Key features of AutoCAD 2023

Explore the newest features in AutoCAD® 2023 software, including industry-specific toolsets, new automations and seamless connections across devices and Autodesk products.

AutoCAD office floor plan schematic displaying key features

My Insights

Complete your projects faster with helpful tips and features from My Insights

Mark-up Import and Mark-up Assist

Import feedback from paper or PDFs and add changes automatically, without altering your existing drawing

Share

Send a controlled copy of your drawing to teammates and colleagues to view or edit from anywhere

Count

Automate counting of blocks or geometry with the COUNT command

Floating windows

Display drawing windows side by side or on multiple monitors, in the same instance of AutoCAD

AutoCAD any time, anywhere 

Create, edit and view CAD drawings with a browser using the AutoCAD web app or AutoCAD mobile app

Drawing History

Compare past and present versions of a drawing to see the evolution of your work

Push to Autodesk Docs

Push your CAD drawing sheets as PDFs directly to Autodesk Docs from AutoCAD

Blocks palette

View and access your blocks from AutoCAD quickly on desktop or the AutoCAD web app

What’s new in AutoCAD 2023

New features of AutoCAD 2023

NEW

Mark-up Import and Mark-up Assist

Quickly send and incorporate feedback into your designs. Import feedback from printed paper or PDFs and add changes to your drawings automatically, without additional drawing steps. (video: 1.15 min.)


NEW

My Insights

Learn helpful tips and valuable information at the right time and in the right context to help you complete your projects faster. (video: 2.47 min.)


NEW

AutoCAD web APIs

The AutoCAD LISP API is now available in the AutoCAD web app, exclusively for AutoCAD subscribers. Whether you are on the go, at a construction site or anywhere else, create your own customisations to automate sequences with LISP in the AutoCAD web app.  (video: 55 sec.)


ENHANCED

Sheet Set Manager

Open sheet sets quicker than ever before. Using the Autodesk cloud platform, sending and opening sheet sets to and from teammates is quicker and safer.


ENHANCED

Count

Automate the counting of blocks or objects within a selected area or throughout your entire drawing with a menu to identify errors and navigate through your counted objects. (video: 1.15 min.)


More features of AutoCAD 2023

2D drafting, drawing and annotation

Text settings

Create single or multi-line text (mtext) as a single text object. Easily format text, columns and boundaries.


Dimensions

Create dimensions automatically. Pass the cursor over selected objects to see a preview before you create it.


Tables

Apply formulas, link to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and create tables with data and symbols. Automatically import data to tables using features like Count.


Leaders

Create leaders with a variety of content, including text or blocks. Easily format leader lines and define styles.


Centrelines and centre marks

Create and edit centrelines and centre marks that automatically move when you move the associated objects.


Revision clouds

Draw revision clouds around new changes in a drawing to quickly identify your updates.


Views

Save views by name to easily return to a specific view for quick reference or for applying to layout viewports.


Layouts

Specify the size of your drawing sheet, add a title block and display multiple views of your model.


Fields

Use fields in text objects to display text that can be updated automatically as the field value changes.


Data linking

Enable simultaneous updates by creating a live link between a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and a table in your drawing.


Data extraction

Extract information from objects, blocks and attributes, including drawing information.


Dynamic blocks

Add flexibility and intelligence to your block references, including changing the shape, size or configuration.


Arrays

Create and modify objects in circular or rectangular patterns or along a path.


Parametric constraints

Apply geometric and dimensional constraints to maintain relationships between drawing geometry.


Purge

Remove multiple unneeded objects at once with easy selection and object preview.


3D modelling and visualisation

Solid, surface and mesh modelling

Create realistic 3D models of your design using a combination of solid, surface and mesh modelling tools.


3D navigation (orbit, ViewCube, wheel)

Use 3D viewing and navigation tools to orbit, swivel, walk and fly around a 3D model to showcase your design.


Visual styles

Apply visual styles to control the display of edges, lighting and shading of your 3D model.


Section planes

Create section planes to display cross-sectional views through solids, surfaces, meshes or regions.


Rendering

Apply lighting and materials to give your 3D models a realistic appearance and to help communicate your designs.


Cloud rendering

Render 3D models online without consuming processing power or disk space on your local computer.


Point clouds

Attach point cloud files acquired by 3D laser scanners or other technologies to use as a starting point for your designs.


Model documentation

Generate 2D drawings, including base, projected, section and detail views from 3D models.


Collaboration

Xref Compare

Compare two versions of a drawing, including external references (xrefs).


PDF files

Share and reuse data from PDF files by importing, exporting or attaching them as underlays.


DGN files

Share and reuse data from DGN files by importing, exporting or attaching them as underlays.


DWG Compare

Compare two versions of a drawing without leaving your current window.


Sheet sets

View, access, manage and plot multiple drawings as sheet sets.


Model references and import

Attach Navisworks models as underlays to your drawings, and import models from other applications.


Geographic location and online maps

Insert geographic location information into a drawing and display a map in the drawing from an online map service.


Installation and customisation

Simplified installer

Reduce the amount of time you spend setting up AutoCAD with faster and customisable installations.


Start tab

The new AutoCAD Start tab lets you easily access files and other helpful content directly from the home screen.


TrustedDWG technology

TrustedDWG® technology alerts you to a possible incompatibility when a file was not last saved by Autodesk software.


CUI customisation

Customise the user interface to improve accessibility and reduce the number of steps for frequent tasks.


Secure load

Specify security restrictions for running executables in AutoCAD to help protect against malicious executable code.


Action recorder

Record commands and input values that can be played back as an action macro.


System variable monitor

Monitor current system variables against a preferred list of values. Notification balloons alert you to deviations.


CAD standards checker

Define and monitor CAD standards to maintain consistent styles for layers, linetypes, text and dimensions.


Application Programming Interface (API)

Control drawings and databases with ActiveX, VBS, AutoLisp, Visual LISP, ObjectARX, JavaScript and .NET.

Learn more (US site)


Autodesk App Store

Customise your software with Autodesk-approved extensions.


AutoCAD 2023 vs previous releases

AutoCAD has a flexible subscription model, with new features available with each release and product update. If you have a perpetual licence of AutoCAD 2016 or earlier, here’s what’s changed.

AutoCAD 2023

What's included

  • AutoCAD web app: View, create and edit AutoCAD drawings from any computer with no software installation required.*
  • AutoCAD mobile app: View, create and edit AutoCAD drawings via iOS and Android devices.
  • Integrated workflows: Work smoothly across desktop, web and mobile devices.*
  • Cloud storage connectivity: Access any DWG file in AutoCAD with Autodesk’s cloud, as well as with leading cloud storage providers.


Top new features added since 2016 include:

  • Mark-up Assist and Mark-up Import: Import feedback and incorporate changes to your drawings automatically.
  • My Insights: Learn valuable tips and new features to help you to work faster.
  • APIs for the AutoCAD web app: Automate processes with the LISP API in the AutoCAD web app.
  • Trace: Safely review and add feedback directly to a DWG file without altering the existing drawing.
  • Count: Automate counting blocks or geometry with the COUNT command.
  • Share: Send a controlled copy of your drawing to teammates and colleagues to access wherever they are.
  • Push to Autodesk Docs: Push your CAD drawing sheets as PDFs to Autodesk Docs from AutoCAD.
  • Drawing history: See changes made into your drawing over time.
  • Xref Compare: Compare two versions of an external xref and implement changes without leaving your current drawing.
  • Blocks palette: Insert blocks efficiently from the Libraries tab on desktop or in the AutoCAD web app.
  • Quick measure: Quickly display all nearby measurements in a drawing, including areas and perimeters, by hovering your mouse.
  • Trim and extend (enhanced): The default Quick mode now automatically selects all potential boundaries.
  • Purge (redesigned): Remove multiple unneeded objects with easy selection and object preview.
  • DWG™ Compare: Compare two versions of a drawing or xref without leaving your current window.
  • Attach/extract point cloud data: Attach point cloud files acquired by 3D laser scanners or other technologies.
  • PDF import: Import geometry (SHX font files, fills, raster images and TrueType text) into a drawing from a PDF.
  • AutoCAD any time, anywhere: Access AutoCAD from your desktop, web and mobile devices.*
  • Save to web and mobile: Save drawings and their associated xrefs from your desktop to view and edit in the AutoCAD web and mobile apps.
  • New views and viewports: Easily add saved views to your layouts.
  • High-resolution monitor support: View your designs on 4K- and higher-resolution displays.
  • Off-screen selection: Selected objects stay in the selection set, even if you pan or zoom off screen.


Improvements since 2016

  • Floating windows: Pull away drawing windows to display them side by side or on multiple monitors without opening another instance of AutoCAD.
  • Sheet Set Manager: Plot your sheet sets more quickly with the Autodesk platform.
  • Save in half a second: Shave one second off each save on average.
  • Speedy install time: Up to 50% faster for solid-state hard drives.
  • New dark theme: Modern blue aesthetic with contrast and sharpness improvements.
  • User interface: Flat-design icons and intuitive dialogue boxes and toolbars.
  • 2D graphics: Better stability, fidelity and performance.
  • 3D navigation performance: Up to 10x faster.
  • Save, move/copy performance boost with new 2018.dwg file format.
  • Autodesk App Store with 1,000+ AutoCAD apps.
  • The TrustedDWG® file format.


Support and software access

  • Autodesk support
    • Autodesk support specialists: Schedule a call, chat online (limited availability) or email us.
    • Remote desktop assistance: Get secure, hands-on troubleshooting.
    • Online resources: Access our knowledge base for help documentation, tutorials, training videos and community support forums.
  • Access to the latest software: Instantly access the newest releases and updates.
  • Access previous versions: Download and use previous releases.
  • Flexible term lengths: Subscribe monthly, annually or for 3 years.*
  • Administrative tools: Easily manage software licences, seats and usage from your Autodesk Account.

*Not available to maintenance plan customers.
Available to maintenance plan customers with Advanced Support.