Do I need AutoCAD or DWG TrueView to change a DWG version?
No. The conversion runs inside the browser tab on a WebAssembly build of the CAD kernel, so there is nothing to install and the drawing is never uploaded to a server.
DWG Version Converter
Pick a target AutoCAD version and download your DWG back in that format. The drawing itself is rewritten version by version, so every layer, block and 3D solid survives the trip.
Workspace
Drop files here
or click to browse, paste supported
About This Tool
A DWG file carries its version in its header and nothing else: a drawing saved by AutoCAD 2018 simply refuses to open in AutoCAD 2004, and there is no compatibility mode to fall back on. This tool rewrites the file at the native CAD document layer, so the version changes while the drawing data stays. Entities, layers, linetypes, text styles, block tables and embedded 3D solids are read back and written out again, with nothing dropped to make the file smaller. The work happens inside your browser tab, so no AutoCAD, no DWG TrueView and no upload are involved. Versions as old as AutoCAD 2000 are supported: for 2004 and 2000 the text is written in the drawing's code page (GBK, Big5, Shift_JIS and similar) and the matching code page is recorded in the file header, so Chinese and other non-Latin text survives the downgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
View all FAQsWhich DWG versions can I convert to?
AutoCAD 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018. R13/R14 are not offered because the writer has no test coverage for them. For 2004 and 2000, text is encoded in a suitable code page (GBK, Big5, Shift_JIS, …) and that code page is written into the file header, so Chinese and other non-Latin text is preserved. AutoCAD 2000 cannot store true color or transparency: true-color entity colors fall back to the nearest ACI index and transparency is dropped; 2004 and later keep both.
Can I convert a newer drawing to an older version?
Yes, and the other direction works too. Both are the same operation: the drawing is read and written out again with a different version tag, so an old drawing can just as well be moved up to 2018.
Are layers, blocks and text styles preserved?
Yes. The file is rewritten at the document layer instead of being routed through a mesh or export pipeline, so entities, layers, linetypes, block definitions and text styles come back the same. Unlike vector export, layers are never dropped: the whole drawing is converted, including layers switched off in the preview.
What about drawings that contain 3D solids?
They are supported. Embedded ACIS solids are carried through the conversion and written in the representation the target version expects, so a drawing that mixes 2D linework with 3D bodies can move between versions without losing the solids.
About Configuration Options
Output
| Option | What it does | Default / range |
|---|---|---|
Target version | Which AutoCAD version the rewritten DWG is saved as. The drawing is rewritten at the document layer, so every layer, block and 3D solid is kept. For 2000 and 2004, text is written in the drawing's code page (GBK, Big5, Shift_JIS, …) so Chinese and other non-Latin text is preserved. AutoCAD 2000 cannot store true color or transparency: true-color entity colors fall back to the nearest ACI index and transparency is dropped; 2004 and later keep both. AutoCAD 2000 · AutoCAD 2004 · AutoCAD 2007 · AutoCAD 2010 · AutoCAD 2013 · AutoCAD 2018 | AutoCAD 2007 |
Format Information
Input / Output
- Extension:
- dwg
- Full Name:
- DWG (AutoCAD Drawing)
- Type:
- CAD Drawing
- Format:
- DWG
- Open With:
- DWG Viewer
- Description:
- DWG is the native drawing format of AutoCAD and a standard in architecture, engineering, and construction. It stores 2D and 3D drawing data including geometry, layers, blocks, text, and dimension annotations. DWG files are widely exchanged between professionals working with CAD software.
Notes:
- CAD software required for editing entities
- Version compatibility can matter between CAD programs
Supported Features:
- Native AutoCAD format with broad industry adoption
- Stores geometry, layers, blocks, text and dimensions
- Widely supported by CAD/CAM/CAE software
- Suitable for architecture and engineering drawings