Default to AutoCad 2021 How do I make it the default App to always open previous versions?

[rirvine]

I have an Autocad LT subscription that is always automatically updated.  When I open previous versions i.e. 2018, it reverts to opening with AutoCad LT 2018.  If I open 2021, and then open an earlier version drawing I get a message that the drawing was created with an unverified version.  How do I make AutoCad LT 2021 open all drawings by default?

[cheryl.buck · Accepted solution]

Hi @rirvine,

Welcome to the Autodesk Community forums! 

This sounds like you are opening the drawing file (and AutoCAD) using the double-click (or right-click and open) in Windows File Explorer. This method of opening a file uses Windows file association to determine the application it opens the file in. 

If you have multiple versions of AutoCAD installed on your system, the best thing to assure the file is opened in the correct version, is to open the file from inside the application once it is open.  The following Autodesk Knowledge Network (AKN) articles provide some suggestions:

Double-clicking a DWG file opens it in the wrong AutoCAD

Double-clicking a DWG file launches the wrong version of AutoCAD

Let us know if this helps. 

Please click the Accept Solution button on any posts that resolve the problem or answer your question.

Likes are always welcome.

All the best,

[steven-g]

Can you show us a screenshot of this error message, AutoCAD 2021LT should open any previous version drawing without a problem. That is normal behaviour any newer version should always open older versions.

[rirvine]

That is not the issue. If I open a drawing that was created with ACad 2018,
I want it to always open in ACad 2021, without having to open 2021 first and
then find the drawing. I went to the windows default settings to set the
app for .dwg but it doesn't give a choice of which autocad version to use.
Maybe what I am asking is not possible.

Rick

[rirvine · Accepted solution]

Sorry, I know what was causing the error. The particular drawing was done
using ZWCad.

[steven-g]

If you right-click on a dwg file and select 'open with' from the list shown pick 'choose a different app' that should give you a list of various apps that can open a .dwg the list will include all the different versions of AutoCAD LT that you have installed (unfortunately it won't list the version number - it just shows "AutoCAD LT Application" but generally the one at the bottom of the list is actually the newest so select that and also tick 'always use this app to open .dwg files'.

If that actually makes another version default then it is a matter of trial and error to pick the correct one from the list.