How to manually transfer AutoCAD settings

Autodesk Support

Jun 13, 2024

Products and versions covered

Issue:

This article describes how to manually transfer AutoCAD settings from one computer to another. This process can be followed:
  • When the specific AutoCAD version does not have the settings export/import utilities.
  • To apply working settings to a specific user account, particularly if that account is unable to initialize AutoCAD due to a redirected profile folder or a similar environment being in place.

Solution:

User settings in AutoCAD for Windows are stored in two folders and a registry path (see Warning!). The following steps explain how to copy over the settings to another account or computer:
  1. Install AutoCAD.
  2. Run the program once to make sure it works and has gone through its secondary installer process.
  3. Exit AutoCAD.
  4. Make a copy of the following two folders in a location accessible by all user accounts:
    • For Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11:
      • C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx
      • C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx
    • For Windows XP:
      • C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx
      • C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx
    • Note: These paths contain hidden folders (see How to turn on hidden files and folders on Windows).
  5. Export a copy of the AutoCAD registry key.
    1. Press WINDOWS + R on the keyboard to bring up the Run window.
    2. Enter REGEDIT and click OK.
    3. Find the following registry key:
      • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\Rxx.x\ACAD-xxxx:40x
      • This path is unique for each version of AutoCAD. To see which 'ACAD-xxxx' refers to, select it and then look at the keys on the right side of the Registry Editor. One of the keys will show the install path to the AutoCAD it applies to.
      • The 40x number signifies the language version of AutoCAD.
    4. Right-click the ACAD-xxxx:40x folder and choose Export.
    5. Enter a file name of your choice, choose a location to save the file, and then click Save.
  6. Close the Registry Editor.
  7. Sign in to the destination user account.
  8. Copy over the two folders to their respective locations.
  9. Double-click the REG file to apply it to the registry. The REG file can be deleted after use.

More support files

Some support files can be copied directly into the Support folder paths. Following is a generic list. Each product and version may have slightly different paths and other custom paths may also be used. Refer to the file paths in Options > Files for the version in question.
 
Note: If you are using a product other than the English version, the "enu" part of the following paths will be different for each language (for example, Japanese versions are "jpn").

Plotter Files (.pc3)

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20XX\RXX\enu\Plotters

Plotter configuration files (.pmp)

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20XX\RXX\enu\Plotters\PMP Files

Plot Styles (.ctb, .stb)

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20XX\RXX\enu\Plotters\Plot Styles

Drawing Templates (.dwt)

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20XX\RXX\enu\Template

Shape Files (.shx)

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20XX\RXX\enu\Support

Hatch Patterns (.pat)

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20XX\RXX\enu\Support

Line types (.lin)

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20XX\RXX\enu\Support

Command Aliases (acad.pgp)

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20XX\RXX\enu\Support
 
Note: Due to variation in the products, some shortcut commands may not function correctly when the file is replaced with a copy from a different version or release. 


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 backup the system registry. Additional information about the registry is also contained in the Help topics in the Microsoft Registry Editor.

Products:

AutoCAD Products;

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