How to Use

Installation

Step 1: Download the Addon Download the auto_save_file_checker folder or ZIP file.

Step 2: Install in Blender

1. Open Blender (version 4.2 or higher)
2. Go to Edit → Preferences → Add-ons
3. Click the Install button (top right)
4. Navigate to the downloaded addon folder/ZIP
5. Select it and click Install Add-on

Step 3: Enable the Addon

1. Search for "Auto-Save File Checker" in the add-ons list
2. Check the checkbox to enable it
3. The addon is now active!

Getting Started

Opening the Panel

1. Open any 3D Viewport in Blender
2. Press N key to open the sidebar (if not already open)
3. Click on the "Temp Files" tab
4. You'll see the Auto-Save File Checker panel

First Scan

1. Click the "Refresh" button to scan for temp files
2. The addon will search all temp directories
3. Your files will appear in the "Recent Files" section

Main Panel Features

 Top Controls

Refresh Button

• Scans for new temp files
• Updates the file list
• Click this after Blender creates new auto-saves

Folder Button

• Opens your temp folder in file explorer
• Quick access to temp directory
• See files outside of Blender

 Filter & Sort Section

Sort By Dropdown

• Date: Shows newest files first (default)
• Size: Largest files appear first
• Name: Alphabetical order

Search Box

• Type to filter files by name
• Results update instantly
• Case-insensitive search

 Statistics Display

Shows at a glance:

• Total number of files found
• Total disk space used (in MB)
• Number of selected files
• Space used by selected files

 Delete Options

Delete Selected

• Removes all checked files
• Shows count in button text
• Requires confirmation

Delete All Files

• Clears entire temp directory
• Red warning indicator
• Safety confirmation required

 Temp Paths (Collapsible)

• Click to expand/collapse
• Shows all scanned directories
• Checkmark (✓) = directory exists
• X mark (✗) = directory not found

 Recent Files List

• Displays 5 most recent files
• Shows file name (truncated if long)
• File size in MB
• Last modified date and time
• Checkbox to select file
• Open button to load file
• Delete button (trash icon)

"+ X more files..." Indicator

• Shows when there are more than 5 files
• Indicates hidden file count
• Click "Browse All Files" to see them

Browse All Files Window

Click the "Browse All Files" button at the bottom to open the full browser.

 Advanced Features

Search Bar

• Larger search field for filtering
• Works same as main panel search
• Filter hundreds of files instantly

Sort Options

• Same sorting as main panel
• Date, Size, or Name
• Changes apply immediately

View Mode Switcher

• Detailed: Full information with file paths
• Compact: Single-line list view
• Choose based on your needs

 Selection Tools

Select All Button

• Checks all visible files
• Works with filtered results
• Quick bulk selection

Clear Button

• Unchecks all files
• Deselects everything
• Start fresh

 Enhanced Statistics

Shows additional information:

• Files count: Current/Total (e.g., "25/100")
• Total size of all files
• Selected files count and size
• Real-time updates

 Bulk Delete Options

Delete Selected

• Same as main panel
• Shows selection count
• Disabled when nothing selected

Delete All

• Removes all temp files
• Red warning color
• Confirmation required

 File Display

Detailed View Mode:

• Full filename
• File size (2 decimal places)
• Complete date and time
• Full file path
• Open and Delete buttons

Compact View Mode:

• Single row per file
• Filename, size, and date
• Icon buttons for actions
• See more files at once

 Closing the Window

Three ways to close:

1. Click the "Close" button at bottom
2. Press the ESC key
3. Click "OK" button

Common Workflows

 Recovering Lost Work

Scenario: Blender crashed, need to recover your file

1. Open Auto-Save File Checker panel
2. Click "Refresh" to scan
3. Look at Recent Files (sorted by date)
4. Check the timestamp of files
5. Click "Open" on the most recent file
6. Your work is recovered!

Pro Tip: Sort by Date to see newest files first

 Cleaning Up Disk Space

Scenario: Hard drive is full, system is slow

The Problem: Many Blender users don't realize that auto-save files accumulate over months of work. These files can take up 10-50+ GB of space, causing:

• "Disk full" errors
• Slow system performance
• Unable to save new files
• Windows/Mac storage warnings

The Solution:

1. Click "Refresh" to scan all files
2. Check the total MB/GB in statistics panel
   • You might be shocked to see 20GB+ of temp files!
3. Click "Browse All Files"
4. Switch to Compact View to see more files
5. Sort by Size to find large files first
6. Review the dates - do you need files from 3 months ago?
7. Select old or large files (checkboxes)
   • Tip: Files older than 1-2 weeks are usually safe to delete
8. Click "Delete Selected"
9. Confirm deletion
10. Check statistics again - see how much space you recovered!

Real Example: "I found 47GB of temp files I didn't know existed! Freed up almost 50GB in 2 minutes!" - Typical user experience

Pro Tip:

• Sort by Size to target space-wasters first
• Keep only last 1-2 weeks of files
• Run this cleanup monthly to prevent buildup

Safety First:

• Always check file dates before deleting
• If unsure, open suspicious files to verify content
• The addon shows exact dates so you know what's old

 Finding Specific Project

Scenario: Looking for auto-save from specific project

1. Open "Browse All Files"
2. Type project name in Search Bar
3. Results filter instantly
4. Click on the file you need
5. Click "Open" to load it

Pro Tip: Use keywords from your filename

 Reviewing Old Auto-Saves

Scenario: Want to see what you worked on yesterday

1. Click "Browse All Files"
2. Keep Date sorting (default)
3. Scroll through files by date
4. Check timestamps for yesterday's work
5. Open files to review

Pro Tip: Detailed View shows full timestamps

 Quick Daily Cleanup

Scenario: Maintain clean system and prevent disk space issues

Best Practice Routine:

1. Weekly Quick Check:
   • Click "Refresh"
   • Look at statistics panel
   • If total size > 5GB, time to clean
2. Monthly Deep Clean:
   • Click "Browse All Files"
   • Sort by Date
   • Select all files older than 2 weeks
   • Click "Delete Selected"
   • Watch your free space increase!
3. Before Important Work:
   • Clean temp folder first
   • Ensures auto-save has space
   • Prevents "disk full" errors during work
   • Gives you peace of mind

Pro Tip: Run this weekly to maintain space and prevent your hard drive from filling up. Many users recover 20-30GB on their first cleanup!

Tips & Best Practices

 DO:

• Refresh regularly to see new auto-saves
• Check dates before deleting files
• Use search when you have many files
• Save important recoveries to a proper location
• Monitor disk space in statistics - it shows total storage used
• Switch view modes based on your task
• Clean temp folder monthly to prevent disk space issues
• Sort by size when cleaning to maximize space recovery
• Keep only recent files (last 1-2 weeks usually sufficient)

 DON'T:

• Delete all files without checking first
• Forget to save recovered files properly
• Ignore disk space warnings from your OS
• Delete files you haven't reviewed
• Skip the confirmation dialogs - they're there for safety
• Let temp files accumulate for months - clean regularly!
• Panic about disk space - this addon makes cleanup easy

Keyboard Shortcuts

• N - Open/Close sidebar (to access panel)
• ESC - Close Browse All window
• Tab - Navigate between UI elements

Understanding File Names

Blender auto-save files typically look like:

• quit.blend - Last file when Blender closed
• [number].blend - Auto-save files
• [filename].blend1 - Backup files

The addon shows all these files with their:

• Complete names
• File sizes
• Last modified dates
• Full paths (in Detailed View)

Troubleshooting

Problem: "No temp files found"

• Solution: Click Refresh button
• Check if auto-save is enabled in Blender Preferences
• Verify temp paths in the collapsible section

Problem: "Can't find my recent work"

• Solution: Sort by Date (newest first)
• Check if auto-save was enabled during work
• Look in the Browse All window for more files

Problem: "My hard drive is almost full!"

• Solution: This is often caused by temp files!
• Click "Browse All Files"
• Check the total storage used in statistics
• Sort by Size to find biggest files
• Delete old files (older than 2 weeks)
• You might recover 10-50GB of space!

Problem: "How do I know if it's safe to delete?"

• Solution: Check the file date/time
• Files older than 1-2 weeks are usually safe
• If you haven't crashed recently, old auto-saves aren't needed
• Keep last week's files as backup
• When in doubt, open the file to check its content

Problem: "I accidentally deleted everything!"

• Solution: The addon only deletes temp files, not your main projects
• Your saved .blend files in Documents/Projects are untouched
• Only temporary auto-saves are affected
• Always save important work to a permanent location

Problem: "How often should I clean temp files?"

• Solution: Monthly cleanup recommended
• Check statistics panel to see storage used
• Clean when it shows 5GB+ of temp files
• Set a monthly reminder to run cleanup

Video Tutorials

 Watch video tutorials on YouTube: Being Animator Channel

Subscribe for:

• Installation guides
• Feature demonstrations
• Tips and tricks
• Workflow examples

System Requirements

• Blender Version: 4.2.0 or higher
• Operating System: Windows, macOS, or Linux
• Disk Space: Minimal (addon is <1 MB)
• Python: Included with Blender

Get Support

Need help? Multiple ways to reach out:

 Email: [email protected]  Website: salmannaseem.com  YouTube: Being Animator  More Addons: SuperHive Market

What's Next?

Explore more addons by Salman Naseem: Visit SuperHive Market for more tools to enhance your Blender workflow!

Stay updated: Subscribe to Being Animator YouTube Channel for tutorials, tips, and new addon announcements!

 Start Using Auto-Save File Checker Today!

Never lose your work again. Manage your temp files like a pro. Recover your projects with confidence.

Download now and take control of your Blender auto-saves!

Auto-Save File Checker - Made with  by Salman Naseem Licensed under GPL-3.0 - Free and Open Source