Downloaded .DWFX from autodesk drive (online) Error.

[joelGJQQ7]

I have a model that was uploaded to autodesk drive and used as a 3d viewer. The file uploaded is an export as .dwfx of a .dwg file. That .dwg project/file was lost so I downloaded the previously uploaded .dwfx file and am trying to open it locally on my computer from downloads folder directly using ACAD 2026. I get the following error:

"Cannot find the specified drawing file. Please verify that the file exists." when ACAD tries to open the file. 

Is this even possible to open these downloaded file locally? I'm trying to "restore" some semblance of what was lost. 

EDIT: Well looks like you can't directly "restore" from a .dwfx. I've tried using the command "DWFattach" and still errors. I guess what I need is a program that can load the simple geometry into a file I can then load/attach to recover the solids that make up the design. 

[pendean]

@joelGJQQ7 There used to be a 3rd party for-purchase tool that could under ideal circumstances convert a DWF/DWFx back to DWG, but they've ben long gone now.

But from your post alone, it appears you have a trashed DWFx file that has no value at all. AKA nothing to restore or fix manually.

If you wish to confirm it, share that file here for everyone else to try.

In the meantime I'd get in touch with your IT person (or a repair shop) and talk about file recovery from your own PC: and remember, you're not just looking for a viable DWG file, but also a BAK and an SV$ file as well.

[angelovisconti2812 · Accepted solution]

Hey Joel, unfortunately you’re right — a .DWFX file can’t be opened or restored directly in AutoCAD. It’s not a true drawing file but rather a “published” format meant for viewing and markup in programs like Autodesk Design Review or the online Autodesk Viewer. It doesn’t contain the editable geometry or layer data from the original .DWG, just a compressed 2D/3D representation of it. You can still open the .DWFX in Autodesk Design Review to look at the model, orbit around, or take measurements, but there’s no built-in way to convert it back to a fully editable AutoCAD file. Some third-party tools claim to extract geometry, but results are usually incomplete or messy. If your goal is to recover design elements, the best option would be to see if there’s a cloud backup or any autosave/version history from when the .DWG was still active in Drive, since that’s where the editable data actually lives.