How To Open SV$ File In AutoCAD? (Solved)

Many people encounter .sv$ files after an AutoCAD crash or unexpected shutdown and wonder how to open or recover their work. This guide explains, in clear step-by-step language, how to open .sv$ files in AutoCAD, how to recover drawings safely, alternate recovery methods, common errors and fixes, and practical tips to avoid data loss in the future.

Why .sv$ files appear and what they are

AutoCAD creates autosave files with the extension .sv$ (sometimes seen as temporary files) to help you recover unsaved work after a crash or power loss. These are temporary snapshots of your drawing created at the interval set in AutoCAD’s options. They are not official .dwg files but usually contain enough data to recover most of your recent edits.

Quick answer — the simplest way to open an .sv$ file

Locate the .sv$ file (see “Where to find .sv$ files” below).
Make a copy of the .sv$ file (do not work on the original).
Rename the copy’s extension from .sv$ to .dwg (for example, MyDrawing.sv$ → MyDrawing_recovered.dwg).
Open the renamed file in AutoCAD (File > Open) or use the AutoCAD command RECOVER to attempt recovery.

If the renamed file opens, immediately SAVEAS to a new filename and run AUDIT and PURGE to clean up issues.

Where to find .sv$ files

In AutoCAD, go to Options > Files > Automatic Save File Location to see the configured autosave folder.
Default Windows temp folders often include:
- %TEMP% (type this in the Windows Run box)
- C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Temp
After a crash, AutoCAD may show files in the Drawing Recovery Manager on startup (it lists available autosave and backup files).
On macOS, autosave files are usually in system temporary folders (varies by version). Check AutoCAD Preferences for the autosave path.

Full step-by-step recovery tutorial

A. When AutoCAD shows the Drawing Recovery Manager (after a crash)

Launch AutoCAD. If it opens the Drawing Recovery Manager, review the list — it will show autosaved drawings (.sv$) and backups (.bak).
Select the most recent autosave listed and click Open or Restore.
Save the recovered drawing immediately with SAVEAS to a different filename.
Run the commands AUDIT (type AUDIT, answer Y to fix errors) and PURGE to remove unused objects.

B. Manual recovery if Recovery Manager did not appear

Close AutoCAD.
Navigate to the Automatic Save File Location or your system temp folder.
Locate the .sv$ file that matches your drawing’s timestamp.
Create a copy of that .sv$ file and paste it into a working folder.
Rename the copied file’s extension to .dwg.
Open AutoCAD and try File > Open on the renamed file.
If it opens, run AUDIT and then SAVEAS.

C. Using the RECOVER command (recommended for corrupted DWG)

In AutoCAD, type RECOVER at the command line.
In the file dialog, change the file filter to All Files if necessary and select your renamed .dwg (previously .sv$).
Let AutoCAD process the file and fix recoverable errors.
Save the recovered file with a new name.

Alternative methods if the simple rename doesn’t work

Use the .bak file: If the folder contains a .bak file (AutoCAD backup), rename it to .dwg and open it.
Use Drawing Recovery Manager manually: Start AutoCAD; if it doesn’t appear, type DRAWINGRECOVERY to open the manager.
Try opening from AutoCAD’s Open dialog with the file type set to All Files (sometimes AutoCAD will open even without renaming).
If the file is corrupted, try RECOVERALL to also try to recover attached entities and external references.
Use a third-party DWG repair tool as a last resort (choose reputable software and work on a copy).

Common errors and fixes

Error: “File not found” or no .sv$ in temp folder
- Fix: Check AutoCAD’s Automatic Save File Location in Options. Look for files with timestamps or search for *.sv$ across the Temp folders. If your system cleans temp files on reboot, offline recovery may not be possible.
Error: “Not a valid drawing” after renaming
- Fix: Try opening with RECOVER instead of Open. If that fails, try the .bak file or a different autosave file. Use file recovery tools to attempt repair (work on copies).
Error: Permission denied or file locked
- Fix: Ensure you have permissions to access the temp folder. Copy the file to a folder where you have full rights (e.g., Documents) and then rename and open.
Problem: Recovered drawing missing some recent changes
- Explanation: Autosave captures at intervals—if you worked after the last autosave, those edits are lost. To reduce loss, set a shorter autosave interval.
Problem: AutoCAD crashes on opening the recovered file
- Fix: Start AutoCAD in safe mode or disable problematic add-ons. Try opening the file on another machine or using RECOVER on a new drawing session.

Tips to improve future recovery and reduce data loss

Set a shorter autosave interval: Options > Open and Save > Automatic Save (e.g., every 5 minutes).
Enable Create backup copy (BAS) and keep .bak files in the same folder as your drawing.
Verify Automatic Save File Location and make it easy to access.
Save frequently and use SAVEAS to create versioned copies (e.g., Project_v01.dwg).
Store working drawings on local drives when possible; autosave on network drives can behave differently and sometimes fail.
Use cloud versioning or source control for critical project files.
After recovery, always run AUDIT and PURGE before continuing work.

FAQ

Can I convert an .sv$ to .dwg without AutoCAD?

Yes — renaming an .sv$ file to .dwg lets many DWG-compatible programs attempt to open it. However, the most reliable recovery and corrections come from AutoCAD itself using RECOVER or the Drawing Recovery Manager.

What if I can’t find any .sv$ files after a crash?

Check AutoCAD’s Automatic Save File Location in Options and search your system temp folders. If your OS or cleanup utilities clear temp files on restart, the autosave may be removed and recovery might be impossible. Regular saves and backups are the safeguard.

Can renaming the file corrupt it further?

Renaming a copy of the .sv$ file is safe and recommended. Never rename the original file in the system temp folder — always work on a copied file in a safe location.

How often does AutoCAD autosave by default?

The default autosave interval varies by version but commonly is 10 minutes. You can change this in Options > Open and Save. Shorter intervals reduce potential data loss but may slightly affect performance.

Will a .bak file contain my most recent work?

A .bak file is a backup created when you save your drawing; it contains the previous saved state of the drawing. It may be more recent than the last manual save if AutoCAD created autosave files, but it’s not a continuous snapshot like autosave.

Are there macOS-specific steps for .sv$ files?

macOS stores autosave files in system temporary folders. Check AutoCAD Preferences for the autosave path or search /var/folders for files with .sv$ or similar temporary names. The same principle applies: copy, rename to .dwg, and open in AutoCAD.

My recovered drawing opens but behaves strangely — what should I do?

Run AUDIT to fix database inconsistencies, then PURGE to remove unused objects. If issues persist, try copying usable geometry into a new drawing using INSERT or COPYCLIP/Paste as block into a fresh template.

Is there a way to automatically recover drawings after a crash?

AutoCAD will usually present the Drawing Recovery Manager on restart if there are recoverable files. Ensure autosave is enabled and that the Automatic Save File Location is accessible. Consider also using cloud backup solutions with version history for automatic offsite recovery.