Looking to test drive industry-standard CAD software? Autodesk offers a 30-day free trial of AutoCAD, giving you full access to its premium features, including specialized toolsets.

Instead of wasting your trial time trying to figure out the setup process, this guide will walk you through exactly how to install the AutoCAD free trial so you can start designing immediately.

"For instructions on how to download the AutoCAD free trial, please refer to the article below."

目次

• Step 1: Verify System Requirements
• Step 2: Download and Run the Installer
• Step 3: Follow the Installation Wizard
• Step 4: Launch Your Free Trial
• How to Upgrade to a Paid Subscription
• Ready to Get Started with AutoCAD?
• Optimize Your CAD Workflow with DARE

Step 1: Verify System Requirements

Before downloading the installer, ensure your workstation can handle AutoCAD smoothly. Installing complex 2D/3D CAD software on an underpowered machine will result in lagging and crashes.

Here are the baseline system requirements for AutoCAD (including specialized toolsets) on Windows:

Hardware / Software	Requirement
OS	64-bit Microsoft® Windows® 10
Processor	Minimum: 2.5–2.9 GHz processor Recommended: 3+ GHz processor
RAM	Minimum: 8 GB Recommended: 16 GB
Disk Space	10.0 GB of free space
Graphics Card	Minimum: 1 GB GPU with 29 GB/s Bandwidth (DirectX 11 compliant) Recommended: 4 GB GPU with 106 GB/s Bandwidth (DirectX 12 compliant)
Additional	.NET Framework 4.8 or later

Note: Autodesk strongly recommends a 64-bit Windows environment. For the AutoCAD for Mac system requirements, please　check here.

Step 2: Download and Run the Installer

Once you download the trial from the official Autodesk website, an .exe setup file will be saved to your computer. (The exact file name will vary depending on the specific toolset you selected, such as AutoCAD Mechanical).

1.Locate the downloaded .exe file and double-click it to launch the installer.

2.If a Windows "User Account Control" prompt appears, click Yes to proceed.

Step 3: Follow the Installation Wizard

1. Preparation Allow the installer a few moments to prepare the setup files. The time this takes will depend on your computer's processing speed.
   

2. Accept the Terms of Use Read through the License and Services Agreement. Check the box that says "I agree to the Terms of Use" and click Next.
   

3. Choose the Installation Path Select where you want the software installed. The default location (usually your C: drive) is highly recommended. Click Next.
   

4. Select Additional Components Check any additional toolsets or components you need for your specific drafting workflows. You can hover your cursor over any component name to read its description. Once you have made your selections, click Install.
   

5. Wait for the Installation The core installation will now begin. AutoCAD is a heavy application, so expect this step to take several minutes.
   

6. Installation Complete Your AutoCAD installation is now complete. Click Start to launch the software.
   

7. Restart Your Computer You may be prompted to restart your computer to finalize system registry changes. Select Restart to finish the process properly.
   

8. Once your PC reboots, you should see the AutoCAD and Autodesk Desktop App icons on your desktop, confirming a successful installation.
   

Step 4: Launch Your Free Trial

Double-click the new AutoCAD icon on your desktop. Upon launching, a dialog box will appear asking if you are ready to begin.

Select Start Trial.

You now have full access to AutoCAD. You can safely close the trial countdown window in the upper right corner using the "X" button while you work.

How to Upgrade to a Paid Subscription

If you want to continue using AutoCAD after your 30-day trial expires, upgrading is seamless and won't require a fresh installation.

1. Open AutoCAD.

2. Click the Trial Expiration counter located in the top-right corner of the interface.
   

3. Click the Purchase button in the pop-up menu.
   

This will direct you to the official Autodesk store where you can purchase your commercial license and pick up exactly where you left off.

Ready to Get Started with AutoCAD?

Autodesk has made professional design more accessible than ever. You can now access the full version of AutoCAD—including all specialized toolsets—for the price of the former AutoCAD LT. With this significantly lower barrier to entry, there’s never been a better time to upgrade your drafting capabilities.

Optimize Your CAD Workflow with DARE

Testing out your new AutoCAD trial, but struggling to import legacy drawings, client PDFs, or incompatible 2D formats? Re-drafting files from scratch can quickly eat into your 30-day trial window.

DARE is a professional, cloud-based CAD conversion platform designed to bridge the gap between different file formats. Whether you need to accurately convert a PDF to a fully editable DWG with layers intact, or rapidly batch-convert legacy files into standard DXF formats, DARE handles the heavy lifting so you can focus on designing.

Supercharge your engineering workflow today. Try DARE's Free CAD Conversion Tool and ensure your files are always ready for AutoCAD!