Double-clicking a DWG file launches the wrong AutoCAD program

Autodesk Support

Jan 21, 2025

Products and versions covered

When double-clicking a DWG file from a File Explorer, the wrong AutoCAD-based program launches. Possible scenarios are:

AutoCAD is launched instead of AutoCAD LT, or the other way around.
An AutoCAD toolset (like AutoCAD Architecture, Mechanical, or Civil 3D) is launched instead of AutoCAD or the other way around.
The wrong version of AutoCAD is launched, such as 2022 instead of 2024.
Imperial version of the software launches instead of the Metric one or the other way around.
AutoCAD Web is opened instead of the desktop version of AutoCAD.

With multiple versions installed, the DWG Launcher application calls the last-used version of the program.
The DWG file type is incorrectly associated on the operating system (Windows, macOS).
Registry entries for DWG Launcher are not properly updated.

Try the following in order:

Opening DWGs from within the program is always recommended. Opening files from within the program helps to avoid:

Note: Dragging a DWG file from Windows Explorer onto the correct AutoCAD program icon will work as well.

Follow the appropriate procedure according to the current operating system.

Windows: Associate the DWG-file type to open with the AutoCAD DWG Launcher (see DWG file type associativity in Windows).
MacOS: Associate the DWG-file type with the correct version of AutoCAD (see DWG file type associativity in the Mac OS).

Note: This procedure may not always work. The recommended workflow is to always open up DWG files from within the program.