# AutoCAD

Application: Autodesk

Also called auto cad, acad, autodesk autocad

Autodesk, Creative

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

Feex says

If acad.exe is the process, that is AutoCAD, not Fusion 360. I would not hunt Fusion360.exe to explain a DWG.

## 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?

**2D drafting**

Plans and details in DWG. Fusion 360 is parametric 3D CAD/CAM, not this.

**3D solids in AutoCAD**

AutoCAD can model 3D. Fusion is still the CAM sibling, not a DWG replacement.

**Xrefs and sheets**

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.

Current Windows build

## 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

DWG, DXF, DWF, PDF

## 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 ](https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/overview)Official installer or vendor page |
| ------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help          | [help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/ ](https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/)Vendor support                                                  |
| Official site | [www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/overview ](https://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.

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[Fusion 360: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/fusion-360)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [AutoCAD official site ](https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/overview)· Vendor product page
- [AutoCAD help ](https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/)· Vendor support
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Developer**: Autodesk

  **Category**: CAD drafting

  **Process**: acad.exe

  **License**: Autodesk subscription

  **First released**: 1982

  **Official site**: [autodesk.com/products/autocad](https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/overview)

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

---

Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/autocad/)

[Developer guide](https://feex.it/wiki/developers/) | [API policy](https://feex.it/developers/api-policy/) | [Agent guidance](https://feex.it/wiki/llms.txt)