Double-clicking a DWG file fails to start AutoCAD

Autodesk Support

Oct 29, 2024

Products and versions covered

Issue:

When double-clicking a DWG file to open it in AutoCAD, one of the following occurs:
  • Nothing happens and no error message is shown.
  • AutoCAD starts to launch, then an error report is shown.
  • A message appears from the operating system about not knowing which program to use.
  • A program other than AutoCAD starts and tries to open the file.

Causes:

  • The Windows registry entries for DWG and other AutoCAD file type associations are invalid, damaged, or missing.
  • 'AutoCAD DWG Launcher' is not associated with DWG files.
  • Insufficient user or application permissions.
  • User Account Control (UAC) is set too high.
  • Corrupted Windows user account.

Solution:

  1. Press WINDOWS-R on the keyboard to bring up the Run window.
  2. Enter REGEDIT, and click OK.
  3. Delete the keys located below;
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.dwg
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dwg
  1. Try associating a DWG file with AcLauncher.exe or acadlt.exe.
  • Check to see if the DWG file or the folder that contains the file is writable, and is not set to read-only:

  1. Right-click the file or folder and select Properties.

  2. Uncheck Read-only and then click OK.

  • As an extra option, install and then uninstall DWG TrueView.

  • Temporarily turn off User Account Control (UAC) (see How to turn off User Account Control in Windows)

  • Create a new user account or sign in under a different one and test double-clicking a DWG file. If AutoCAD opens as expected, recreate the problem account or use the new account instead of the old one.

  • Repair or reinstall AutoCAD (see How to repair or reinstall an AutoCAD installation).

  • Edit the Windows Registry (see Warning below):

  1. Press WINDOWS-R on the keyboard to bring up the Run window, enter REGEDIT, and click OK.
  2. Navigate to the following folder:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\DwgCommon\shellex\apps

    Registry keys to look into
     
  3. Select the sub-key folder within the apps folder, the one with a long string of numbers and letters that identifies the version of AutoCAD (e.g., F29F85E0-4FF9-1068-AB91-08002B27B3D9}:AutoCAD).
  4. In the right pane, verify that the OpenLaunch key contains the path to the correct acad.exe file. If it does not, double-click it and edit the path.
  5. In the left pane, right-click the subkey folder within the apps folder and select Copy Key Name.
  6. Select the apps folder and then in the right pane, double-click the (Default) key.
  7. In the Edit String dialog box, replace the current Value Data with the copied key name. Be sure to remove the folder path that precedes the key name.
  8. Click OK and then close the Registry Editor.
  9. NOTE: If any of the above registry keys values are missing, they can be imported from another computer running the same version of AutoCAD.
  • Instead of double-clicking DWG files to open them:
    • Use the OPEN command within AutoCAD.
    • Drag and drop DWG files onto the desktop shortcut for AutoCAD.

 

Warning!  Problems caused by improperly editing the Windows registry could render your computer operating system unusable. Microsoft provides a wealth of critical information that you need to know about the registry in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. Use the Microsoft Registry Editor only at your own risk and only after backing up the registry as outlined for your operating system in the Microsoft article How to back up and restore the registry in Windows and in the related solution How to back up the system registry. Additional information about the registry is also contained in the Help topics in the Microsoft Registry Editor.

Products:

AutoCAD Products; DWG TrueView;

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