AutoCAD
Also called auto cad, acad, autodesk autocad
The CAD drafting standard. acad.exe is the process. DWG is the file people mean. It is not Fusion 360.
What you need to know
AutoCAD is DWG drafting. Fusion 360 is cloud CAD/CAM.
AutoCAD edits DWG files as acad.exe. Fusion 360 is Autodesk's cloud CAD/CAM. A DWG is this product.
- What is it?
- CAD drafting
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is AutoCAD?
AutoCAD is a CAD drafting application. Drawings live in DWG. The Windows executable is acad.exe.
If you have never used it
AutoCAD is Autodesk's drafting app. DWG is the file. acad.exe is the process. It is not Fusion 360. Fusion is the cloud CAD/CAM sibling. Install AutoCAD from Autodesk. LT is a cheaper 2D SKU.
What is it used for?
Plans and details in DWG. Fusion 360 is parametric 3D CAD/CAM, not this.
AutoCAD can model 3D. Fusion is still the CAM sibling, not a DWG replacement.
External references and layouts. Fusion uses a cloud project, not xrefs.
Who is it for?
- Drafters who live in DWG
- Offices that say send the CAD file and mean DWG
- Anyone who opened Fusion looking for model space
Current status
AutoCAD (1982) is a current cad drafting from Autodesk. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/overview.
How old is it?
AutoCAD shipped in 1982. It is older than Fusion 360 (2013) and it is still the DWG standard. Current AutoCAD is a subscription desktop app with optional specialized toolsets.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
|---|---|
| RAM | 8 GB class machines are the usual Autodesk talk for current AutoCAD |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| acad.exe | Main Windows executable |
|---|
Startup components
AutoCAD does not need to start with Windows. Autodesk Access may sit in the tray.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD <year>\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
Opened Fusion for a DWG redline
Fusion can import. The office standard is still acad.exe and DWG.
Proxy objects from a vertical
Architecture or Electrical objects need the matching toolset. Vanilla AutoCAD may show boxes.
Getting unstuck
Confirm acad.exe
Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD is the app. Fusion360.exe is the other product.
Sign in with Autodesk
A serial from 2008 is a different licensing story.
Reset the profile if menus vanished
AutoCAD profiles live in AppData. This is not Fusion.
Alternatives
Fusion 360, DraftSight, and BricsCAD overlap. Fusion does not replace a DWG office standard.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/overview Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/ Vendor support |
| Official site | www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/overview Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
Autodesk lists current Windows 10 or 11 64-bit for recent AutoCAD. Large xrefs want RAM and SSD.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- AutoCAD official site · Vendor product page
- AutoCAD help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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