Cannot delete a file due to "reference" despite not being used in anything

[Anonymous]

I trying to delete a downloaded fusion file but it keeps saying that it's been referenced by another and cannot be deleted.

Events:

-Downloads pcb file to use

-File slows fusion down

-I only try to drag the assembly/file in my own assembly dbefore giving up and removing it from my assembly by pressing delete

-I cannot delete the file in the side bar afterwards.

Fusion has been sluggish and unbearable to use after this probably due to the sheer amount of parts that downloaded file contains.

I can't find where else the file has been referenced anywhere!

Help!

[I_Forge_KC]

So this can happen when a file is referenced by a non-current version.

Say you have an assembly with part X in it. You save the assembly as v1 and move on. Some time later, you delete part X and resave, now v43. Part X will no longer show that it is used by your assembly but it is used by a non-current version (v1-42). In order for the historical version control to function correctly, all the references must stay intact - even if they aren't valid anymore. If you were to delete part X and then re-load v1 of that assembly you would have all kinds of problems so the data management system prevents this from occurring.

This is a great safety feature!

A work-around...

You can download the archive of the assembly, delete the Fusion version, and then re-upload. This will remove all version history and allow you to delete the orphaned file.

You can also create a garbage folder in the project and put the file there - out of sight, out of mind (ish).

You can prevent this from occurring by breaking the link between components and their assemblies that they live in. This may or may not defeat the purpose of your having separate files for the assembly and the components though.

Another alternative is to keep your constituent parts in a separate project folder entirely. I do this with reference and kitbash parts for this very reason. They automatically come in disconnected because they are in a different project. Again, may break your intent so use with caution.

[Anonymous]

Like is there a way to do it without deleting the main file?

I've got several other drawings and parts that's linked to the main file as well.

How will they be affected?

[CGPM]

Kudos to your question since I have the same problem.  I must have wasted an hour trying to delete the file without avail.  Would be nice if there was a better way to delete these files.

[Anonymous]

I have five items and irrespctive of trying to delete as a group or individually I cannot get rid of any of them. This is my very first attempt but even if I walk away I can't just start again as I have been an Autodesk user since about 1985-

So I need to learn what I'm doing wrong and how to fix it for my own self respect if nothing else.

Would welcome any assistance please.

Russell Dunn

Austria

[tyler_lowe_autodesk]

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.