Desktop App

Desktop App

Desktop App and File Synchronization

What is the Desktop App?

The CAD ROOMS Desktop App is a Windows desktop application that synchronizes projects between your local computer and your CAD ROOMS cloud workspace. It lets engineers keep working in their native CAD tools locally while still benefiting from cloud version control and collaboration.

How do I install the Desktop App?

To install the Desktop App on Windows:
  1. Download the installer.
      • Download the .exe setup file.
  1. Run the installer.
      • Double-click the downloaded setup file.
      • Follow the setup steps (Next → Add/Reinstall components → choose destination folder).
  1. Sign in.
      • Open the Desktop App.
      • A browser window opens for login; once signed in, you’re automatically logged into the app.

How does synchronization work?

  • Projects are synchronized to a local folder.
  • Local changes are staged automatically.
  • Click Contribute to create a new version in the workspace.
Saving a file locally does not immediately update the cloud.

The Desktop App won't synchronize or start on my Windows machine. What should I do?

In some Windows environments, the Windows Projected File System feature may be disabled. This feature is required for synchronization.
How to fix it:
  1. Press the Windows key, type “Turn Windows features on or off”, and press Enter.
  1. Find Windows Projected File System in the list.
  1. Check the box and click OK.
  1. Restart your computer if prompted, then relaunch the Desktop App.

I see a "Please clean up…" message and my Projects folder looks empty — are my files gone, and how do I fix this?

Example of the "Please clean up" message
Example of the "Please clean up" message
Your files are safe. The local Projects folder on your computer, usually under Documents\Cadrooms\Projects, is only a mirror of your files. The originals are stored securely in the CAD ROOMS cloud. When the local folder looks empty, only the mirror has been cleared — your actual projects are intact and can be pulled straight back down.
Why it happens
This message appears when CAD ROOMS tries to update or restart while CAD files are still open in another program, for example an assembly open in Creo. Windows automatically locks any open file — standard operating system behavior that no application can override — so CAD ROOMS cannot cleanly rebuild its local Projects folder during the restart and stops with this message.
How to fix it
Let CAD ROOMS rebuild the local folder from the cloud:
  1. Fully close CAD ROOMS and any CAD application, such as Creo or SolidWorks. Make sure none of them are still running in the background.
  1. Delete the CAD ROOMS Projects folder named in the error message — usually at Documents\Cadrooms\Projects. Even if it looks empty, delete the folder itself.
  1. Start CAD ROOMS again and let it reload your projects from the cloud. Re-projection isn't instant — your Projects folder may appear empty for a few minutes while files sync back. Leave CAD ROOMS open and avoid reopening any CAD files until your projects reappear.
Deleting that folder is completely safe — CAD ROOMS recreates and refills it automatically.
How to avoid it in the future
If CAD ROOMS prompts you to update while you are working with files open, skip the update and let it apply at the start of your next session instead. With nothing locked, the app can tidy up cleanly and the message will not appear.

An update prompt appeared while I have files open. Can I postpone it?

Yes. You can choose Later when the prompt appears, or simply close it. The update will be automatically run on next launch of CAD ROOMS — apply it then, before you open any CAD files, so nothing is locked during the restart.
CAD ROOMS currently is in a period of active development, so updates may appear often. This will settle down as the product matures.

Can I work offline with the Desktop App?

The Desktop App allows you to work on synchronized files offline. Any changes you make will automatically synchronize back to the cloud once you reconnect to the internet.
If you lose connection while working:
  • Synchronized files remain accessible on your local machine.
  • You can continue working on checked-out files.
  • Changes will automatically synchronize when your connection is restored.

How do I unsynchronize a Project?

CAD ROOMS handles unsynchronizing through log-out security behavior:
  • If you log out of the Desktop App, all locally synchronized project data is removed from your device for security.
  • When you log back in, any previously connected projects will re-synchronize automatically.
So to "unsynchronize" a project from your machine, the supported method is to log out of the Desktop App.

How do I open files?

Web App
Click a file → opens in the CAD Viewer.
Desktop App
  • Left-click → opens in native CAD software.
  • Right-click → Open in CAD Viewer → opens in the browser viewer.
Left-click opens the file for editing. Right-click opens it for viewing.

How do I open the local project folder?

You can open the local folder in two ways:
Option 1 – From the system tray
  1. Click the CAD ROOMS icon in the system tray.
  1. Select Workspace → Project → Open.
Option 2 – From the Desktop App project page
  1. Open the project.
  1. Click Open (top-right).
  1. Select Reveal Folder.

How do Check-out and Contribute work?

To edit and submit changes to a file:
  1. Check out the file.
  1. Edit locally.
  1. Save.
  1. Click Contribute to submit changes to the workspace.
Saving alone does not create a new version.

What happens when I delete a file locally?

When managing files via the Desktop App:
  • The file must be checked out by you.
  • The deletion is staged.
  • Click Contribute to apply the deletion to the workspace.
Deleting locally does not immediately remove the cloud version.

How is this different from downloading in the Web App?

  • Web App → right-click and select Download.
No ZIP downloads required.