Issue:
While launching or starting up AutoCAD products, the software freezes, hangs, or crashes:
- Before the main program interface appears.
- After the splash screen appears briefly.
- With or without an error message being is shown.
- While the Trial screen is opening.
Environment:
-
Windows 11
Causes:
Graphics and display
- Outdated graphics card driver.
- More than one display adapter exists.
Updates and System Requirements
- Missing AutoCAD updates.
- System requirements not met.
Operating system
- Malfunctioning or corrupted Visual C++ libraries.
- Insufficient permission or security settings.
- Faulty module C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\clr.dll or ntdll.dll.
- Corrupted Windows profile, or with a Domain User.
- Too many temporary files.
License activation
- Problems with validating an AutoCAD license.
Clean up, reset, or reinstall AutoCAD
- Corrupted AutoCAD profile.
- Conflicts or damaged custom content that has been added to the program.
- Malfunctioning Autodesk Desktop App.
Conflicts with other software
- Add-ons or plug-ins for AutoCAD.
- Corruption of Vault Professional client installation that AutoCAD has a plug-in installed for and there may be a Crash Report displayed when launching AutoCAD.
Solution:
Graphics and display
- Update to the latest graphics driver (see How to update to the latest certified video driver).
- Try using only one monitor if multiple monitors are used.
- Disable hardware acceleration (see AutoCAD will not launch when hardware video acceleration is enabled).
- Force software to use the high-performance graphics adapter (see How to configure Autodesk software to use high performance graphics).
- If more than one display adapter exists, try to disable one of them from device manager in Windows.
Updates and System Requirements
- Install the latest updates for AutoCAD (see Where to download products and updates).
- Make sure that all system requirements are met:
Operating system
- Delete temporary files (see How to delete temporary files in Windows).
- If the Autodesk Desktop App launches with a spinning circle, open the Task Manager and end the task for the Autodesk Desktop App.
- Open the options and switch to tab "System". Deselect "Automatically Check for Certification Updates".
- Uninstall and reinstall Visual C++ libraries (see How to remove and reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Libraries).
License activation
Reset license files (see How to reset license activation for an Autodesk product for stand-alone license with single-user access).
Clean up, reset, or reinstall AutoCAD
- Remove custom content from AutoCAD, such as shortcuts, templates, menu/cui files, and tool palette files that may be from another program or previous releases of AutoCAD.
- Reset AutoCAD to default settings (see How to reset AutoCAD to defaults).
- Perform a Clean Uninstall. Then download the software installation files with Download Now and reinstall.
Conflicts with other software
- For issues that start after installing an add-on (or plug-in) for AutoCAD, uninstall the add-on.
- Check for previously installed add-on or plug-in conflicts by running AutoCAD with the safe mode start-up switch (/safemode):
- Follow the steps in How to start an AutoCAD Product without any plug-ins or add-ons).
- If AutoCAD runs, remove the safe mode switch (/safemode).
- Inspect the folder %appdata%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins for add-ons or plug-ins.
- Remove each one by one, testing launching AutoCAD after each to determine which was causing the problem.
- Perform a diagnostic startup to check for conflicts between security software (for example antivirus and antispyware) and the AutoCAD startup process (see Use Windows diagnostic mode to troubleshoot issues with Autodesk software):
- If AutoCAD runs correctly in Windows Diagnostic Mode, there may be a conflict with other software.
-
-
- Check for known conflicting products with the licensing service (see Autodesk Licensing Service: Known Conflicting Applications).
- Contact a computer support professional for further assistance diagnosing and resolving conflicts.
- If AutoCAD does not run correctly in Windows Diagnostic Mode:
- Manually adjust security & privacy settings in "System Preferences" to give AutoCAD greater permissions.
- Repair or reinstall it (see How to repair or reinstall an AutoCAD installation).
- Create a new Windows User profile.
-