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File ConvertersA DWG file is the native drawing format of AutoCAD and the most common CAD file in architecture, engineering and manufacturing. It is a binary file that stores 2D and 3D vector geometry together with layers, blocks, dimensions, layouts and metadata. You need CAD software or a DWG viewer to open it; Windows, browsers and office programs cannot. For sharing, DWG files are usually converted to PDF or to the open DXF format.
What is a DWG file?
DWG is short for drawing. Autodesk introduced the format with the first AutoCAD release in 1982 and has kept it proprietary since: the specification is not published, and Autodesk updates the internal structure every few releases. Because AutoCAD dominates 2D drafting, DWG became the de facto exchange format of the industry, and most other CAD programs read and write it through reverse-engineered libraries.
| Property | DWG file |
|---|---|
| Extension | .dwg |
| Developer | Autodesk (proprietary, binary) |
| Contains | 2D and 3D vector geometry, layers, blocks, text, dimensions, hatches, layouts, external references, metadata |
| Version marker | First six bytes, e.g. AC1032 for the AutoCAD 2018 format |
| Creates it | AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD, DraftSight, and other CAD software |
| Opens with | CAD software, Autodesk DWG TrueView, Autodesk Viewer online, CAD converters |
DWG versions
Each DWG file starts with a six-character version code. AC1015 is the AutoCAD 2000 format, AC1024 is 2010, AC1027 is 2013 and AC1032 is the 2018 format, which later AutoCAD releases continued to use. A newer format cannot be opened by older software. When a colleague’s DWG refuses to load, the fix is usually to ask for a copy saved down to an older version, or to convert it yourself with a tool that understands the newer structure.
DWG vs DXF vs DWF
Three Autodesk formats travel together. DWG is the editable master file. DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is the text-based, openly documented version of the same drawing data that Autodesk created for exchange with other programs. For 3D models that must travel between different CAD systems, engineers use the neutral STEP format instead. DWF is a compressed read-only package for sharing drawings with people who only need to view them; see the DWF guide. If you receive a DWG and only need to look at it, you do not need AutoCAD, and if you need to load it into non-Autodesk software, DXF is often the safer route.
How do I open a DWG file?
- Autodesk DWG TrueView (free, Windows). Autodesk’s own viewer opens any DWG version, prints, measures, and includes DWG Convert for saving files to older formats. No editing.
- Autodesk Viewer (free, browser). Upload the file at viewer.autodesk.com with a free Autodesk account and view it on any device.
- CAD software. AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and DraftSight open and edit DWG files. Open-source options are partial: LibreCAD reads DWG in 2D only, and FreeCAD needs an external converter from the Open Design Alliance to import DWG.
- Convert to PDF. If the goal is to read or print the drawing, a PDF is the simplest answer and opens anywhere.
How do I convert a DWG file?
For one drawing, the online converters work in the browser without installation: DWG to PDF for a printable document, DWG to DXF for import into other CAD, CAM or laser-cutting software, and DWG to JPG or DWG to TIFF for previews and documents.
For project folders, Total CAD Converter converts DWG, DXF, DWF, STEP, IGES and other CAD files to PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, SVG, DXF and more on Windows, in batch. It handles layouts and paper spaces, lets you set page size, line weights and colors, and runs from the command line for automated jobs. All processing happens on your own PC, so drawings never leave the company network. The 30-day trial is free and needs no card or email; a Personal license starts at $99.
Frequently asked questions
What program will open a DWG file?
AutoCAD and other CAD programs such as BricsCAD, ZWCAD and DraftSight open DWG files for editing. For viewing only, use the free Autodesk DWG TrueView on Windows or the Autodesk Viewer in a browser. Total CAD Converter opens DWG files to convert them to PDF or images.
Can DWG files be converted to PDF?
Yes. Upload the file to the DWG to PDF online converter for a single drawing. For folders of drawings, Total CAD Converter converts them in batch on Windows and can merge several drawings into one PDF.
Is DWG the same as CAD?
No. CAD (computer-aided design) is the category of software and work. DWG is one specific file format, the native format of AutoCAD. Other CAD formats include DXF, STEP, IGES and the native files of SolidWorks or Revit.
What is the difference between DWG and DXF?
DWG is Autodesk’s proprietary binary format and stores everything AutoCAD knows about a drawing. DXF is the openly documented text version of the same data, larger in size and sometimes missing AutoCAD-specific objects, but readable by almost every CAD, CAM and graphics program.
How do I open a DWG file without AutoCAD?
Install the free Autodesk DWG TrueView, open the file in the Autodesk Viewer online, or convert it to PDF with the online DWG to PDF converter and open the PDF in any reader.
