DWG but with different extensions such as SV$. Rename these to .DWG and attempt to open them.
• If available, restore files from your backup system from before the corruption occurred.

If the drawing file is still open but problematic:

Perform the following steps in order:

1. Open the drawing.
2. Clean up registered applications by typing -CLEAR in the command line.
3. When prompted, type R to register applications, then N to clear each name.
4. Use the CLEAR command from the command line, select all options, and click Clear All.
5. Verify and fix errors by typing CHECK and then enter Y to fix all.
6. Save the drawing.

If problems persist:

• Ensure all layers are unfrozen and unlocked.
• Remove all external references (Xrefs).
• Use WBLOCK to write all necessary objects to a new drawing:

• Type WBLOCK in the command line.
• Select Source as Object.
• Use the selection window to pick the required objects (avoid selecting everything).
• Specify the file path and name, then confirm.

Still encountering issues?

Try these additional Autodesk-recommended steps, testing after each:

1. Open a blank DWG and run the RESTORE command, then browse to your damaged file for recovery.
2. Run OVERKILL on all objects to remove duplicate or overlapping entities.
3. Use DELCON to delete constraints from all objects.
4. Use the BOUNDARY command to recreate boundaries if solids or surfaces are present.
5. If SCALELISTEDIT system variable is active, reset it by typing R then confirm with Y.
6. Run FILTER, then use the delete filter button to remove unwanted elements.
7. If the file size is unusually large, run the DGNPURGE tool to clean it up.

If you are opening drawings across different AutoCAD versions (e.g., AutoCAD 2013 vs 2015, or regular AutoCAD vs AutoCAD Architecture), try opening the file on another computer to rule out machine-specific issues.

Try attaching the problematic file as an external reference (xref) in a blank DWG. If successful, run the repair steps above.

Use SAVEAS to save the drawing in an earlier AutoCAD file format if newer versions fail to open the file.

Export the drawing to DXF format using DXFOUT, then open a blank DWG and import the DXF back using DXFIN.

Restoring Layout Tabs:

• Right-click on a default layout tab.
• Choose From Template….
• Open the original file and select the layout tab you want to restore (recommended to restore tabs one at a time).

Moving Graphic Objects Between Model and Paper Space:

• Create a new layout and add a viewport if necessary.
• Use the CHSPACE command to transfer geometric elements between model and paper space.
• Create a new drawing and use Design Center to move layouts from the damaged file.
• Use CHSPACE to move geometric primitives back to model space if needed.

Analyzing and Troubleshooting Drawings:

Perform a detailed analysis by using QSELECT on a copy of the file to select different object types, deleting them one by one and then cleaning up after each deletion. This helps identify problematic objects or data. If necessary, delete and recreate these objects from a clean file.

Removing Invisible DWG Elements:

Use the COPYWITHBASEPOINT command to transfer all relevant elements and options to a new DWG via the clipboard, ensuring all necessary layers are turned on and unlocked.

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