How to Recover Unsaved/Lost/Deleted SketchUp Files

Updated to File Recovery Tips by Robert on Feb 23, 2024 | Approved by Jennifer Allen

SketchUp is one of the most powerful tools to create, view and edit the 3D design for PC or Mac users. It is a must for most people engaged in 3D design work. However, even the most skilled designers can lose projects due to accidental crashes, forgetting to save, or unintentional deletions. If you are in this frustrating situation, don't panic just yet. Here can help you recover Sketchup files and learn more about SketchUp. Read on; with a little effort, you can get back your hard work and move on to your projects.

Quick Navigation
Part 1. Where is SketchUp Recovery File Location? What Is the Use?
Part 2. How to Recover Unsaved SketchUp File
Part 3. How to Find Previous Versions of SketchUp File
Part 4. How to Recover Deleted SketchUp Files on Windows/Mac
Part 5. How to Prevent Sketch Files from Being Lost Due to Crashes/Deletions/Not Save
Part 6. FAQs

Where is SketchUp Recovery File Location? What Is the Use?

It is the location of the SketchUp autosave project, and like your guardian angel, always there to store your items in case an unexpected happens. This feature automatically saves your progress at set intervals, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on your designs. However, you may not know the SketchUp autosave location for emergencies. So, you can check the following folder to open SketchUp backup file without changing the installation location.

Finding lost projects becomes easier when you know the SketchUp recovery file location. Next, let us guide you in restoring Sketchup files after a crash or not being saved!

How to Recover Unsaved SketchUp File

Have you ever worked on a SketchUp project for hours, only to realize that you never saved it? It's a frustrating feeling, but don't panic just yet. You can try a few methods to recover SketchUp file not saved.

Ways 1. From the SketchUp Welcome Window

No matter what causes your SketchUp to quit suddenly, it will check the SketchUp auto-saved files on the next startup to ensure you don't lose your progress. Therefore, you can follow the steps below to recover unsaved file in SketchUp.

  1. Open the SketchUp application.
  2. Click on the item named "Recovered" at the bottom of the welcome window.
  3. Choose the most recent SketchUp project version.
  4. Go to File > Save on the top menu to save it to your specified location.

Ways 2. From SketchUp AutoSave Folder

Suppose the SketchUp recovery item is not displayed in the welcome window. In that case, you can also directly visit its SketchUp autosave file location to open SketchUp backup file, the following detailed steps:

  1. Go to the folder of part 1 according to your system
  2. Locate the file beginning with AutoSave.
  3. Open it with SketchUp to inspect the content.
  4. After finding an unsaved SketchUp file, click Ctrl + S to save it.

Ways 3. Recover SketchUp File from SKB

If the above methods don't help you find the unsaved SketchUp file, you can also search for the .skb file to get the needed project.

  1. Open Explorer.
  2. Type "*.skb" in the search box and "Enter."
  3. Locate a copy in the search results that may contain SketchUp auto-backup files.
  4. Finally, drag it into the program to open and save it.

The above methods can effectively help you recover unsaved SketchUp files. However, what if you saved a version that wasn't as good as a previous design or can't roll it back? Don't worry; keep reading!

How to Get Previous Versions of SketchUp File

Have you ever spent hours working on a SketchUp file only to have it become corrupted or accidentally saved over? Don't panic - there's a way to restore an old SketchUp file on Mac or Windows 11/10, but you need to enable file history or a time machine.

For Windows:

  1. Press the "Windows + R" keys simultaneously, type "control" in the opened window, then press "Enter."
  2. Navigate to System and Security > File History > Restore your files with File History.
  3. Click the left and right arrows to preview the backup files at different times.
  4. Click the green "Restore" button after finding the previous version of SketchUp files.

For macOS:

  1. Connect your external hard drive as a backup to your Mac and open Time Machine.
  2. Select your old version SketchUp file according to the period.
  3. Click "Restore" at the bottom of the screen to save it again.

The above solutions can help you retrieve unsaved or previous versions of SketchUp files, so if you accidentally delete a file, can you get it back? No problem! You can use the following method if you have not saved new data after deletion.

How to Recover Deleted SketchUp Files on Windows/Mac

Have you ever accidentally deleted a SketchUp file and thought it was gone forever? As any computer user should know, deleted files are typically placed in the Recycle Bin, where they can be retrieved at any time. However, if a deleted file is not in the Recycle Bin or emptied, it may seem like all hope is lost. Thankfully, there is still a chance to recover deleted permanently files in Windows 11, 10, and Mac. For this, you can rely on iBeesoft Data Recovery, which utilizes the latest technology, is suitable for almost all data loss scenarios, and repairs corruption items. Here are some of its main features and guide you could use for how to recover SketchUp file:

Your Effective SketchUp Recovery Software

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  • Separate versions are available for Windows and Mac, so you don't have to worry about compatibility.
  • Quick Scan ensures the Quickest way to recover deleted SketchUp files, and the Deep Scan provides a better result in deleted file recovery or formatted recovery.
  • A Simple interface with a streamlined built-in guide makes SketchUp file recovery easier.
Download for Windows Download for macOS
  1. Click the "Download" button to get the correct version for your computer.
  2. In the new window, please select the hard drive which saves the SketchUp folder and click "Scan," letting the SketchUp recovery software scan the destination for the target files.
  3. When the scanning process finishes, go to the location where the SketchUp file disappeared to check. You can also filter for files with a .skp or .skb file extension using the search box on the right.
  4. After finding the deleted SketchUp files, select them and click "Recover" to save them on your computer.

Losing essential items can be a devastating experience, especially when it comes to crucial projects. While these solutions are available to recover SketchUp files not saved, deleted, and more after such incidents, the best thing to do is to prevent such a disaster from happening. To achieve this, you can read the following tips.

How to Prevent Sketch Files from Being Lost Due to Crashes/Deletions/Not Save

If you spend hours pouring over your SketchUp designs, tweaking every detail until it's just right, losing them by accident can be a nightmare. Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent it from happening.

With these precautions, you can protect your hard work and creativity from unforeseen disasters.

FAQs

Conclusion

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we lose our hard work through unforeseen circumstances. Losing progress on a SketchUp project can be incredibly frustrating. But fear not; this blog provides various methods to help you recover SketchUp files on Mac or Windows PC. So, don't give up on those lost items just yet. Try them to save the day.