What is a .bak file in AutoCAD and how to open it?
Jul 22, 2025 am 01:18 AM.bak files are backups automatically created by AutoCAD when saving, and are used to restore unexpectedly overwritten or damaged drawings. 1. It is essentially a .dwg file renamed to .bak, retaining only the version before the last save; 2. It can be opened by changing back to the .dwg extension or directly selecting all file types in AutoCAD; 3. If you need to turn off this feature, you can cancel "Create backup copies every time you save" in the option; 4. It is recommended to copy .bak files regularly to enhance data protection.
If you've ever worked with AutoCAD and noticed a .bak file showing up alongside your drawing, you might have wondered what it's for and whether you can use it. The short answer is: a .bak file in AutoCAD is an automatic backup of your drawing that gets created when you save the original file. It's there as a safety net in case something goes wrong.

Here's how to understand and work with .bak files effectively:

What exactly is a .bak file?
When you save a .dwg file in AutoCAD, the program automatically renames the previous version of the file to a .bak extension. This means if you're working on "project.dwg" and save it, AutoCAD will create a backup named "project.bak". This file contains the state of the drawing before the most recent save.
It's not a separate format — it's essentially another .dwg file with a different extension. That's why if you rename it back to .dwg, you can open it just like any other drawing.

Why does AutoCAD create .bak files?
AutoCAD creates .bak files as a recovery option. If your drawing becomes corrupted or you accidentally overwrite something important, having a .bak file gives you a way to go back to the previous version.
This is especially useful when:
- You're making major changes and want a fallback
- Your system crashes during a session
- You notice corruption after saving
Just keep in mind that .bak files are overwritten every time you save, so they only preserve the last saved version before your current one.
How do I open a .bak file?
Opening a .bak file is straightforward. Since it's basically a .dwg file, all you need to do is change the file extension from .bak to .dwg. Here's how:
- Locate the .bak file in File Explorer
- Right-click the file and choose Rename
- Change the extension from
.bak
to.dwg
(you may get a warning about changing extensions — confirm that you want to proceed) - Double-click the renamed file to open it in AutoCAD
Alternatively, you can open it directly in AutoCAD without renaming:
- Launch AutoCAD
- Go to File > Open
- In the file type dropdown, select All Files ( . )
- Browse to the .bak file and select it
- Click Open
How to manage or disable .bak files (if needed)
If you find .bak files cluttering your folders and don't see the need for them, you can turn off this feature by adjusting AutoCAD's settings:
- Type
OPTIONS
in the command line - Go to the Open and Save tab
- Under the File Safety Precautions section, uncheck Create Backup Copy With Each Save
- Click OK
Keep in mind that disabling this removes a layer of protection, so only do it if you have another backup strategy in place.
On the flip side, if you want to ensure these backups are preserved more reliable, consider setting up a batch script or scheduled task to copy and store .bak files periodically.
Basically that's it. Bak files themselves are not complicated, but they are easily overlooked or deleted by mistake. Just understand that it is a temporary backup created by AutoCAD for you, and you know it will come in handy at critical moments.
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