autodesk sync: How to fully delete and remove on Windows

TL;DR

• Stop syncing and sign out of your Autodesk account before removal to avoid data loss.
• Uninstall Autodesk Sync/Desktop Connector via Windows Settings or macOS Applications, then delete leftover folders.
• Clean up services, startup items and (optionally) registry entries, verify cloud links are removed, and restart.

Table of Contents

• What ‘autodesk sync’ usually means
• Prepare before removing (backup & sign out)
• Uninstall on Windows
• Uninstall on macOS
• Remove cloud connections and account links
• Verify removal and reboot
• Reinstall or choose alternatives

What ‘autodesk sync’ usually means

When users say “autodesk sync” they most often mean an Autodesk client that mirrors cloud files to a local folder — typically Desktop Connector or older A360 sync tools. These clients create a local cache of cloud-stored projects so your CAD apps can open files as if they were on your machine while keeping a synchronized copy in Autodesk cloud storage. Understanding which sync client is present matters because each has different behavior (selective sync, conflict handling, file locking) and different uninstall or reset steps.

Common signs that help identify the client include a system‑tray icon named Desktop Connector, a mounted virtual drive, or entries in Installed Programs that reference A360 or Desktop Connector. Before uninstalling, close any active CAD sessions and pause sync to avoid corrupting live project files. If you manage multiple Autodesk apps, consult your Autodesk software catalog for which cloud integration your product uses: see the Autodesk software directory.

autodesk sync: Desktop Connector vs A360

Desktop Connector is the modern integration for BIM 360/Autodesk Docs and exposes cloud folders directly in File Explorer; A360 sync was an earlier client that behaved more like a background sync tool. To tell them apart, look for “Autodesk Desktop Connector” in Programs & Features, or check the system tray tooltip. If a virtual drive letter appears and projects open from that mount, it’s likely Desktop Connector. For official troubleshooting, configuration, or support articles, consult Autodesk’s help center on the Autodesk website.

Prepare before removing (backup & sign out)

Before you uninstall or remove applications, stop autodesk sync and sign out of your Autodesk account to prevent partial uploads, conflicted versions, or lost changes. Treat the removal as a migration: pause syncing first, then move or back up any locally cached project files, and only after verification sign out of every machine using that account. Make a short checklist of the account email, license type, and any hub or folder paths you rely on so you can reconnect later without hunting for locations.

Practical steps: identify where local caches and sync folders live (Desktop Connector, Autodesk Drive, or product-specific caches), copy active project folders to an external drive or a dated archive folder, and include hidden metadata files that some Autodesk apps use. Verify file timestamps and save versions before you sign out. If you use project hubs or BIM services, note project IDs and team folder paths. Finally, sign out from the desktop apps and web sessions, then confirm no background sync processes remain active. If you plan to reinstall or migrate to another machine, keep one verified backup until the new setup is confirmed working.

For a quick reference to compatible Autodesk products and bundles that might be affected, see our Autodesk software list.

autodesk sync: pause and verify

Open the Autodesk Desktop Connector or the syncing client you use and choose “Pause” or “Stop syncing.” Wait for any in‑flight transfers to complete — most clients show a status indicator (transferring, queued, idle). After the client reports idle, manually copy the local project folders (including .rvt/.dwg and associated cache or temp folders) to an external drive or a secure cloud archive. Check file sizes and modification dates against the cloud versions where possible. Only after you have confirmed backups should you sign out of your Autodesk account on that device. If you need vendor documentation for specific clients or account procedures, consult Autodesk support for the product in question: Autodesk support.

Uninstall on Windows

autodesk sync

If you need to remove Autodesk Desktop Connector or the A360/Autodesk Sync component, follow these straightforward steps to ensure a clean uninstall. Close any Autodesk applications and sign out of cloud services first so files aren’t in use. You may need administrative rights to remove system components.

1. Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features, or open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
2. Locate “Autodesk Desktop Connector” or an entry labeled “A360” / “Autodesk Sync.” Select it and choose Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts from the uninstaller. If User Account Control appears, grant permission to continue.
4. If the uninstaller appears stalled, open Task Manager and end any Desktop Connector or A360 processes, then retry.
5. When the uninstaller finishes, restart Windows to complete removal and clear any locked files.

After uninstalling, check common locations for leftover folders (for example, in Program Files or AppData) only if you are comfortable removing them manually. Be aware that removing Desktop Connector may affect workflows that sync with Autodesk cloud services—if you plan to reinstall or replace the sync tool, rebooting before reinstalling helps avoid conflicts.

For guidance about product dependencies and other Autodesk applications, see our overview of other Autodesk products or visit the Autodesk official site.

Manual cleanup on Windows

autodesk sync: stop services and remove leftovers

After uninstalling, you may still see traces of autodesk sync and other Autodesk components. First, stop any running services: open Services (services.msc) or Task Manager, look for items like Autodesk Desktop App, Autodesk Content Service, or Autodesk Sync, and stop/disable them. Create a System Restore point before making permanent changes.

• Delete leftover folders: check C:\Program Files\Autodesk, C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk, C:\ProgramData\Autodesk, and both %AppData%\Autodesk and %LocalAppData%\Autodesk. Remove only folders related to the product you uninstalled.
• Clear temporary data: delete %TEMP% entries that reference Autodesk.
• If comfortable, clean the registry: run regedit, export a backup, then search for “Autodesk” and carefully remove keys tied to the uninstalled apps.

If you need reinstall guidance or product-specific steps, see our Autodesk product pages or consult the Autodesk official site for support. Proceed cautiously when editing the registry.

Uninstall on macOS

If you need to remove autodesk sync from a Mac, follow these steps to preserve cloud state and cleanly uninstall the Desktop Connector or A360 client. First, sign out of the sync client to ensure any pending changes are pushed to the cloud and your account state is preserved. Quit the app fully—use the client menu to Quit and check Activity Monitor for any lingering helper processes.

After signing out and quitting, open the Applications folder and drag the Desktop Connector or A360 application to the Trash. If the application includes its own uninstaller, run that instead as it may remove service files and launch agents that a simple drag-to-Trash won’t. Review any prompts carefully and allow the uninstaller to complete.

Before emptying the Trash, back up any local folders you synced if you want to keep copies. Once you’re ready, empty the Trash and restart your Mac to clear active services. If you encounter permission issues, you may need to authenticate as an administrator or remove associated launch agents from ~/Library/LaunchAgents or /Library/LaunchDaemons.

If you plan to reinstall or switch to a different Autodesk client, check our Autodesk software listings for compatible versions and guidance. A final restart and sign-in verification will confirm that cloud data remains intact.

autodesk sync: sign out first

Signing out before uninstalling is the single best step to protect your cloud data. Open the sync client’s account or preferences pane and choose Sign Out (or Disconnect). Wait for any synchronization indicators to complete; a spinning or syncing icon usually means uploads are still in progress. If the client won’t sign out, quit the app and try again with an active internet connection.

If problems persist, consult official resources on the Autodesk website or contact support for assistance with preserving cloud state. After a successful sign-out and uninstall, verify your files on the web interface to ensure everything is intact.

Manual cleanup on macOS

autodesk sync — remove leftover files

If the autodesk sync client left behind services or caches after uninstalling, follow these steps to remove all sync components safely. First quit any Autodesk apps and background processes using Activity Monitor (or run pkill -f autodesk in Terminal) so files aren’t in use.

• Remove application support folders: rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Autodesk
• Delete preferences and caches: rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.autodesk* ~/Library/Caches/com.autodesk*
• Unload and remove launch agents: sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchAgents/com.autodesk.* 2>/dev/null then sudo rm -f /Library/LaunchAgents/com.autodesk.*
• Check for leftover logs in ~/Library/Logs/Autodesk and empty the Trash, then reboot.

Always review targeted files before deletion and back up important data. For product-related info or reinstallation guidance, see the Autodesk products overview (internal) and the Autodesk official site (external).

Remove cloud connections and account links

If you want this machine completely removed from any autodesk sync activity, start by signing in to your Autodesk account on the web and removing linked devices and folder connections. In your account’s security or device management area, revoke access for any devices you no longer use and remove shared-folder or cloud-document links so the cloud no longer references this workstation. Also sign out of the Autodesk Desktop App and any installed Autodesk products on the machine to stop background sync operations.

After removing links in your Autodesk account, clear saved credentials locally: remove Autodesk-related entries from Windows Credential Manager or macOS Keychain, and delete any saved passwords in your browser. If you use a shared team storage (A360, BIM 360, or similar), remove this machine from the project or folder permissions to stop automatic reshares. When finished, reboot the system and verify that the desktop app and any Autodesk product no longer prompt with your account or show cloud documents.

For more information on product-specific sign-out steps or reinstall guidance, see the Autodesk product pages; for a central listing of Autodesk downloads and product information, visit our Autodesk overview page.

autodesk sync — quick unlink checklist

Use this quick checklist to be sure you’ve cut all ties: 1) Web: log into your Autodesk account, revoke device access and remove shared folders. 2) Local apps: sign out of Autodesk Desktop App and each installed product. 3) Credentials: clear entries in Windows Credential Manager or macOS Keychain and remove browser-saved passwords. 4) Project shares: remove the machine from any A360/BIM 360 project permissions. 5) Reboot and confirm no cloud documents or sync activity appear. If needed, consult Autodesk’s site for account help.

Verify removal and reboot

autodesk sync should no longer run after you’ve uninstalled or removed its components. Before you restart, confirm there are no remaining startup entries, background services, or scheduled tasks related to the sync client. Open Task Manager (Startup tab) on Windows and look for obvious entries; on macOS check Login Items in System Settings. Also check Services (services.msc) and Task Scheduler for anything named with Autodesk, A360, or “sync.” If you find lingering items, disable them and note their source so they don’t return after reboot.

Inspect common sync folders in your user profile (Documents, Desktop, and any Autodesk folders) and program-data locations. Remove or archive leftover folders and empty the Recycle Bin/Trash. After cleanup, run a quick disk check and cleanup utility to reclaim space; this helps ensure removed cache files aren’t preserved. If you use Autodesk applications, open one afterward to confirm no automatic re-sync prompts appear. For product-specific guidance refer to the Autodesk AutoCAD product page for related app behavior.

Finally, restart the computer to finalize the cleanup. After reboot, verify free disk space in File Explorer or Finder and watch for any unexpected sync activity. If sync behavior persists, repeat the startup and scheduled-task checks and consider a clean reinstall of the client or consult the Autodesk official website for deeper troubleshooting.

Check autodesk sync startup processes

Systematically verify startup processes: in Task Manager disable any sync-related startup items, then open services.msc and set any Autodesk Sync or A360 services to Disabled. Review Task Scheduler for automation tasks left behind and delete them. On macOS, remove login items and look for launch agents in ~/Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchAgents. After disabling, sign out and sign back in (or reboot) and confirm the process list no longer shows sync-related daemons or executables. If a process reappears, note its file path and remove the originating application or installer that is recreating it.

Reinstall or choose alternatives

autodesk sync issues often lead people to uninstall the Desktop Connector to troubleshoot. If you removed the client, the simplest fix is to reinstall the latest Autodesk Desktop Connector from Autodesk — download and run the official installer, sign in again, and allow it to reindex your workspace. Run the installer as an administrator, confirm you have the current release, and temporarily disable strict antivirus or firewall rules while it sets up. If you work with building models, also verify your project links in Autodesk Revit or equivalent apps and test with a small folder first to confirm sync behavior.

autodesk sync — reinstall or try alternatives

If you prefer not to use Desktop Connector, consider alternatives: download files manually from the cloud web interface when you need individual files, or use a general-purpose file-sync service (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive) for simpler file types. Remember that third‑party sync tools won’t preserve BIM 360/Docs metadata, version history, or some collaboration features, so use them only for assets that don’t require Autodesk cloud services. For one-off fixes, manual downloads and uploads are safest; for ongoing workflows, test a small pilot project to confirm permissions, conflict resolution, and performance before fully switching. For the official installer and detailed guidance, start at the Autodesk Desktop Connector page on Autodesk’s site.