Buzz
DWG files contain sketches, images, maps, and geometric data, originally created by Autodesk in 1982 with the launch of their graphic design software AutoCAD. These files can be opened directly using AutoCAD, Microsoft Visio, or other Autodesk products such as A369 Viewer and AutoCAD 360.
Steps
Using Microsoft Visio
Open Microsoft Visio and click on the 'File' option.
Click on 'Open' to proceed.
Select 'AutoCAD Drawing (*.dwg; *.dxf)' from the 'Files of type' dropdown list.
Navigate to the DWG file you wish to open, then click on 'Open.'
Visio will open and display the DWG file.
Use A360 Viewer
Visit the A360 Viewer page on AutoDesk's website at https://a360.autodesk.com/viewer. This free online tool from AutoDesk lets you view any DWG file without needing to install additional software or browser plugins.
Click on "Upload Your Design" (Upload Your Design).
Drag and drop the DWG file into the online page window. A360 Viewer will automatically open and display the DWG file in the tool's viewer.
- Alternatively, you can click on "Upload Files" or select the option to upload a DWG file from Dropbox, Box, or Google Drive.
Use AutoCAD 360
Go to the AutoCAD 360 download page on the AutoDesk website at https://www.autocad360.com/free-cad-software/. AutoCAD 360 is a free application that allows you to open and view DWG files on iOS, Android, or Windows devices.
Select to download AutoCAD 360 to your computer or device.
Download and install AutoCAD 360 on your device just like you would with any other app. iOS users can follow instructions to get AutoCAD 360 from the App Store or iTunes, while Android users will download the app from the Google Play Store.
Once the installation is complete, open AutoCAD 360 on your device.
Select the DWG file you wish to open. AutoCAD 360 will automatically open and display the DWG file in its viewer.
- If the DWG file is stored in Dropbox, Box, or Egnyte: Click on the sidebar menu, choose “Connect” under Actions, log into your account, and select the DWG file you want to open. The server address will be https://dav.box.com/dav for Box accounts and http://mycompany.egnyte.com/webdav for Egnyte accounts.
Troubleshooting
Try opening the DWG file with a newer version of AutoCAD if you encounter the "Drawing file is not valid" error. This error typically happens when you try to open a DWG file created with a newer AutoCAD version in an older one. For example, don't attempt to open a DWG file created in AutoCAD 2015 using AutoCAD 2012. Instead, use AutoCAD 2015 to open the file.
Close any third-party applications running in AutoCAD if you're unable to open a DWG file. Third-party applications integrated with AutoCAD can sometimes interfere with opening DWG files.
If you still can't open the file, check if the DWG file was actually created with AutoCAD. A DWG file may be corrupted if it was generated from sources other than AutoCAD or Autodesk products.
