topic Re: Change Up Axis In All Existing Projects in Fusion Support Forum

Change Up Axis In All Existing Projects

nhfnnc — Sun, 22 May 2022 02:02:11 GMT

So I have dozens of Fusion 360 projects and Z has always been my up axis in them. Somehow the other day I managed to do something, possibly while testing things in a new design, that changed the up axis in all my existing project files to the Y axis. I don't know how this is possible, or how to undo it.

Re: Change Up Axis In All Existing Projects

hamid.sh. — Sun, 22 May 2022 02:32:59 GMT

You can change up orientation in preferences.

Re: Change Up Axis In All Existing Projects

nhfnnc — Sun, 22 May 2022 02:49:48 GMT

But that only changes up for new designs. I need to fix it on existing designs.

Re: Change Up Axis In All Existing Projects

jeff_strater — Sun, 22 May 2022 14:34:10 GMT

you will have to rotate the entire model. If you are OK doing this as a separate feature in the timeline (meaning that your model will be Y-up until that point), that is the easiest approach. If you want to go back and change your design to be Z-up from the start, that is a much harder task. You will have to go back and redefine sketch planes, or any references to origin geometry. If the design is pretty simple, it is possible, but you may run into problems. Is the desire for Z-up just to be consistent with the rest of your designs (which I understand)? Or, are your concerns more around CAM setups? If is it CAM, you can just change the stock/tool orientation for that design in the setup, and be OK.

Re: Change Up Axis In All Existing Projects

nhfnnc — Mon, 23 May 2022 00:16:36 GMT

My concern is that all the up axis in my existing designs has for some reason changed to Y when the all used to have Z as up, and I just want to know what happened or what I did to do it. And if possible do the same thing to undo it.

Re: Change Up Axis In All Existing Projects

rjmadl — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:49:27 GMT

So how did all of their and mine drawings go from z up to y up cuz I would like them all to be z up again like they were

Re: Change Up Axis In All Existing Projects

TheCADWhisperer — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:13:24 GMT

@rjmadl

Can you File>Export an example *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

Can you also show your Preferences.

Re: Change Up Axis In All Existing Projects

lauri_barnhart — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:06:24 GMT

Hello, @nhfnnc,

Just checking in—did the responses shared by @rjmadl or @TheCADWhisperer help clarify your question?

If so, please consider clicking the "Accept Solution" button. Doing so helps others in the community easily find useful answers.

If your question still needs more attention, feel free to reply here with an update. This way, other members can jump in with further suggestions or guidance to help you move forward.

All the best,

Lauri | Community Manager