CAD and BIM File Storage for Architecture Practices
How architecture practices should store and share Revit and AutoCAD files: where OneDrive and SharePoint sync causes problems, the options Autodesk supports, and what to check before changing storage.
/ Guide map
Why cloud-synced folders cause problems for Revit
AutoCAD drawings and external references
Storage and access options Autodesk documents
What to check before changing where design files live
Best for
Architecture and design practices using Revit or AutoCAD that are reviewing file storage or remote access
Decision support
Direct answer
Keep workshared Revit central models on a file server on your local network, Revit Server or Autodesk's cloud collaboration service, not in a OneDrive, SharePoint, Dropbox or Google Drive sync folder. Autodesk says file-based worksharing on those services will not behave as it does on a local network. AutoCAD drawings with external references have similar locking and syncing problems on cloud-synced folders.
Why cloud-synced folders cause problems for Revit
Revit's file-based worksharing was designed before cloud storage was common. Its controls that give one person ownership of an element or workset do not account for another application copying the files in the background. Autodesk lists what can go wrong: the option to create a new local copy greyed out, a corrupted central model, lost work when two people synchronise at the same time, and local models that can no longer synchronise with the central model.
AutoCAD drawings and external references
AutoCAD-based products work through the sync app's local cache when files sit in SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or Box. Autodesk documents the side effects: no reliable file locking, so two people can open the same drawing; xrefs that load slowly, fail to load or detach; saves that do not appear for colleagues; and problems with Sheet Set Manager. Autodesk describes workarounds, such as adding the sync folder to trusted and support paths, but they reduce the problems rather than remove them.
Storage and access options Autodesk documents
| Option | Suits | Trade-offs to check |
|---|---|---|
| File server on the office network | A single office using file-based worksharing | Needs managed server hardware, backups and a secure route for staff working away from the office |
| Revit Server | Several offices in one company working on the same model | Included with a Revit licence but needs server hardware; stores Revit data only; Autodesk cites about 3 Mbps and 100 ms latency between sites |
| Revit Cloud Worksharing | Teams that collaborate across firms or locations | A recurring per-user subscription; performance depends on the internet connection; Revit LT is not supported |
| Remote Desktop to office workstations | Staff who need occasional access from home | Office workstations must stay maintained and online; usability falls with distance and screen resolution |
What to check before changing where design files live
List the applications and file types
Record which versions of Revit, AutoCAD and other design tools you use, and which projects use worksharing, linked models or xrefs.
Separate design files from ordinary documents
Contracts, correspondence and admin files can usually move to SharePoint or OneDrive. Active design models may need a different home.
Test one live-sized project
Open, edit, synchronise and reload a representative project with two people working at once, from the office and from home.
Confirm backup and restore
Restore a project folder from backup and check that links, xrefs and permissions still work before relying on the new location.
Agree who owns the decision
Your BIM or information manager decides the authoritative file location and collaboration method. IT should provide and support the platform that decision needs.
Review your practice's file storage
BPro Technologies reviews workstations, file storage, remote access and backups for architecture practices, and coordinates with your design-software vendors.
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Assessment path
Review the current tenant, migration, or cloud gap
Use the free assessment when you need a practical view of Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Azure, SharePoint, Intune, backup, identity, or migration risk before work is scoped.
Service path
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Team path
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Questions buyers ask
Can I store Revit central models in OneDrive or SharePoint?
Autodesk advises against it for file-based worksharing. Its support article says you should not expect behaviour similar to a local network, and lists central model corruption and lost work as possible results. Use a local file server, Revit Server or Autodesk's cloud worksharing service instead.
Can AutoCAD files be kept in SharePoint or OneDrive?
They can, but Autodesk documents issues with file locking, xrefs that fail to load or detach, and changes that do not appear for other users. Test with real projects and agree a check-in and check-out routine before moving active drawings.
How can architects work on Revit models from home?
Autodesk lists Revit Cloud Worksharing, cloud models, Revit Server and Remote Desktop to office workstations. Each has different costs, hardware needs and performance limits, so match the option to how many people collaborate and where they work.
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