topic Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item in AutoCAD Forum

Locks onto most random points when moving item

drew7KWKE — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:39:56 GMT

When I select an object to move it, AutoCAD will snap to the dumbest points for me to place it. Often times it suggests the EXACT same point the object was already at. Other times it snaps onto a point that isn't even on my screen or near my curser! This includes times when my curser is much closer to other points it could snap onto. Why does it do this?? I know I can turn it on and off with F3, but because of this issue I'm pressing F3 every 10 keystrokes it seems. Are there settings for this? I cannot find them anywhere

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

DGCSCAD — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:04:07 GMT

OSNAP will allow you to change those SNAP settings.

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

imadHabash — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:09:08 GMT

Hi,

If you open a new empty CAD dwg then draw a line and start to move it. any changes?

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

drew7KWKE — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:27:52 GMT

I've looked into these settings, there's nothing I can find that relates to my specific issues. Nothing regarding snaping to objects that aren't even on my screen, or snapping to objects that are further away than many other objects it could snap to. Unless I missed something

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

drew7KWKE — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:29:33 GMT

If I start a new drawing then there aren't any other objects it can snap to. I work in some very busy drawings much of the time, so there are many objects.

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

imadHabash — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:34:43 GMT

So... you're working under certain conditions, and we need to see what's happening with you. Could you please send us a short video here explaining your problem?

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

tramber — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:58:29 GMT

I would hit F9 once, we never know... It would stop the effect of resolution. F9 again if my trick didn't work 😎

Did you know that you can press F3 long or short ? A long pressing allows to alternate temporarly.

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

drew7KWKE — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:17:56 GMT

It's difficult to get a video, this doesn't happen all the time or even most of the time, it's very random. Basically the program is snapping to points it shouldn't.

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

drew7KWKE — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:22:19 GMT

Unfortunately F9 is a completely different setting, I use this quite often as well.

I did not know about the long-press F3 but it doesn't seem to do anything for me, when exactly do you use it? I've tried with and without an object already selected and it doesn't seem to change anything or do anything different than a short-press does.

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

Kent1Cooper — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:24:51 GMT

I can't explain that behavior, but I'm wondering:

Say you want to Osnap to an ENDpoint of something. If you call for that explicitly [whether by typing in END or Ctrl+right-click and select Endpoint], to have it ignore any other mode(s) you have running, does it still jump to endpoints that are not the closest choice?

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

ayan_mondalUM92Y — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:17:35 GMT

Hi @drew7KWKE

A common fix is to go into OSNAP settings and limit the active snaps to just Endpoint, Midpoint, and Intersection. Options like Extension and Nearest often cause unexpected behavior, such as snapping to off-screen points or irrelevant locations, so disabling those helps a lot.

Also, If the snap area feels too sensitive, reducing it by typing APERTURE and setting it around 5–10 can improve accuracy.

However, please refer to the below article for more troubleshooting steps.

Cursor skips over some object snaps and will not snap when zoomed in AutoCAD

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

chriscowgill7373 — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:50:12 GMT

What is your pickbox variable set to? I run Aperture at 5, and pickbox at 3. - Also, make sure that on the Drafting tab of Options, that the Display AutoSnap aperture box is actually checked

Re: Locks onto most random points when moving item

obulesub — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:48:52 GMT

Hello @drew7KWKE,

It looks like you have received a lot of advice on this thread. Did any of the replies by @Kent1Cooper @chriscowgill7373 @ayan_mondalUM92Y answer your question?

If you are still needing more help, please share an update here. The community will be happy to jump in and suggest more steps to help you get where you need to be.

Best,

Obulesu | Community Manager