In keeping with my long CAD history documentation hobby, I have updated my AutoCAD Timeline graphic covering the main releases of AutoCAD. AutoCAD was released in December of 1982 and has evolved over the years.
AutoCAD Release History
AutoCAD 1.0 December 1982 (Release 1) – Initial release although AutoCAD 1.1 was the first shipping version to customers.
AutoCAD 1.1 December 1982
AutoCAD 1.2 April 1983 (Release 2)
AutoCAD 1.3 August 1983 (Release 3)
AutoCAD 1.4 October 1983 (Release 4)
AutoCAD 2.0 October 1984 (Release 5) – Added 3D capabilities
AutoCAD 2.1 May 1985 (Release 6)
AutoCAD 2.5 June 1986 (Release 7)
AutoCAD 2.6 April 1987 (Release 8)
AutoCAD R9 September 1987 (Release 9) – Codename “White Album”
AutoCAD R10 October 1988 (Release 10) – Codename “Abbey Road”
AutoCAD R11 October 1990 (Release 11) – Codename “Let it Be”
AutoCAD R12 June 1992 (Release 12) – Added 3D modeling tools
AutoCAD R13 November 1994 (Release 13) – Introduced DWG 2.5 file format
AutoCAD R14 February 1997 (Release 14) – Codenames “Sedona” and “Pinetop” for 14.01
AutoCAD 2000 March 1999 (Release 15) – Codename “Tahoe”
AutoCAD 2000i July 2000 (Release 16) – Codename “Banff”
AutoCAD 2002 June 2001 (Release 17) – Codename “Kirkland”
AutoCAD 2004 March 2003 (Release 18) – Codename “Reddeer”
AutoCAD 2005 March 2004 (Release 19) – Codename “Neo”
AutoCAD 2006 March 2005 (Release 20) – Codename “Rio”
AutoCAD 2007 March 2006 (Release 21) – Codename “Postrio”
AutoCAD 2008 March 2007 (Release 22) – Codename “Spago”
AutoCAD 2009 March 2008 (Release 23) – Codename “Raptor”
AutoCAD 2010 March 2009 (Release 24) – Codename “Gator”
AutoCAD 2011 March 2010 (Release 25) – Codename “Hammer”
AutoCAD 2012 March 2011 (Release 26) – Codename “Ironman”
AutoCAD 2013 March 2012 (Release 27) – Codename “Jaws”
AutoCAD 2014 March 2013 (Release 28) – Codename “Keystone”
AutoCAD 2015 March 2014 (Release 29) – Codename “Longbow”
AutoCAD 2016 March 2015 (Release 30) – Codename “Maestro”
AutoCAD 2017 March 2016 (Release 31) – Codename “Nautilus”
AutoCAD 2018 March 2017 (Release 32) – Codename “Omega”
AutoCAD 2019 March 2018 (Release 33) – Codename “Pi”
AutoCAD 2020 March 2019 (Release 34) – Codename “Qubit”
AutoCAD 2021 March 2020 (Release 35) – Codename “Rogue”
AutoCAD 2022 March 2021 (Release 36) – Codename “Sequoia”
AutoCAD 2023 March 2022 (Release 37) – Codename “Turing”
AutoCAD 2024 March 2023 (Release 38) – Codename “Ursa”
AutoCAD 2025 March 2024 (Release 39) Codename “Venn”
DWG File History
The first six bytes of a DWG file identify its version. In a DXF file, the AutoCAD version number is specified in the header section. The DXF system variable is $ACADVER.
DWG File History
AC1032 AutoCAD 2018/2019/2020/2021/2022/2023/2024/2025
AC1027 AutoCAD 2013/2014/2015/2016/2017
AC1024 AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012
AC1021 AutoCAD 2007/2008/2009
AC1018 AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006
AC1015 AutoCAD 2000/2000i/2002
AC1014 Release 14
AC1012 Release 13
AC1009 Release 11/12
AC1006 Release 10
AC1004 Release 9
AC1003 Version 2.60
AC1002 Version 2.50
AC1001 Version 2.22
AC2.22 Version 2.22
AC2.21 Version 2.21
AC2.10 Version 2.10
AC1.50 Version 2.05
AC1.40 Version 1.40
AC1.2 Version 1.2
MC0.0 Version 1.0
