topic Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted. in Fusion Support Forum

Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

jvlob — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 20:35:03 GMT

Hello.

I'm working with Fusion 360 on 3D models and electronics and a 3D design file was created for the PCB but now I wanted to delete this document.

I saw that the document was linked to another one and after researching a bit I saw I had to unlink it etc, which I did.

If I check on the Fusion 360 portal, now the document is not being used in any other document:

But if I try the document I still get the error:

"A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted."

Any ideas on how could I solve this?

Thanks a lot.

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

HughesTooling — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:49:08 GMT

The problem is the design is still linked to an old version and Fusion only shows details of the current versions when you look at a design's details.

What you can try is create a copy of the design you inserted the PCB design into, then delete the original then you should be able to delete the PCB design.

Mark

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

jvlob — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:05:15 GMT

I did that and when I try to delete the original I also get the error:

A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

HughesTooling — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:15:00 GMT

How many designs are in the project and how are\where they linked? So if you had 3 designs for example where they linked in a chain A to B to C or as a branch A to B and C. Also have you created any 2d drawings?

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

jvlob — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:20:58 GMT

What I have is basically an electronics design (schematics + PCB layout) and a 3D model.
Then from the PCB layout I generated a 3D model ac couple of times I think, and maybe one of those I included on the 3D model and then removed it. But I'm not 100% sure and I don't see a way of making sure now since this information doesn't seem to be anywhere, right?

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

FrodoLoggins — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:41:31 GMT

Ya I get this every few months even when the file was never linked to anything in the first place. Or sometimes linked but then instantly unlinked prior to saving.

Until there's a fix your only option is to just move the file to an unused folder you can label as a trash folder or somewhere out of sight lol.

Sometimes it can be deleted from the web:

1: Click on the version number of the file you need deleted.

2: Hit "View Details on Web".

3: Right click on the file entry or hit the down arrow.

4: Hit "Delete".

5: Cross fingers.

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

jvlob — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 13:12:04 GMT

I see... thanks for sharing. I guess the only solution for me is to have that "Trash" folder and move things there because deleting from the web does not work for me either, I get the error: Cannot delete selected data. Data is in use or relationships exist on selected data.

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

HughesTooling — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 13:27:36 GMT

@jvlob wrote:
What I have is basically an electronics design (schematics + PCB layout) and a 3D model.
Then from the PCB layout I generated a 3D model ac couple of times I think, and maybe one of those I included on the 3D model and then removed it. But I'm not 100% sure and I don't see a way of making sure now since this information doesn't seem to be anywhere, right?

Still not 100% sure of what files you have but if you download the top assembly file you'll either get an f3d if it's not linked to anything or an F3z if it a linked assembly. You can then upload to a new project. Then delete the old project.

Mark

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

FrodoLoggins — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:02:55 GMT

If I understand you correctly then I should be able to delete the file shown in the below video? I'm able to export it as an f3d not an f3z. There's actually not even any geometry included in the file, literally a blank file:

This forum thinks I'm trying to insert a private youtube video (it's definitely public) so here's the link:

https://youtu.be/ReeUSfF44vs

Or would the f3d/f3z test file have to be the file that this file definitely isn't linked to in any way?

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

HughesTooling — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:03:14 GMT

No I'm not saying download the file you want to delete. I'm saying download the top level assembly design then upload that to a new project then delete the old project completely. Note this will only work for simple distributed designs that are linked in a chain, will not work for branched designs.

If there is a 2d drawing linked to the top level assembly then download the 2d drawing.

Mark

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

FrodoLoggins — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:14:50 GMT

Thanks.

How can I figure out which top level assembly this undeletable file is linked to?

I'm assuming this area is supposed to tell me?:

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

jeff_strater — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:19:44 GMT

@FrodoLoggins - "Ya I get this every few months even when the file was never linked to anything in the first place. Or sometimes linked but then instantly unlinked prior to saving."

If you have a workflow where a reference to another design is maintained even if you remove that reference before any save is done, we would like to know what that workflow is. I have personally never seen a case like this before, and this should never occur. Once the referencing design has been saved, then yes, you will get this message when you try to delete the referenced design, because the saved version still contains the reference, even if you delete it in a later version.

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

HughesTooling — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:57:44 GMT

@FrodoLoggins wrote:

Thanks.

How can I figure out which top level assembly this undeletable file is linked to?

I'm assuming this area is supposed to tell me?:

Was it used in one of the other designs in the same folder or was it saved in the wrong place? Does the history show the original name of the design or do you know the original name? Does that give you any idea of a file it might be linked to?

In the web interface you can select old versions of a design and inspect what was linked to previous version. This is only going to be useful if you have an idea of what file\files might have used this file.

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

maharshi_ozaVACRZ — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 10:06:47 GMT

Same thing happening with me, and Not have any proper solution for that, Once You upload any 3rd party data to specific project and used in assembly, unlink the part from parent still you cant able to delete file.

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

ndkaman — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 12:50:49 GMT

Yeah i have the same issue. just let us delete anything. Sure maybe it will break another file. but that should be MY choice. Utterly ridiculous

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

sebastiangrocas — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:14:48 GMT

real

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

chrisdaun — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 03:59:55 GMT

Same issue here.

I have a 3d model created in KiCAD that I uploaded and referenced then un-referenced and now I cant delete the file.

Edit: This worked - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAx6tOHFRfo

Re: Can't delete document: A version of this design has been referenced by drawings, other designs, or manufacturing-related files and cannot be deleted.

tyler_lowe_autodesk — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:44:24 GMT

We now allow for moving designs to trash while referenced in the November 2025 release of Fusion. It's detailed here in our latest What's New.
Lets us know what you think of it.