The AutoCAD download for Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac comes straight from Autodesk, and you can try the full program free before you subscribe. Students and teachers at accredited schools get it free for learning.
This guide covers the right version for your computer, the free trial and education routes, offline installers, system requirements, updates, and fixes when AutoCAD will not install.
AutoCAD itself is a paid subscription, and the trial is for evaluation only.
Which AutoCAD download do you need?
Autodesk ships AutoCAD for Windows and Mac through your Autodesk Account. Your operating system decides which release installs, so match your computer to a row.
| Your computer or situation | Get this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 PC, 64-bit | AutoCAD 2027 free trial | AutoCAD 2027 supports 64-bit Windows 11 |
| Windows 10 PC, 64-bit | AutoCAD 2026 from Autodesk Account | AutoCAD 2026 is the newest release that lists Windows 10 |
| Mac on macOS 14 Sonoma or newer | AutoCAD 2027 for Mac | Runs on Intel and Apple M series Macs |
| Mac on macOS 13 Ventura | AutoCAD 2026 for Mac | AutoCAD 2027 for Mac drops Ventura |
| Student or teacher | Autodesk education download | Free for non-commercial learning, on up to two devices |
| You only need to open DWG files | DWG TrueView | Free Autodesk viewer and DWG version converter |
An active trial or subscription lets you download up to five earlier versions from your Autodesk Account, so Windows 10 users are not locked out.
Download AutoCAD from the official Autodesk links
Autodesk delivers AutoCAD only through its own site and your Autodesk Account. There is no public installer file to grab without signing in.
- AutoCAD free trial — starts the trial download for Windows or Mac
- AutoCAD product page — subscription plans and buying options
- Autodesk free trials hub — every Autodesk trial, including AutoCAD LT
- Autodesk Account — Products and services page for subscribers and trial users
- Autodesk download methods — Autodesk’s guide to Install, Download, Direct download and Custom install
The installer size depends on the release, language and toolsets you pick, and Autodesk does not publish a single figure. Plan for 10 GB of free disk space on Windows and 8 GB on a Mac.
A copy offered on any other site is repackaged. Skip it.
How to install the AutoCAD free trial on Windows 11
The trial installs the full program. Sign in once and the trial is tied to your Autodesk Account.
- Open the AutoCAD free trial page.
- Select Download free trial.
- Sign in to your Autodesk Account, or create one with your email address.
- Turn off your browser’s pop-up blocker if the download does not start.
- Open Downloads and double-click the AutoCAD installer.
- Accept the license agreement and choose the installation location.
- Follow the prompts while setup downloads and installs AutoCAD.
- Launch AutoCAD from the Start menu and sign in with the same Autodesk Account.
Subscribers skip the trial page. Sign in to Autodesk Account, go to Products and services > All products and services, find AutoCAD and select Install.
Download a complete AutoCAD offline installer
The default Install button streams files during setup. Autodesk Account offers three other methods, including a single self-extracting installer for offline machines.
| Method | Systems | Best for | Includes updates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install | Windows | One PC, download and install in one step | Yes |
| Download | Windows, macOS | Install later or on several computers | Yes |
| Direct download | Windows, macOS | Offline installation from one self-extracting file | Not for most products |
| Custom install | Windows | Labs and companies deploying several products | Yes, latest selected by default |
Pick the method from the drop-down arrow next to Install on the AutoCAD tile in Autodesk Account.
When a package arrives in several parts, save every part in one folder. Double-click only the file with 001 in its name to start extraction.
Which AutoCAD download do you need for your Mac?
AutoCAD for Mac comes as a .dmg disk image from your Autodesk Account. Check your macOS version first under Apple menu > About This Mac.
| Your Mac | Install this | Note |
|---|---|---|
| macOS 26 Tahoe, 15 Sequoia or 14 Sonoma | AutoCAD 2027 for Mac | Newest release |
| macOS 13 Ventura | AutoCAD 2026 for Mac | Last release that lists Ventura |
| Apple M series chip | AutoCAD 2027 for Mac | Supported natively |
| 64-bit Intel Mac | AutoCAD 2027 for Mac | Must support Metal graphics |
To install, open Autodesk Account, select AutoCAD under All products and services, choose the version and select View downloads. Download the .dmg , double-click it, select the install option and follow the prompts.
AutoCAD for Mac has a smaller feature set than the Windows version. Drawings open in both without losing data.
Is AutoCAD free?
No. AutoCAD is a paid subscription, with a free trial and a free education licence. Autodesk trials are fully licensed for 15 to 30 days and are for evaluation only, not for profit, production or commercial work. Students and faculty at accredited schools can download AutoCAD free through the Autodesk Education Community, for non-commercial learning on up to two devices. Everyone else needs a paid subscription after the trial. A site offering a free full version of AutoCAD is distributing cracked or tampered software.
To start the education route, create an Autodesk Account with your school email, then verify your student or teacher status in your account.
Should you install AutoCAD 2027 or AutoCAD 2026?
Both releases come with the same subscription. The operating system usually settles it.
Install AutoCAD 2027 on Windows 11 or macOS 14 and newer. Install AutoCAD 2026 only on Windows 10 or macOS 13 Ventura. AutoCAD 2027 lists only 64-bit Windows 11, and its Mac edition needs macOS Sonoma or newer. AutoCAD 2026 still lists Windows 10 and Ventura, and its Windows edition asks for 8 GB of RAM instead of 16 GB. The 2027.1 update also fixes the Windows 11 KB5083769 freeze.
How to check your AutoCAD version and update it
AutoCAD shows a product version number rather than the update name. Match the number against the table below.
- Open AutoCAD and type VERNUM at the Command prompt, or select Help > About.
- Read the product version or build number in the middle left of the About window.
- Open Autodesk Access to see the updates that apply to your copy.
- Select the AutoCAD update and install it.
- Or sign in to Autodesk Account and install it from the Product Updates tray.
- Restart AutoCAD and run VERNUM again to confirm the new number.
Product version 26.0.118.0 means you have AutoCAD 2027.1. The first 2027 release reports 26.0.60.0.
Autodesk Access installs alongside most Autodesk products and checks for updates daily.
Check the AutoCAD system requirements before you download
These are Autodesk’s figures for AutoCAD 2027. The specialized toolsets, such as Architecture and MEP, need up to 21 GB of extra disk space.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Software | AutoCAD (includes AutoCAD for Mac) |
| Developer | Autodesk, Inc. |
| Latest version | AutoCAD 2027.1 (26.0.118.0), July 27, 2026 |
| Licence | Paid subscription; free trial; free education licence |
| Windows | 64-bit Windows 11 (AutoCAD 2026 also supports Windows 10) |
| macOS | macOS 26 Tahoe, 15 Sequoia or 14 Sonoma |
| Processor | Windows: 2.5-2.9 GHz, 8 logical cores; Mac: 64-bit Intel or Apple M series |
| Memory | 16 GB on Windows (32 GB recommended); 8 GB on Mac (16 GB recommended) |
| Graphics | 2 GB GPU, DirectX 11; 8 GB GPU, DirectX 12 recommended |
| Display | 1920 x 1080 on Windows; 1280 x 800 on Mac |
| Disk space | 10 GB on Windows (SSD suggested); 8 GB on Mac |
| .NET | .NET 10 on Windows |
| Offline installer | Yes, Direct download method in Autodesk Account |
| Official source | autodesk.com and your Autodesk Account |
| Last verified | 2026-09-19 |
Press Windows + R, type winver and select OK to see your Windows version. Large point clouds and 3D models call for 32 GB of RAM or more.
Fix AutoCAD not installing on Windows 11 or 10
Unable to install. An error occurred while preparing the installation
Missing admin rights, a stuck Autodesk Access service or a damaged installer.
- Right-click the installer and select Run as administrator.
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc and select OK.
- Right-click Autodesk Access Service Host and select Restart.
- Disconnect any VPN or switch to a different network.
- Download again with the Direct download method from Autodesk Account.
Setup stops partway or the installer closes
Security software is blocking the installation.
- Pause your antivirus or anti-malware software for the length of the install.
- Run the installer again.
- Turn your security software back on when setup finishes.
- Open C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\Autodesk\ODIS and read Summary.log if it still fails.
AutoCAD freezes after opening a drawing on Windows 11
Windows 11 update KB5083769 (builds 26100.8246 and 26200.8246) breaks AutoCAD.
- Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
- Install updates until you reach build 26100.8457 or 26200.8457 or later.
- Install the AutoCAD 2027.1 update, which fixes the same freeze.
The installer refuses to run on Windows 10
AutoCAD 2027 supports only Windows 11.
- Sign in to Autodesk Account.
- Choose 2026 in the version list on the AutoCAD tile.
- Install AutoCAD 2026, which lists Windows 10 as supported.
How to uninstall AutoCAD completely
Since AutoCAD 2022 the installer has no repair option, so a clean uninstall and reinstall is the fix for a broken copy.
- Close every Autodesk program.
- Press Windows + I and open Apps > Installed apps.
- Find the AutoCAD entry and select the three dots next to it.
- Select Uninstall and confirm.
- Restart the PC.
- Reinstall from your Autodesk Account if you are fixing a broken copy.
On a Mac, run the Remove AutoCAD utility if your version shipped with one. Otherwise open Finder > Go > Applications, right-click AutoCAD and select Move to Trash.
Which AutoCAD alternative should you pick?
Autodesk makes cheaper and free options for people who do not need full AutoCAD.
| Option | Cost | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
| AutoCAD LT | Paid subscription, free trial | You draft in 2D; LT has no visual styles and one UCS per drawing |
| DWG TrueView | Free | You only view DWG files or convert them between DWG versions |
| Autodesk Fusion | Free for personal use | You model 3D parts for hobby projects or 3D printing |
Install full AutoCAD when you need visual styles, per-viewport coordinate systems or the specialized toolsets.
Frequently asked questions
Is the AutoCAD download free?
The download is free, but AutoCAD is a paid subscription. Autodesk offers a free trial, fully licensed for 15 to 30 days for evaluation only. Students and faculty at accredited schools can use AutoCAD free through the Autodesk Education Community for non-commercial learning.
Is AutoCAD free for students?
Yes. Students and faculty at accredited educational institutions can download AutoCAD free through the Autodesk Education Community. Create an Autodesk Account, verify your eligibility, and install it on up to two devices for learning, never for commercial or for-profit work.
Where is the official AutoCAD download page?
New users start at autodesk.com/products/autocad/free-trial. Subscribers and trial users download AutoCAD from Products and services in their Autodesk Account at manage.autodesk.com, which also offers earlier versions and the offline installer.
Does AutoCAD work on Windows 11?
Yes. AutoCAD 2027 requires 64-bit Windows 11, 16 GB of RAM and 10 GB of disk space. Windows 11 builds 26100.8246 and 26200.8246 caused freezes, so install Windows updates and the AutoCAD 2027.1 update.
Can I install AutoCAD on Windows 10?
Yes, with AutoCAD 2026. AutoCAD 2027 lists only Windows 11, but AutoCAD 2026 supports 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11. Choose 2026 in the version list on the AutoCAD tile in your Autodesk Account.
How big is the AutoCAD download?
Autodesk publishes no single installer size, because it depends on the release, language and toolsets you choose. Plan for 10 GB of free disk space on Windows and 8 GB on a Mac, and more for specialized toolsets.
Is there an AutoCAD offline installer?
Yes. Use the Direct download method in Autodesk Account to get a single self-extracting installer you can run offline. If it arrives in parts, save them in one folder and open the file with 001 in its name.
Is there an AutoCAD download for Mac?
Yes. Autodesk offers AutoCAD for Mac as a .dmg download from Autodesk Account. AutoCAD 2027 for Mac runs on macOS 14 Sonoma, 15 Sequoia and 26 Tahoe, on 64-bit Intel Macs and Apple M series Macs.
Is AutoCAD available in 32-bit or for ARM PCs?
No 32-bit version exists. Autodesk lists 64-bit Windows 11 for AutoCAD 2027 and names no Windows on Arm build. On a Mac, AutoCAD supports both 64-bit Intel processors and Apple M series chips.
Is AutoCAD safe to download?
Yes, when it comes from autodesk.com or your Autodesk Account. Sites offering a free full version, a crack or a keygen distribute tampered software that can carry malware and breaks Autodesk’s licence terms.
What is the latest version of AutoCAD?
The latest release is AutoCAD 2027.1, dated July 27, 2026, which reports product version 26.0.118.0. AutoCAD 2027 first shipped on March 25, 2026, and Autodesk Access installs new updates as they arrive.
Is AutoCAD LT free?
No. AutoCAD LT is a separate paid Autodesk subscription with its own free trial on the Autodesk free trials page. It handles 2D drafting but lacks visual styles and supports only one coordinate system per drawing.
Why is AutoCAD not installing on my PC?
The usual causes are missing administrator rights, a stuck Autodesk Access Service Host, antivirus software or a damaged installer. Run setup as administrator, restart that service, pause security software, and download again with the Direct download method.
