topic Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do? in AutoCAD Forum

AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 13:46:03 GMT

The AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do? Is there a possibility to repair AutoCAD 2018 or must I uninstall and install AutoCAD. How can I find out the serial from the installed AutoCAD?

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

rkmcswain — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 13:54:27 GMT

What do you mean by "The AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work"? That program is simply used to open the last used AutoCAD version when you double-click on a DWG file.

You don't run that actual .exe yourself.

You also posted this in the wrong forum. This forum is for the Autodesk Desktop App, which is something totally different.

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 14:04:03 GMT

This means that I cannot launch the AutoCAD DWG Launcher and it does not open dwg files.

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

Alfred.NESWADBA — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 17:44:28 GMT

Hi,

>> I cannot launch the AutoCAD DWG Launcher

The AutoCAD DWG Launcher is not intended to start it direct.

If you want to start AutoCAD then use the AutoCAD start icon on your desktop or in the Windows start menu.

Does AutoCAD start this way?

The AutoCAD DWG Launcher is just like a routing system, when you double click a DWG-file in Windows explorer then AutoCAD DWG Launcher knows which version of AutoCAD and which AutoCAD profile you used last time and this same version/profile will then be used to open this file.

- alfred -

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

s.borello — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 18:16:32 GMT

Do you mean when you try to open a dwg with a double click you get an error? Can you post a screenshot of what's happening when you try to open files in this manner?

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 05:53:03 GMT

I don´t get nothing. The dwg file does not open.

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 06:00:03 GMT

I know that. But AutoCAD ist too slow to be opened every time when you open da dwg file. Therefore, I wait for an answer to my question if there is a possiblity to repair the DWG Launcher or must I uninstall AutoCAD.

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 07:46:28 GMT

Hi,

>> I wait for an answer to my question if there is a possiblity

>> to repair the DWG Launcher

Up to now it is even not clear why you start the DWG Launcher. For me it's not clear if you start the AutoCAD DWG Launcher using a double click on that file:
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AcShellEx\AcLauncher.exe"

...or you have a link to that EXE (e.g. on your desktop) to start it that way

...or you double click a dwg-file in Windows Explorer

Your statement:

>> I cannot launch the AutoCAD DWG Launcher

makes this a bit unclear.

If you double click a dwg-file in Windows Explorer and that does not work (also in the task manager no task like ACAD.EXE pops up) then verify the settings in Windows Explorer, right-click a DWG-file ==> open with ==> and there select "AutoCAD DWG Launcher" including the checkbox for "default".

If that does not work too, do the same again, Windows Explorer, right-click on a DWG-file ==> open with ==> now chose another app and select the EXE-file shown above (within the common files folder).

If that all fails, then look to the registry settings as described >>>there<<<.

Maybe important: when did this start?
Did you uninstall another version of AutoCAD or something like that?

>> Is there a possibility to repair AutoCAD 2018

That is always possible, as long as you are admin and you can disable antivirus software

>>>click for details<<<

- alfred -

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

STWD_79 — Mon, 13 May 2019 16:56:18 GMT

I just an issue where the DWG launcher was trying to open a previous version of AutoCAD that I'd uninstalled so could not open DWG's from a file location in the usual way. Going to assume that your issue was similar, if not the same, so you may want to check the post below on how to check the registry to make sure it's trying to open the correct version of AutoCAD.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/simplecontent/content/how-to-modify-the-autocad-dwg-launcher-to-work-the-correct-software.html

As many of the other have pointed out you can't open or change settings the DWG Launcher directly so this is the only way to deal with it that doesn't involve a complete reinstall.

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

jubayer.education — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 16:48:01 GMT

I am also facing the same problem. Yesterday I have install the latest version of autocad 23. Then I try to open dwg file but I failed. Double clicking in the file is not working.

After that I create a new file in AutoCad 23 and save it. When I try to open the file from file explorer the same problem occurs. Nothing is happening when I double click on my dwg file.

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

pendean — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 13:22:23 GMT

@jubayer.education wrote:

I am also facing the same problem. Yesterday I have install the latest version of autocad 23. Then I try to open dwg file but I failed. Double clicking in the file is not working.

Some 2023 installations require the user to do this too https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/DWG-file-type-associativity-in-Windows.html

Start now. It works.

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

sezgin_karagulle — Tue, 23 May 2023 15:13:13 GMT

Make these edits in regedit.exe

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

LVCHIEN_Xd1 — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 11:00:22 GMT

You may have removed the regedit value: DwgCommon You just need to download the attached file and run it

Link file regedit Dwgcommon:

DwgCommon (Lauch DWG).reg

Note: Please adjust the value of the Autocad version you are using. Here, I am using Autocad 2024 version

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

gpower — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 04:00:46 GMT

Thanks @LVCHIEN_Xd1 !!

I did a full AutoCAD 2024 removal and I inadvertently deleted the DWGCommon Reg entries as well.

Thank you for the Reg file, it worked perfectly.

Cheers.

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

nuwanin008 — Wed, 08 May 2024 05:20:36 GMT

Using the "Reset settings to default" toll in the Start menu can easily solve this problem.

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

tommy-z — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:27:26 GMT

Hillarious to see so many helpful people wanting to help by stating the obvious and factual, but being completely useless to solve the issue 🙂

Kudos to the people understanding the actual problem and providing solutions!!

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

ettore_casagrande — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:13:48 GMT

Wonder if someone could update that .reg file with the 2026 stuff. I assume that GUID changed.

Re: AutoCAD DWG Launcher does not work. What should I do?

bloj_klinki — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:32:06 GMT

Спасибо большое, очень помогло с моей проблемой, что не открывались DWG файлы из проводника

Translated:

Thank you very much, it really helped with my problem of DWG files not opening from Explorer

@bloj_klinki - moderator has edited this post to provide for translation. Please use a translator to post in English.