Why is a random msi running for standard users the first time they open AutoCAD?

[thielen.adam]

AutoCAD 23 and 25. Just running setup as admin through SCCM deployment. Nothing fancy. Serial key licensing.

UAC prompts for admin credentials, but if UAC is disabled, which it can't be any longer, it works fine.

Can't run this as any other user or it just doesn't work, and just tries to run it again with the standard user. 

How do I stop this behavior?

[Simon_Weel]

The first time you run AutoCAD it kicks off an installer that copies a bunch of files, creates registry keys etc. This should not trigger UAC. You might check the user's profile if there's a folder C:\Users\<name>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2025. If so, delete / rename the folder and try again.

[EUC_Technologies]

we are getting the same all of a sudden 25 and 26 versions; samewith a clean profile

if cancel the msi then get error 1730 error. images attached

[thielen.adam]

These are new local accounts, no folders would be there, and if they are, this is a bug or oversight with the program, not something we need to workaround for a lab full of computers. I am unable to check right now if they pre-exist due to workarounds I was forced to implement, but again, a way to stop this behavior would be good. It clearly isn't needed.

[ckeeneF2ESX]

I was actually packaging new versions of AutoCAD and Civil 3D 2026. I packaged AutoCAD first earlier last week and it seemed to work completely fine. I then packaged up Civil 3D Monday and, when I tested both out, started seeing this same behavior and could not understand what I could have done wrong! Why does this seem to be happening suddenly? 

[Simon_Weel]

this is a bug or oversight with the program

Don't know if it's a bug - never seen UAC popping up at first run for any user with any version of AutoCAD. And users do NOT have admin permissions.

You might want to check the installer account folder to see if it contains any Autodesk folder like C:\Users\<name>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2025

For the System account, this folder is located in C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData. I recall strange things happening if there's any Autodesk related stuff in this folder.

[jhunter2VMHW]

Our school started receiving this same behavior/error last week. We have opened a case with Autodesk support and are waiting for the Edu Team to reply to us.

[dbellFE72J]

Our school is experiencing this as well.

Through our own testing, we've discovered that this may be related to 2025-08 Cumulative Update. Luckily, we had a few test machines that did not have the update yet and there were no issues running Civil 3D (2025 or 2026) nor Autocad Mech (2025 or 2026). On a "broken" machine, we uninstalled the rollup by using "wusa /uninstall /kb:5063878" (KB number may vary) and this issue went away.  Once the update reinstalled, a user (even with admin rights) would immediately get the random MSI UAC prompt during the first run.

This was repeatable behavior.

No clue how this would be fixed permanently when the rollups are mandatory patches.

[blansens7DCCC]

We are also experiencing this issue, hoping someone posts an update in here if they have any success

[otc_info]

yup, us too.

[oaktonsoftreg]

This is from Autodesk Education Support.

I have an update from the internal team. I see that the issue might be occurring due to an windows update that might have been done on 12th August 2025 or this month.

Please check for these updates,

After installation of the below Security Updates for Microsoft Windows 

Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB5063875) for Windows 11
Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB5064010) for Windows 11
Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB5063877) for Windows 10

AutoCAD products (AutoCAD, verticals and LT on versions 2022 to 2026) request admin credentials and won't open.

Please let me know if this is the case. In case you have the above updates then follow the below step:

From Windows Control Panel > Uninstall a program > Uninstall an Update, select the desired Security update and uninstall it.

I would like to inform you that Autodesk is working with the Microsoft Team on this issue to get it resolved soon. So meanwhile they have suggested the above steps that can fix the issue.

Best,
Autodesk Education Support

[otc_info]

Thank you. I can confirm that uninstalling the updates gets us fixed and working. We just need to make sure the updates don't just run again automatically after uninstallation.

[jean-baptist8]

We are also experiencing this issue on the computers at our engineering school, which have the KB5063878 update installed. Uninstalling it also works.
I hope that Autodesk and Microsoft will find a solution quickly.

[blansens7DCCC]

Our windows 10 machines were affected by KB5063709, our windows 11 machines were affected by KB5063875. It is resulting in 10+ minute logins as the inventor repair is launching in the background on login. Any updates from Autodesk on their collaboration with MS would be great to hear, as of now we are not allowed to remove these from the wsus for other reasons

[emmonsk]

We are seeing the exact same problems here at my university. Uninstalling the update from Microsoft is currently not an option based on our IT Security policies. I am hoping there is a fix soon from Microsoft.

[PatrickMorris7137]

Newly setup system with these windows updates installed fails to run EVEN FOR ADMINISTRATOR!
Random msi installation (constantly changing) won't allow launch even with administrative privileges.

Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture 2026 - English, Version 8.8.58.0

Windows 11 Pro (24H2 - 10.0.26100 N/A Build 26100)
Update KB5056579
Update KB5050575
Update KB5054273
Update KB5059093
Security Update KB5063878
Security Update KB5063666
Security Update KB5065381

Removing Security Update KB5063878 allows AutoCAD (English) to run for Admin and regular (network, active directory) users.

Looking forward to the fix for this one!

[licens]

We also have this problem at our university in Sweden. First noticed it two days ago with Inventor 2025. However this is not just an Autodesk issue, it affects all software running secondary installers for the user when launching it for the first time.

EDIT: It does work for us if we provide admin credentials in the UAC window, however basically no one is allowed to be a local admin so it doesn't help much.

[ej25wrx]

I can confirm the same behavior on Windows build 22631.5768

[PetrStudnicka8111]

Same here... Security patch KB5063878 has been quite problematic overall, but maybe that’s because the developers were relying on a security flaw that has now been fixed. Hopefully Autodesk will address this soon!

[PetrStudnicka8111]

Official article: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/After-installation...

However, the suggested "solution" is no real solution at all, but merely a desperate and amateurish workaround...