How to migrate settings from an older version of AutoCAD to a newer one

Autodesk Support

Oct 22, 2024

Products and versions covered

Issue:

How to migrate settings from an older version of AutoCAD to a newer version.

Causes:

All parts in the option will be migrated beside of those settings in the options, which shows a blue-yellow symbol. Those options with the blue-yellow windows are saved in the drawing directly. Normally those options are set up in the drawing template. 

Solution:

Recommended: Use the AutoCAD migration, export and import utility

  • The migration utility is installed with AutoCAD and runs automatically the first time starting AutoCAD after installation.
  • The migration utility migrates settings between two versions of the same AutoCAD product in the same language.

Follow these steps for the same computer:

  1. Keep the previous version of AutoCAD installed on the old computer.
  2. Install the new version of AutoCAD on the old computer.
  3. Use the migration utility to transfer settings from the older version of AutoCAD to the new version:
    • Windows 10: Start > AutoCAD 20xx > Migrate From a Previous Release
    • Windows 11: Start > All Apps > AutoCAD 20xx > Migrate From a Previous Release

Follow these steps for different computers:

  1. Export settings from computer 1:
    • Windows 10: Start > AutoCAD 20xx > Export AutoCAD 20xx Settings
    • Windows 11: Start > All Apps > AutoCAD 20xx > Export AutoCAD 20xx Settings
  2. Import the settings on the new computer:
    • Windows 10: Start > AutoCAD 20xx > Import AutoCAD 20xx Settings
    • Windows 11: Start > All Apps > AutoCAD 20xx > Import AutoCAD 20xx Settings

Notes:

  • Do not migrate settings from an English to a German version of AutoCAD.
  • Do not migrate settings from AutoCAD to AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Architecture, or AutoCAD Mechanical (and the other way around).

 

Alternative: Use the AutoCAD CUI editor

The AutoCAD CUI editor can "migrate" (transfer) settings between different language versions of AutoCAD or between different AutoCAD products. This can also be usable for versions of AutoCAD that do not have a migration utility.

  1. Locate the CUIx file for the version of AutoCAD from which to transfer settings.
  2. In the new version of AutoCAD, enter CUI on the command line and click the Transfer tab.
  3. Load the CUIx file from step 1 into the right pane of the window.
  4. Move workspace and other settings to the left pane of the window per Drag and Drop.

Note: By default, CUIx files install in this location:

  • C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx\Rxx.x\<language>\Support

 

Alternative 2: Migration using Windows shell (for advanced users only)

  • The migration utility is called AdMigrator.exe and is in the AutoCAD program folder. For example:
    • C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx\AdMigrator.exe
  • For the versions of AutoCAD that do not have "Migrate From a Previous Release," double-click the AdMigrator.exe utility to see if it will allow settings to migrate. 
  • It is probably necessary to designate a specific target for the utility by creating a shortcut. To do this:
  1. Right-click-drag AdMigrator.exe to the desktop (or other usable folder) and choose "Create shortcuts here."
  2. Right-click the shortcut and choose Properties.
  3. At the end of the contents of the Target field, type in a /product parameter:
  • AutoCAD = /product "ACAD"
  • AutoCAD Architectural = /product "ACA"
  • AutoCAD Electrical = /product "ACADE"
  • AutoCAD Mechanical = /product "ACADM"
  • AutoCAD Plant 3D = /product "PLNT3D"
  • AutoCAD Map 3D = /product "MAP"
  • AutoCAD Civil 3D = /product "C3D"
  1. Other parameters:
    • "s" = silent mode
    • "i" = import
    • "e" = export
    • "language" = for example "de-DE" or "en-ENU"
  • The entire Target field should read as follows, including quotes, using AutoCAD Electrical 2020, German version, for example:
    • "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2020\AdMigrator.exe" /product "ACADE" /e /language "de-DE"
Note: Use at your own risk. The preceding process is not supported and could damage an AutoCAD installation. Resetting AutoCAD to defaults should clear problems caused by migrating settings (see How to reset AutoCAD to defaults ).

Note: 
  • In some circumstances, it is better to create a BAT file and execute that.
  • A BAT-file is a TXT file, where the extension TXT is renamed to BAT. Clicking the BAT file will execute the scripts inside this file. 

 

Alternative 3: Manual migration

In this example the migration will be done from 2020 to 2023 in plain AutoCAD.
  1. Make a backup of all affected 2020/2023 folders.
  2. Start AutoCAD 2020 and open the options.
  3. Switch to tab "Profiles" and export the current profile as an ARG-file.
  4. Open Windows Explorer and go to these two folders and copy the content of these folders:
    • C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Autodesk AutoCAD 2020\R23.1\<language code like "enu">
    • C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Autodesk AutoCAD 2020\R23.1\<language code like "enu">
  5. Paste and replace content of these folders:
    • C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Autodesk AutoCAD 2023\R24.2\<language code like "enu">
    • C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Autodesk AutoCAD 2023\R24.2\<language code like "enu">
  6. Open AutoCAD 2023 and open the options.
  7. Switch to tab "Profiles" and import the formerly exported ARG-file.

Notes:

  • It is not possible to migrate between Windows and Mac.
  • Be careful when migrating between different languages of your AutoCAD installation. A lot of paths are pointing to the specific language, for example C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Autodesk AutoCAD 2020\R23.1\<language code like "enu"> where you see at the end the language code. Each language has its own language code (enu for English, deu for German, ...). When exporting the profile from an English version to use it for a German version, those paths have to be adopted first. This is for experienced users only.

Products:

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

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