Autodesk Desktop Connector is a free Windows utility that creates a connected drive for Autodesk cloud services, syncing local files while preserving CAD references and design integrity.
Autodesk Desktop Connector is a free Windows application that creates a connected drive in File Explorer so users can access Autodesk cloud services as if they were local folders. It relays files between the Windows operating system and Forma Data Management, Fusion, and Drive, uploading saves and downloads automatically while preserving CAD reference relationships. Designers and engineers keep working in their native authoring applications, such as Revit, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and Inventor, without switching to a browser to move files. Because it understands design file structures, Autodesk Desktop Connector maintains references that ordinary file sync tools would break.
Autodesk Desktop Connector stores its local cache on the C: drive, and the local workspace location can be enforced by administrators during deployment. It enforces cloud permissions locally by marking read-only files in File Explorer, and file states such as New, Synced, Online, Modified, Conflict, and Stale show what still needs uploading. Files are not downloaded until opened or manually synced, and large migrations are better handled by bulk upload tools than by Autodesk Desktop Connector. Administrators managing the companion update utility should look at Autodesk Desktop App, which handles product updates rather than cloud file access.
Autodesk Desktop Connector lets designers work with cloud-hosted files directly in File Explorer and native applications, which removes the manual download-and-upload cycle that otherwise interrupts a CAD workflow. Because it understands design file relationships, Autodesk Desktop Connector preserves references between host drawings and dependent files, so assemblies, xrefs, and data shortcuts continue to resolve after upload. Files are downloaded on demand rather than all at once, which keeps local disk usage under control on large projects, and the Free Up Space command clears cached data when more room is needed. Permission handling mirrors the cloud settings, marking read-only files locally and updating automatically when access changes. Status indicators such as New, Synced, Online, Modified, and Conflict give immediate visibility into what still needs uploading, reducing the risk of working on stale versions. Autodesk Desktop Connector turns the cloud into a working drive instead of a separate destination.
Key capabilities and highlights.
Autodesk Desktop Connector creates a connected drive in Windows File Explorer that represents each Autodesk cloud account and its projects. Users browse, open, and save files the same way they work with local folders, without leaving their authoring application or opening a browser. Autodesk Desktop Connector bridges the desktop and the cloud as one workspace.
Unlike generic sync tools, Autodesk Desktop Connector understands design file relationships and keeps references intact when files move between local and cloud storage. Inventor assemblies, Revit models, Civil 3D data shortcuts, and xrefs continue to resolve after upload. Reference Explorer helps identify broken links and understand file scope before sharing a project.
Files are not downloaded to the local drive until they are opened in an authoring application or manually synced through File Explorer. Undownloaded files appear as proxy entries with an Online status, so a project folder can be browsed without pulling every asset. Autodesk Desktop Connector keeps disk usage proportional to what is actually being worked on.
Each file carries a status such as New, Synced, Online, Modified, Conflict, or Stale that reflects its relationship to the cloud copy. These indicators make it obvious which files still need uploading and which are out of date. Conflict detection sends the local file to the recycle bin when edits clash, so data loss is limited.
Autodesk Desktop Connector reads permissions from Forma Data Management and Fusion and applies them locally, marking files read-only in File Explorer where editing is not allowed. Authoring applications can then warn before changes that cannot be uploaded. When permissions change on the web, local files update automatically without restarting.
A multi-step upload wizard detects referenced files automatically and previews the structure before transfer. It supports Inventor, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Alias, and Civil 3D data, keeping native formats intact. Missing references are flagged with resolution options, so an assembly does not arrive incomplete at the destination.
Autodesk Desktop Connector scans the workspace to detect changes rather than relying only on Windows file events, and it runs an automatic startup scan for edits made while it was closed. Scan jobs and progress appear on the Home screen, with reporting on activities that block or delay a scan. Offline scans queue and run when connectivity returns.
The Free Up Space command removes cached files and folders from the local workspace to recover disk capacity without deleting anything from the cloud. Cached documents not opened for 15 days are removed from offline availability automatically and revert to an Online state. This keeps large projects manageable on machines with limited storage.
Browse historical releases and previous builds.
Common questions about Autodesk Desktop Connector.
Yes. Autodesk Desktop Connector is a free application and receives updates roughly every month. Connecting it to Autodesk cloud services requires a license and sign-in to those services, but the connector itself carries no separate cost.
Autodesk Desktop Connector connects to Forma Data Management, formerly Autodesk Docs, as well as Fusion and Drive. It supports any file type the underlying data source accepts, including native Inventor, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Revit, and Civil 3D formats.
Autodesk Desktop Connector runs on Windows only and is not available for macOS. Version 15.8 or earlier is not supported with Revit 2027 products, which require Desktop Connector 16.x or later for collaboration workflows.
No. Files are downloaded only when opened in an authoring application or manually synced through File Explorer. Undownloaded files appear as proxy entries with an Online status, and cached files not opened for 15 days lose offline availability and revert to Online.
No. Running multiple instances on the same machine is not supported, including instances under different Windows users. Attempting it triggers a local communication channel conflict on port 51010. Newer releases do allow more than one non-admin user to start Desktop Connector on a shared device.
No. Autodesk states that Autodesk Desktop Connector is not designed as a data migration tool. Large uploads can stall with errors such as unsupported file types or path length limits. Bulk migration tools or dedicated third-party applications are recommended for moving large volumes to BIM 360 or Forma for Construction.
Paths and file names for uploaded files must be fewer than 244 characters. Autodesk Desktop Connector shortens folder paths using Windows 8.3 formatting to work beyond the 260-character limit, but exceeding the 244-character upload rule can still cause failures and unexpected behavior.
Autodesk Desktop Connector is a free Windows utility that creates a connected drive for Autodesk cloud services, syncing local files while preserving CAD references and design integrity.
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