As of 2025-2026, Autodesk has moved on to ReCap 2024, 2025, and the cloud-centric "Autodesk Forma." So, why discuss ReCap 2020?
For Long-Term Projects: Many infrastructure projects (bridges, tunnels, rail) have 5-10 year lifecycles. If a project was initiated in ReCap 2020, updating the software to 2026 can break complex registration constraints. Many teams keep a "2020 installation" specifically to maintain legacy .RCP files.
Offline Workflows: Recent ReCap versions push cloud processing. ReCap 2020 was the last version that felt fully desktop-centric. For contractors working in remote locations (no internet), ReCap 2020 remains a reliable workhorse.
Autodesk ReCap 2020 is a competent reality capture desktop tool optimized for the 2019–2020 Autodesk ecosystem. Its strengths lie in reliable point cloud indexing and registration for BIM workflows. However, its lack of native LAS export, limited photogrammetry, and cloud-only mesh processing now lag behind modern competitors (RealityCapture, Metashape, Pix4D). Organizations should plan to upgrade to ReCap Pro or transition to alternative reality capture pipelines by end of 2026 to maintain security and feature parity.
Prepared for: Engineering & Design Leadership
Disclaimer: This paper reflects the state of Autodesk ReCap 2020 as originally released and its viability in 2026. Always verify with Autodesk’s official product documentation for licensing changes.
Official Release Notes: Autodesk provides detailed release notes for ReCap 2020, including critical updates like the 2020.1 update (version 6.2.0.66) and the 2020.0.1 hotfix. autodesk recap 2020
User Manual: A comprehensive guide covering the full workflow—from scan registration to point cloud analysis and integration with CAD/BIM applications—is available via the ReCap Pro User Manual.
Quick Start Guide: For those beginning with the 2020 version, the ReCap Pro Quick Start Guide outlines how to create projects and import scan files. Key 2020 Milestone: Storage Transition
A significant "paper" or announcement regarding the 2020 version was the transition of project storage from A360 Drive to Autodesk Drive on March 25, 2020. This change primarily impacted free and trial users, who lost the ability to publish scan projects to A360 Drive. Autodesk ReCap Pro and ReCap Photo 2020 Product Updates
For laser scanning professionals, ReCap 2020 improved the Unstructured Point Cloud handling. This version made it significantly easier to import massive datasets from various laser scanners (Faro, Leica, Trimble) and register them accurately. The ability to bundle scans and publish them to BIM 360 was a game-changer for collaboration, allowing project managers to view point cloud data in the field via the web.
Autodesk discontinued the sale of new perpetual licenses for ReCap after 2016. However, Autodesk ReCap 2020 is available via: As of 2025-2026, Autodesk has moved on to
Warning: Autodesk ended support (security updates and technical support) for ReCap 2020 in March 2023. While the software continues to function, it receives no bug fixes. Avoid installing it on new OS versions (e.g., Windows 11 24H2) without testing first.
ReCap 2020 refined its proprietary indexing format. The .RCP (Project File) and .RCS (Scan File) structure allows users to load only the visual data they need, reducing RAM usage. The 2020 update introduced background indexing, meaning you could begin cleaning up a scan while ReCap finished processing in the background.
To understand the value of Autodesk ReCap 2020, you must understand the standard reality capture workflow:
Step 1: Data Acquisition
You scan a job site using a laser scanner (e.g., Faro, Leica, Trimble) or drone (DJI Phantom 4 RTK). The raw output is usually .E57, .LAS, .LAZ, or proprietary manufacturer formats.
Step 2: Import and Indexing
You open ReCap 2020 and create a new project. You import the raw files. The software indexes the data, creating a unified .RCP file. The 2020 algorithm is roughly 20% faster than the 2017 version for large datasets (e.g., 500+ scans). Windows 11 24H2) without testing first.
Step 3: Registration (Alignment) ReCap 2020 offers automatic registration. It detects overlapping geometry between individual scans and stitches them into a single coordinate system. The 2020 update improved machine learning detection for "flat walls" which previously confused automatic alignment tools.
Step 4: Cleanup and Classification You remove "noise" (trees, vehicles, temporary fencing). You classify remaining points into categories: Ground, Vegetation, Buildings, and Utility. ReCap 2020 allows you to export these classified layers separately.
Step 5: Export to Design Tools
Finally, you export the .RCP file to your desktop. In AutoCAD 2020 or Revit 2020, you attach the point cloud via the "Insert" tab. The architect then traces over the real-world data to create accurate as-built drawings.
Process drone footage of large job sites to calculate cut-and-fill volumes, track progress, and verify grading. ReCap 2020 handles the large-scale geospatial data necessary for infrastructure projects.