DWG TrueView is Autodesk's free Windows program for viewing DWG and DXF files without AutoCAD. The current version is DWG TrueView 2027, and it runs only on 64-bit Windows 11. It can open drawings of any DWG version, measure, switch layers on and off, plot or publish to PDF, and convert drawings between DWG versions with its DWG Convert tool. It cannot edit a drawing, save changes or add markups, and there is no Mac version.
What DWG TrueView does
| Task | In DWG TrueView 2027 |
|---|---|
| Open and view | DWG and DXF files of any version, model space and layouts. A TrustedDWG indicator shows when a file was last saved by Autodesk software or an application built on Autodesk's RealDWG library. |
| Measure | Distance, angle, point coordinates, area and perimeter, mass properties, and object information, with object snaps. |
| Layers | Turn layers on and off, filter and sort them in the Layer Properties Manager. |
| Plot and publish | Plot to a printer or plotter, or to PDF, DWF/DWFx, JPG or PNG. Publish plots many layouts or drawings in one batch. |
| Convert versions | DWG Convert saves drawings in the 2018, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2004, 2000 or R14 formats, one file or a whole batch. |
| Edit, save changes | No. Autodesk: TrueView is "limited to viewing, publishing, and converting DWGs". |
| Markups and comments | No. |
| Mac | No. Autodesk lists it for Windows only. |
System requirements for DWG TrueView 2027
Autodesk's requirements for the 2027 version are 64-bit Windows 11, 8 GB of memory, a 1920 × 1080 display, a graphics card with 1 GB and DirectX 11 (4 GB and DirectX 12 recommended), and 4 GB of disk space. Windows 10 was still listed for TrueView 2026 but is not for 2027. If you are on Windows 10, the 2026 version is the last one listed for it.
It is free to download from Autodesk's DWG TrueView page.
How to convert a DWG to an older version
A drawing saved in a newer DWG format will not open in an older AutoCAD. AutoCAD 2017, for example, cannot open a file saved in the 2018 format. DWG Convert solves this without AutoCAD:
- Open DWG TrueView. No drawing needs to be open.
- Go to Home tab, Files panel, DWG Convert.
- Add the drawings you want to convert.
- Choose the target format (2018, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2004, 2000 or R14) and where the result goes: overwrite the originals, write to a folder, or pack them in a ZIP file.
- Start the conversion and read the report it shows at the end.
Work on copies: overwriting is one of the options, and a drawing saved to an older format can lose features that the older format does not support.
Which AutoCAD version writes which DWG format?
The DWG format does not change every year. Autodesk changed it with R14, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018; the releases in between write the previous format. The 2018 format is still the native format of AutoCAD 2027.
| DWG format | Written by AutoCAD versions |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2018 to 2027 |
| 2013 | 2013 to 2017 |
| 2010 | 2010 to 2012 |
| 2007 | 2007 to 2009 |
| 2004 | 2004 to 2006 |
| 2000 | 2000 to 2002 |
So if a consultant runs AutoCAD 2016, send them the 2013 format.
How to turn a DWG into a PDF in DWG TrueView
For one layout, following Autodesk's TrueView help:
- Open the drawing and click the layout tab you want, near the bottom left of the drawing area.
- Go to Home tab, Output panel, Plot.
- Under Printer/plotter, choose one of the AutoCAD PDF plotters (for example AutoCAD PDF (Web and Mobile).pc3) or DWG To PDF.pc3.
- Set the paper size, the plot area (usually Layout), the scale (usually 1:1 for a layout) and the orientation, then click OK.
- Choose a file name and location and click Save.
The result is a vector PDF: lines stay sharp at any zoom. (Text drawn with AutoCAD's SHX fonts may come out as lines rather than searchable text, depending on the plotter settings.) For a whole set, use Publish instead of Plot, which puts many layouts or drawings into one multi-sheet PDF in one pass.
DWG TrueView, Autodesk Viewer, AutoCAD Web or AutoCAD LT?
| Tool | Runs on | Cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DWG TrueView | Windows 11, offline | Free | Viewing, measuring, plotting to PDF, converting DWG versions in bulk |
| Autodesk Viewer | Browser | Free | Viewing, measuring and marking up 80+ file types online; files are uploaded to Autodesk |
| AutoCAD Web | Browser (Windows, Mac, ChromeOS) | Free viewing; editing after a 30-day trial needs a subscription | Viewing on a Mac, light edits with a subscription |
| AutoCAD LT | Windows, Mac | Paid subscription | Editing 2D drawings, comparing two DWG versions |
On a Mac, TrueView is not an option: CodeWeavers' compatibility database rates DWG TrueView "Will Not Install" under CrossOver. Use AutoCAD Web or Autodesk Viewer in the browser, or ask for PDFs.
Does a reviewer need DWG TrueView at all?
Often not. If you check drawings rather than produce them, the PDF set your consultant issues is usually the document you review, and it is what a contractor builds from. TrueView is useful when you only received DWGs: open them, plot the layouts you need to PDF, and work from the PDF. What TrueView cannot do is the review itself: it has no markups, no comments and no way to compare two revisions.
Frequently asked questions
Is DWG TrueView free?
Yes. It is a free download from Autodesk.
Can I edit a DWG in DWG TrueView?
No. It views, measures, plots, publishes and converts. To edit you need AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, or another DWG editor.
Is there a DWG TrueView for Mac?
No. Autodesk lists it for Windows only. On a Mac, use Autodesk Viewer or AutoCAD Web in a browser.
Does DWG TrueView run on Windows 10?
The 2027 version lists 64-bit Windows 11 only. The 2026 version still listed Windows 10.
Can DWG TrueView measure?
Yes: distance, angle, area and perimeter, point coordinates and more, with object snaps.
How do I save a DWG to an older version without AutoCAD?
Use DWG Convert in TrueView (Home tab, Files panel) and choose an older format such as 2013 or 2010.
Once the drawing is a PDF, Ncored takes over where TrueView stops. It is the desktop PDF editor we built in our architecture studio for drawing sets from AutoCAD, Revit, and ArchiCAD, on Windows and Mac (Apple Silicon). Large plotted sets stay smooth to zoom and pan; you can measure to scale (metric units), mark up with revision clouds and comments, and compare two revisions as a colour overlay. Markups are saved as standard PDF annotations that open in any PDF program, and files stay on your computer. 14 days free. No signup, no email, nothing to enter.
Related: free DWG viewers compared, view DWG and PDF drawings without AutoCAD, DWG to PDF export for review.
All product names, logos and brands mentioned on this page are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners and are used for identification only. Ncored is an independent product by Noir architects and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Autodesk. Facts as seen in Autodesk's DWG TrueView 2027 pages and help on 22 October 2026. Individual experiences may vary.