Key features of AutoCAD 2022

Explore the newest features in AutoCAD® 2022 software including industry-specific toolsets, new automations, and seamless connections across devices and Autodesk products.

AutoCAD office floor plan schematic displaying key features

Count

Automate counting of blocks or geometry with the COUNT command.

Trace

Safely review and add feedback directly to a DWG™ without altering the existing drawing.

Share

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

Push to Autodesk Docs

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

Floating windows

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

AutoCAD anytime, 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.

Xref Compare

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

Blocks palette

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

What’s new in AutoCAD 2022

New features of AutoCAD 2022

NEW

Trace

Safely review and add feedback directly to a DWG file without the risk of altering the existing drawing. Add drawing objects and annotations on a separate layer to ensure the fidelity of your original drawings. (video: 1:55 min.)


NEW

Count

Automate counting blocks or geometry with the COUNT command. Count helps you reduce errors and add data to tables more quickly than manual processes. (video: 1:38 min.)


NEW

Share

Send drawings easily. Generate a secure link to send with just one click, and share a controlled copy of your drawing that teammates and colleagues can access from anywhere. You’ll no longer need to worry about file sizes or search for files to attach. (video: 59 sec.)


NEW

Push to Autodesk Docs

Quickly make your CAD drawing sheets accessible for all your Autodesk AEC products without having to move them manually between folders. Push to Autodesk Docs publishes your CAD drawing sheets as PDFs to Autodesk Docs with one button directly from AutoCAD. (video: 1:49 min.)


NEW

Floating windows

Save time referencing drawings with floating windows. Pull away drawing windows to display side by side or on multiple monitors, in the same instance of AutoCAD. (video: 1:05 min.)


ENHANCED

Performance enhancements

Experience faster performance while plotting and navigating 3D graphics with AutoCAD 2022.


More features of AutoCAD 2022

2D drafting, drawing, and annotation

Text settings

Create single or multiline 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.


Centerlines and center marks

Create and edit centerlines and center 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 modeling and visualization

Solid, surface, and mesh modeling

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

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 customization

Simplified installer

Reduce the amount of time you spend setting up AutoCAD with faster and customizable 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 customization

Customize 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.


Autodesk App Store

Customize your software with Autodesk-approved extensions.


AutoCAD 2022 vs. previous releases

AutoCAD has a flexible subscription model, with new features available with each release and product update. If you have a perpetual license of AutoCAD 2016 or earlier, here’s what’s changed in AutoCAD 2017, AutoCAD 2018, AutoCAD 2019, AutoCAD 2020, AutoCAD 2021, and AutoCAD 2022.

AutoCAD 2022

What’s included

  • AutoCAD web app: View, create, and edit AutoCAD drawings from any computer with no software install 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:

  • 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 to 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 anytime, 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.
  • 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 dialog 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

  • Technical 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 licenses, seats, and usage from your Autodesk Account.

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