How To Work Offline ?

[cmoher3]

I have the free trial version of 360. In the midst of doing some air travel, I thought I'd do some work offline as I was told 360 had that potential. I was not however able to locate, in any launch menu, how to do so. It would just try to launch and not detecting any internet connection, generate an error code and that was the end. I'm guessing I need a paid account version ? Thanks for your help.

[patilsm]

Hi @cmoher3 ,

Thanks for your post.

Once you launch you Fusion 360, you have option in Top right corner 

Where you check Offline and Online Mode. Please check below image .

But its better to work in Online mode only. If its not possible every day you need to synchronize you local data with cloud. so you will not face any issue in future related to performance. Because every month we have update for fusion and when ever you will go online, it will start the synchronizing you data, If data is too large then it take time.

Si its better to work online OR update you data panel every date.

Regards,

Sagar Patil

[cmoher3]

Satil, I can't even get it to launch when I'm not connected. Whether it's better to work on or offline is of no real consequence. I'm in an airplane and don't have internet. Cheers.

[patilsm]

Hi @cmoher3 ,

Sorry for inconvenience you facing but we need internet for first launch to do login.

Once you done with your first login then its not require internet connection for fusion launch

its automatically gets launched in offline mode.

Regards,

Sagar Patil

[cmoher3]

I'm still waiting for an answer to my problem, if anyone can help.

[seth.madore]

For your very first login, you need to be connected to the internet as you will need to sign in properly with an account and user name. Account level (trial, student commercial) is of no consequence. After that, any interruption in connectivity should still allow for access to Fusion, albeit in an "Offline" state.

I just tested that with my PC by turning off internet access and firing up Fusion. No issues, although it did take a little bit longer to load up

[cmoher3]

I don't quite understand Seth. I have of course used Fusion before on this computer and had to log on for my "very first login". I can't of course log in , using an airport wifi service and keep my computer running while I do a dash for the plane. I mean it is theoretically possible, but not very pragmatic. What is the point of having an "offline mode" if one has to have an internet connection to get it fired up and running continuously, assuming I'm understanding you correctly and I'm not sure I am ? Are you saying that I can't turn my computer off between logging on with an internet connection and using it offline ? Or are you saying that as long as I had a connection when I set Fusion up on my computer for the first time, I should be good to go, cause I'm not. Thanks.

[seth.madore]

The latter should be the case. You NEED connectivity to do your initial login and setup. After that, you should be able to remain disconnected as you dash from plane to plane. I do know it helps if you (while connected) place Fusion in "Offline Mode". After that, you should have no issue firing up Fusion with no internet connection

[cmoher3]

Well, back to my original post !!!

Been using 360 for several months while connected. I jump on a 5 hour flight and think "Great, I'll get some design work done, with minimal distractions". I turn my laptop on, click Fusion and ....... nothing. Wouldn't even boot up the program and just said I wasn't connected to the internet, therefore, it won't even start. And there was no user selectable options to offline. Just a bare bones splash screen with that error.

[cmoher3 · Accepted solution]

I just went to replicate the problem and get a screen grab to show you all. My computer was already running as was Fusion. I turned my internet connection switch off. Fusion prompted me  if I wanted to work offline. I affirmed and it worked like a charm. I shut down Fusion, but not my computer and restarted the program. Again it worked fine. I shut down my whole computer and restarted Fusion and again it worked offline fine. 

Apparently the first time when a user runs Fusion, without a connection, it won't even load the program and only generate an error saying it is unable to load due to no connection. I guess once a person loads Fusion with a network connection, thereafter, it will load and run offline.

Strange.

Bug ?

[cmoher3]

Solution should read that Offline mode only works once it has been used while still connected to the internet and it continues to work after that first use. It will not load the program on first use offline, if not connected to the internet.

[Anonymous]

So I have had the same issue as cmoher3 (Blank screen and message about needing the internet).

So what I have gleamed from all the responses, is that before I get on a flight, I need to log into Fusion 360 with an internet connection and then I can shut everything down. Once on the plane, I'm good to go.

This seems like a pretty dumb way to have the offline mode work.

[seth.madore]

As far as I know, we resolved the few small bugs that revolved around this issue. I've been able to shut off my Wi-Fi and fire up Fusion with a small spot of lag, but then proceed as normal..

[cmoher3]

Seth... I think the issue was if this user was working offline for the first time. If you have ever used your current install offline before, you don't get this issue. It's on first log on attempt offline, out of range of a wifi or other internet signal, where the bug happens. 

[johan.rutgeerts]

@seth.madore This afternoon I turn my computer on, turns out the internet is unexpectedly down. Fusion 360 does not start. I just get a blank, irresponsive splash screen. There's no error message

So no, the bugs are not resolved. 

I've been using Fusion extensively the last few days, so it's not a matter of not having logged in recently.

[oortdg]

Also for me I put fusion 360 offline, it then works for more or less for a day, i can open it and close it and after that again open it but after after a day or so it does not start anymore. I got a white screen and after 15 min I have the fusion 360 logo, and nothing more.

So to me it looks like fusion 360 wants to contact a server first (maybe a time server?) and when that's not possible it won't start.