Revit Cloud Worksharing: How to Recover Unsynced Changes After a Crash (Collaboration Cache Guide)

In a high-pressure BIM environment with dozens of users, syncing to the central model every ten minutes isn’t always feasible. It slows the network and interrupts work. The standard workflow has always been to Save locally often and Synchronize with Central (SWC) only when needed.

With Revit Cloud Worksharing (via Autodesk Construction Cloud / BIM 360), many users assume that hitting Save is useless if a crash happens before syncing.

That assumption is wrong.

Your work is usually still there. Revit stores it locally in the Collaboration Cache, and there are built-in recovery paths to reconnect that data to the cloud model.

This guide explains exactly how to recover unsynced changes in Revit, where the data lives, and what to do when things don’t go as expected.

How Revit Handles Local Saves in Cloud Worksharing

When working on a cloud model:

  • Save writes changes to your local Collaboration Cache
  • Synchronize with Central pushes those changes to the cloud

If Revit crashes before a sync, your latest work is still stored locally.

This is the key concept: The cache is your safety net.

Automated Recovery After a Crash

When Revit crashes, start simple.

Steps

  1. Restart Revit
  2. Open the cloud model from the Home screen
  3. Watch for the recovery dialog:

“You have unsaved changes. What do you want to do?”

  1. Select: Keep my changes and open the model

Revit will load your local cached state into the session.

  1. Immediately run Synchronize with Central

This pushes your recovered work to the cloud.

What’s happening behind the scenes

Revit detects that your local cache is newer than the cloud version and offers to restore it. This is the fastest and safest recovery path.

Manual Recovery: Accessing the Collaboration Cache

If the recovery dialog does not appear, you need to go directly to the source.

Collaboration Cache location

C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit 20XX\CollaborationCache

What you’ll find

  • Folders named with Account IDs and Project IDs
  • Nested subfolders containing:
    • .rvt files (your models)
    • .json mapping files

How to identify your file

  • Use Date Modified
  • Check file thumbnails
  • Ignore filenames (they are GUIDs, not project names)

Step-by-Step: Recover Unsynced Work Without the Dialog

If Revit does not prompt recovery:

  1. Close Revit completely
  2. Navigate to the Collaboration Cache folder
  3. Locate the most recent .rvt file (based on timestamp)
  4. Copy it to a safe location (Desktop or temp folder)
  5. Reopen Revit
  6. Open the official cloud model normally
  7. If prompted → Keep my changes

If no prompt appears:

  1. Open the copied .rvt file manually
  2. Use it as:
    • A reference to redo work
    • Or a last-resort replacement for the central model

What to Do After a Fatal Error Save

If Revit forces you to save a recovery file during a crash:

  • Save it (Desktop is fine)
  • Do NOT try to sync that file directly

Correct workflow

  1. Open the cloud model normally
  2. Accept Keep my changes if prompted

If that fails:

  1. Open the recovery file
  2. Validate the content
  3. Coordinate with the team before replacing anything

Only in extreme cases:

  • Save it as a new central model
  • Have the team switch to this version

Understanding the Collaboration Cache Structure

Revit uses GUID-based mapping for cloud models.

  • File names = random identifiers
  • Mapping happens via .json files
  • Folder hierarchy reflects:
    • Account
    • Project
    • Model instance

This is why you must rely on timestamps, not names.

Common Failure Scenarios and Fixes

Sync failed after recovery

  • Retry sync after reopening
  • If persistent: clear cache (see below)

Model opens but changes are missing

  • Wrong cache folder selected
  • Check older timestamps

Elements locked / ownership conflicts

  • Your local state may not match central
  • Sync and relinquish immediately after recovery

Revit cannot detect local changes

  • Cache corruption possible
  • Use manual recovery workflow

Best Practices for Stability

The “Save” Button Still Works

Clicking Save in a cloud model updates your local cache in AppData. It remains a critical safety layer.

Avoid “Save As” for Recovery

If Revit crashes and prompts a save:

  • Save the file
  • Do NOT sync it directly

Use it only as:

  • A reference
  • Or a controlled replacement after team coordination

Clear Cache Periodically

If you encounter repeated issues:

  1. Ensure all users have synced
  2. Close Revit
  3. Delete contents of:
    • CollaborationCache

This resolves many hidden database conflicts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Syncing immediately after a crash without checking recovered data
  • Opening cache files and continuing work without reconnecting to cloud properly
  • Deleting cache while others are still working
  • Overwriting central without team coordination
  • Assuming unsynced work is lost

How Often Should You Sync in Large Teams

Local saves protect your work, not the team.

To avoid conflicts:

  • Sync every 1–2 hours
  • Sync after completing major tasks
  • Sync before closing sessions

This releases borrowed elements and keeps the central model usable.

FAQ

Does the “Save” button sync my changes to BIM 360?

No. Save only updates the local Collaboration Cache. Only Synchronize with Central pushes changes to the cloud and makes them visible to other users.

What should I do if Revit forces me to save a local file during a crash?

Save it to your desktop. Then:

  1. Open the cloud model normally
  2. Accept recovery if prompted

If not:

  • Open the saved file
  • Use it as reference or last-resort recovery

Why are the filenames in the Collaboration Cache random?

Revit uses GUIDs (Globally Unique Identifiers) for cloud mapping. To identify projects, refer to .json mapping files or timestamps.

Can I open a file directly from the Collaboration Cache?

Technically yes, but it is risky.

Revit may treat it as a detached local model, breaking cloud linkage. Always prefer opening through Revit’s Open command.

Can I recover work if Revit crashes before syncing?

Yes. In most cases:

  • Your changes are in the local cache
  • Revit can reload them automatically
  • Manual recovery is possible if needed

Where does Revit store cloud workshared files locally?

In the Collaboration Cache folder:

C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit 20XX\CollaborationCache

What is the safest recovery method after a crash?

  1. Reopen the cloud model
  2. Accept Keep my changes
  3. Sync immediately

If that fails, switch to manual cache recovery.

Final Note for BIM Leads and Coordinators

In cloud worksharing, data is not lost after a crash. It is delayed.

The difference between losing work and recovering it is knowing how the Collaboration Cache behaves under failure conditions.

If your team works on large models, make sure everyone understands:

  • Where the cache is
  • How recovery works
  • When to escalate to manual recovery

That knowledge prevents hours of rework and avoids unnecessary panic during deadlines.

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