On a PC backup files are made if it’s set in Preferences.
These are the .SKB files kept in the same folder as the model’s SKP, they are always one-save behind the last saved model file.
On a MAC the equivalent files are named ~.SKP
AutoSaved files are different and are also set up in Preferences - the model is then saved - say every 20 minutes - the files’ location varies. In newer versions there’s a special folder for them…
SKB does update when you save, but it’s purpose isn’t to be a duplicate of the save you are doing now, even if that is what you normally think of as a backup. Instead, it’s a duplicate of the previous save. From when you do the second save of your file, until the end of time, there should be an SKB file.
The auto save file is the opposite, it’s a copy of the changes you have made since the last save. Those do get deleted when you do a successful save.
Gentlemen thanks Both
I’m afraid I can’t find the file set up in the preferences for *.SKB
I have found the files themselves in the project folder
BUT
is it possible to get the system to save the backups EACH TIME I SAVE, so when I being thick again I dont lose the work
Ta much
Patrick
sorry explanation re the above reply
when is saves it adds say a letter or number against the filename ??
It keeps the same file name, except the extension is .skb instead of .skp.
Had the same issue last night… Worked on a design for over 6 hrs and left my Mac running without saving the project. Then next morning my wife asked me to change one of the white sockets in the kitchen to brand new chrome one with usb interface… anyway long story short I switched the main fuse box off without realising my Mac was still on without having project saved. I was furious! at myself… doing a bit of research I ended up searching my Mac for “untitled.skp” and boom my project was there. couldn’t find it in any of the locations previously specified in forums. so just do the search of entire computer and it should appear. Remember I haven’t saved the project at any stage or adjusted any of the settings beforehand. Good Luck!
Glad you found it that way. For anyone else seeing this post, the auto save location for SketchUp 2020 is here:
~/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2020/working/SKETCHUP/RecoveredFiles
You can see that it’s slightly different to how it was with 2015.
Similar problem. I made some heavy changes, and then saved and closed. Today I opened it, and I saw an option to open the recovered version, every other time I have done this, it was the most recent, but I opened the recovered version and it was a version that I hadn’t worked on yet ( the thumbnail of the other saved version looked just as I left it…)
My Sketchup is set to autosave every five minutes but when I checked in the directory where models are saved, there was nothing there
Opened the .skb and there is was… 
Hi, I am hoping that you can help me. I am not tech savvy being an old carpenter, but here is my problem. I used Sketchup free and saved about 12 models over the past 4 months on trimble connect. They are not big files as they are pretty basic 2d drawings. I went to open one and when I clicked on sketchup home they started to load with the flashing circles indicating that they are loading and then they stopped. When I went to trimble connect there is nothing there but when I click on home, they start loading and then stop and then nothing. Everytime I click on Sketchup home they start to load and stop but nothing on trimble connect. Can anyone help me. Thanks. Nick.
What stopped? Share a screenshot or two of what you are seeing.
When I click on home, I see the 9 of my models loading (screenshot1), then it stops loading, the screen goes blank and then I get a welcome screen (screenshot 2).
Ah, now I see 
The loading of the thumbnails of the ‘recent files’ is not working for the Trimble Id that’s currently active.
Try this:
Rightclick on the Chrome icon below in the dock.
Choose ‘Open an incognito window’
Navigate to connect.trimble.com
Sign in on the top right
(how many different suggestions appear?)
Choose the SketchUp project.
What do you see ? (Screenshot)
When I went into incognito mode it led me straight to my models. I couldn’t get to them unless I was in incognito mode. Now when I click on the model in trimble using my normal account it takes me to the account that shows me nothing. When I try to access my models via trimble connect from sketchup it takes me to the account that has nothing in it. What do I do now?
The incognito tab was just to make sure to login with the correct email address and not to have it ‘automatically filled in’ by the cookies of the browser.
So you might wanna clear the cookies of the browser, then login with the same credentials (and use the same sign in options) aa you did in the incognito tab.
From then on, it should be ‘remembered’.
Thanks to you I now have my models back and can access them from Sketch up. I can’t thank you enough. In Australia I would call you a dead set legend (that’s a compliment). Thanks for your patience and your wisdom. The only thing that it doesn’t want to do is save my models to my hard drive, it keeps wanting to create new files with the same name in trindle connect via the save as function, so if you have some final words for me on that I would be grateful. Thanks again, I really appreciate the help. Thanks. Nick69.
drnh
Hello, my hard drive has failed. I managed to pull out the outline files, but they have a similar problem, if you help I will be very grateful
I’m not sure what an outline file is. If you have any SKP file that has problems, I can look at that file.
Here is the location for files which haven’t even been saved even once since you began working:
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\SketchUp\SketchUp 2023\SketchUp\working\SKETCHUP\RecoveredFiles
Hope this helps!
hiye, when I open my sketchup it does tell me that it has a recovered file but does not open it. I followed this path but my sketchup folder does not have working folder in it.
where sketchup is showing me that path
how can I find my recovered file.
Which version of Sketchup Are you using? If it is 2022, then the auto save files go into:
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\SketchUp\SketchUp 2022\SketchUp\working\SKETCHUP\RecoveredFiles\
If you’re using 2022, there was a change. The files are stored directly in:
`C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\SketchUp\SketchUp 2024\SketchUp\working\`