Incorrect or unrecognized icon for AutoCAD files in Windows Explorer or Mac Finder

Autodesk Support

Jan 23, 2025

Products and versions covered

Issue:

When viewing drawing files for AutoCAD (for example DWG, DWT, DXF) in Windows Explorer or Mac Finder or Vault, the icons show as the generic, white, blank Windows/Mac file icon.
 
DWG file without AutoCAD icon

Alternatively:
  • Other incorrect, unexpected icons may also be used.
  • The DWG file type may be associated with a different software altogether (Adobe, Microsoft) and using with that company's/program's logo.
  • Opening the files may cause them to open within that software.

Causes:

The AutoCAD file types are not properly associated with the software.
 
Note: Backup (BAK) files created by AutoCAD should not have a program association and are expected to use a blank Windows/Mac icon.

Solution:

Reassociate the filename extension type

On Windows

  1. In Windows File Explorer, right-click a DWG file and click Properties.
    Drawing properties dialog box
  2. Click Change at Opens with.
    Select default dialog box for .dwg files dialog box
  3. In the next window, select AutoCAD DWG Launcher and click Set default.
  4. Back in the Properties windows, click on OK.

See: DWG file type associativity in Windows.

On MacOS

  1. Right-click a DWG and choose Get info. 
  2. In the drop-down under the Open With: section, select the desired AutoCAD program. 
  3. Click Change All. 
  4. Click Continue. 

See: DWG file type associativity in Mac.

Force a file association refresh

If associating once does not work, or if DWG files are already associated with the correct software, repeat the process.

  1. In Windows Explorer, right-click a DWG file and choose Open With > Choose another app.
  2. In the next window, select AutoCAD Application for the installed AutoCAD.
  3. Select the checkbox for Always use this app to open DWG files.
  4. Click OK.
  5. In Windows Explorer, right-click again a DWG file and choose Open With > Choose another app.
  6. In the next window, select AutoCAD DWG Launcher.
  7. Select the checkbox for Always use this app to open DWG files.
  8. Click OK.   

Reset file association (option 1)

Perform the following registry edit (see warning in the following):

  1. Press WINDOWS-R on the keyboard to open the Run window, enter REGEDIT, and click OK.
  2. Delete the following keys (not all of them may be present):
    • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dwg
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.dwg
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.dwg
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Roaming\OpenWith\FileExts\.dwg
  3. Close the Registry Editor.
  4. Reboot the PC.
  5. Start AutoCAD. A dialogue should come up (AutoCAD - DWG Association).
    • Note: If the dialogue does not come up, close and restart AutoCAD.
  6. Choose Always reassociate DWG files with AutoCAD (recommended).
Note: Sometimes, a faulty software installation might cause an error to be displayed when double-clicking a file after performing this procedure. If that is the case, read more about "Windows cannot find..." [filename].dwg, acad.exe, or acadlt.exe when double-clicking a DWG file to open in AutoCAD products. 

Reset file association (option 2)

Perform the following registry edit (see warning in the following):

  1. Press WINDOWS-R on the keyboard to open the Run window, enter REGEDIT, and click OK.
  2. Delete the following keys (not all of them may be present):
    • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dwg
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.dwg
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.dwg
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Roaming\OpenWith\FileExts\.dwg
  3. Close the Registry Editor.
  4. In Windows Explorer, double-click on a DWG file.
  5. When prompted to select a program, click More apps.
  6. Scroll down further and click Look for another app on this PC.
  7. Browse to and select C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AcShellEx\AcLauncher.exe.
Note: Sometimes, a faulty software installation might cause an error to be displayed when double-clicking a file after performing this procedure. If that is the case, see "Windows cannot find..." [filename].dwg, acad.exe, or acadlt.exe when double-clicking a DWG file to open in AutoCAD products​​​.

Change Default Icon 

The registry key for file associations can be found under the "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" hive. 

  • For DWG TrueView, the registry key would have "TrueView" or a similar instead of the key: "AutoCAD.Drawing.24"  mentioned the following steps. 
  • You can do the same check for the DXF file type if it is showing the correct icon, and compare the key values. Check the DefaultIcon path it uses and specify the same value for the DWG key.
  • Follow these steps: 
    1. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
      • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dwg 
    2. In the right pane, you should see a value named (Default). This value represents the file type associated with the .dwg extension.
      Take note of the value data for the (Default) value. It will be a string that represents the file type, such as "AutoCAD.Drawing.24" or “TrueView”…etc. 
    3. Now, navigate to the key that corresponds to the file type you noted in the previous step. For example:
      1. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AutoCAD.Drawing.24 
    4. In this key, you should see a subkey named DefaultIcon. This subkey contains the path to the icon file associated with the file type. 
    5. Double-click on the (Default) value in the right pane to modify it. 
    6. Enter the path to the icon file you want to use as the new icon for the DWG file extension. For example:
      1. C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2024\en-US\acadficn.dll,49
      2. Make sure to replace above path with the actual path of your desired AutoCAD product or icon file.
    7. Click OK to save the changes. / Close the Registry Editor.
  • After making these changes, the icon for the DWG file extension should be updated to the new icon you specified. 
    Note that you may need to restart your computer or log out and log back in for the changes to take effect.  

Corrupt Windows profile

The Windows user profile may be corrupt. Create a user account, sign in to it, and test AutoCAD (see Create a user account in Windows (Microsoft)).
 

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

Products:

AutoCAD for Mac; AutoCAD LT for Mac; AutoCAD Products;

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