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How to Transfer Autocad to a New Computer

Transfer Google Chrome From One Computer To Another

If you’re an avid user of AutoCAD and have recently purchased a new PC, you’ve probably encountered a problem – how to transfer this popular software design app onto it.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to transfer AutoCAD to a new computer, along with all of its workspaces, plugins, settings, blocks, linetypes, plot styles, patterns, special CUI files, and other associated documents and files.

There are two options to transfer AutoCAD to another computer. One is doing a manual transfer and the other, a much faster and easier option, is using transfer software that will automatically transfer AutoCAD to your new computer.

We will cover both in this guide, although if you prefer to just skip to the easier, automatic option, you can click here for automatic transfer of Autocad from one computer to another.

Manual transfer of Autocad to a new computer

In this section, we’ll show the steps for the manual transfer of AutoCAD to a different computer. If you’d rather just skip to the easier, automatic option, you can click here for steps included in the automatic transfer of AutoCAD from one computer to another.

To manually transfer your AutoCAD settings from one computer to another, you’ll need to have an external hard drive or cloud storage and follow these steps:

  • First, you’ll need to download and install AutoCAD on your new computer. If you have problems with the installation, attempt getting your download from the Autodesk Virtual Agent.
  • After installing AutoCAD on your new computer, you’ll have to export AutoCAD settings from your old computer by opening the Windows Start menu > All Programs > Autodesk > AutoCAD (whichever version you have).
  • Then, select Export AutoCAD Settings, which will copy your AutoCAD settings as a zip file. The zip file can be transferred to an external device or uploaded to your cloud storage.
  • You will then plug in the external device to the new computer (or open your cloud storage), run AutoCAD, repeat the steps: Windows Start menu > All Programs > Autodesk > AutoCAD, and select Import AutoCAD Settings, which will transfer your AutoCAD settings to your new computer.

Now, this is the tricky part – moving your AutoCAD workspaces to the new computer:

  • Plug in an external hard drive into your old computer.
  • Open the Command Prompt and type CUI.
  • In the Customize User Interface menu, go to Transfer.
  • Select the workspace(s) you want to transfer from Workspaces.
  • Drag it/them over into the Workspaces on the right.
  • Once all the workspaces are listed under Workspaces on the right side, click on the Save icon to create the CUIX file on the external hard drive.
  • Remove the external drive and plug it into the new computer.
  • Open the Command Prompt there and enter CUI.
  • In the CUI Transfer tab,click on the Open icon on the right side.
  • Select the CUIX file from the external drive.
  • Choose the workspace(s) you wish to transfer and drag it/them to the right side.
  • Click the Save button to keep the changes you just made.

AutoCAD is now finally transferred  – provided you followed all the steps to the T and that there were no errors in the process. Otherwise, you might need to reset the process and start over.

While the above-described manual method of AutoCAD transfer is free, it can be very exhausting and time-consuming as you not only have to install the new instance of the program on another device but you also have to take care of moving documents, customization files (blocks, linetypes, plot styles, pattern files, and special CUI files), and other associated files.

On top of that, you’ll have to make sure you have enough space on your external drive to store all of these files and that each one is copied to the right place so you can easily find it. Plenty can go wrong in this process so it will require your full attention and a lot of patience. Fortunately, there’s a much easier way that doesn’t demand this much effort (or any effort at all, for that matter).

How to transfer Autocad to a New Computer – Automatically

A much simpler approach involves using dedicated automated software designed precisely with the above situations in mind – Zinstall WinWin.

The process of AutoCAD migration to a new PC using Zinstall WinWin is exceptionally straightforward and automated, following just a few simple steps. This is what you need to do:

  1. Download and run Zinstall WinWin on your current computer (the one you are transferring Autocad from).
    Note: You can get Zinstall WinWin here.
  2. Download and run Zinstall WinWin on the new computer
    1. You don’t need to do any configurations for the computers to connect – it’s automatic
    2. If the computers are already connect to same router, same Internet connection, or same wireless connection, you don’t need anything else
    3. If the computers are not connected at all, connect them with a network / Ethernet cable
  3. If you’d like to select which applications and files you want to transfer, press the Advanced menu. If you just want to transfer everything, you don’t need to go to the Advanced menu.
  4. Press “Go” on the new computer to start the transfer

That’s it!

You’re all done! Effortlessly and quickly, your AutoCAD, its files, as well as all of your desired data and apps have been moved to your new device, so you can just pick up where you left off – plain and simple.

Not only will this automatically transfer your AutoCAD software from the old PC to the new one, but it will also move all your CUI files, plugins, drawings, settings, customizations, and even registry entries so you can proceed with your important work with no delays.

And not just AutoCAD: Zinstall WinWin transfers all other applications, settings, profiles, and files you have – in short, your entire computer. The best part? It works across all contemporary Windows machines, including XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Ready to transfer Autocad to your new computer?

Get Zinstall WinWin here!

Video tutorial – how to transfer Autocad and other apps, files from one computer to another