AutoCAD 2021 Is Here: See What’s Inside

[The AutoCAD Blog]

AutoCAD 2021 is full of new features built for the way you work and automation to boost your productivity in the process. A subscription to AutoCAD including specialized toolsets gives you access to seven industry-specific toolsets, such as Architecture and Electrical, which can automate tasks and save you hours, even days, of valuable time. Check out our productivity studies to learn more.

With state-of-the-art AutoCAD web and mobile apps included with an AutoCAD subscription, users can access AutoCAD on virtually any device to design and draft with the most up-to-date files, in the field and on the go.

As Autodesk keeps a close eye on the impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on our industry, we’re continuing to explore the best ways we can support our customers, flex to meet their changing needs, and minimize disruptions to their business during this challenging time. To better support customers facing the new reality of a remote work environment and an increased need to collaborate and stay connected, Autodesk announced a temporary Extended Access Program for several of our flagship cloud collaboration products, including AutoCAD web and AutoCAD mobile apps through May 31, 2020.

There is so much to experience with AutoCAD 2021. The new Drawing History feature can be a game changer for your workflow, giving you insights on the evolution of your drawings. Now, you can use the popular DWG Compare feature for external references (Xrefs) attached to your drawing. Graphics performance is further enhanced. And you can stay connected to your block content anytime, anywhere.

There is a brand-new integration with Google Drive. Anyone can now open DWG files stored in Google Drive directly in the AutoCAD web app using their Autodesk ID. AutoCAD subscribers are also able to edit and save those files back to their Google Drive, enabling customers to work from anywhere. Of course, you can also view, edit, and save DWG files and Xrefs with the AutoCAD web and mobile apps using Autodesk’s cloud.

“Our subscribers will really appreciate what our development teams have been working on to modernize AutoCAD based on their feedback,” says Marcus O’Brien, Director of AutoCAD product management. “This new release delivers enhancements and features that will make a difference in efficiency and productivity right away.”

Now let’s take a closer look at what’s new in AutoCAD 2021.

Automatic Insights Into Drawing History

The new Drawing History feature is a game changer for your workflow, giving you insights on the evolution of your drawings. See changes made to your drawing over time and get instant insights by comparing previous versions right within the context of your current drawing.

Subscribers who access a file saved in OneDrive, Dropbox, or Box can easily compare a drawing with previous versions of that drawing in AutoCAD.

Quick Identification of Changes with Xref Compare

Compare two versions of an Xref and implement changes without leaving your current drawing.

Now, you can use the popular DWG Compare feature for Xrefs attached to your drawing. If a referenced drawing has changed, a notification will automatically display in AutoCAD. Click on the notification to compare changes within the context of your current drawing.

Enhancements to Blocks Palette

Stay connected to your block content—anytime, anywhere. Insert blocks efficiently from the Libraries tab on desktop or in the AutoCAD web app.

The Blocks palette now lets you sync recent blocks in a drawing to a cloud storage location and access them from desktop or web.

The Other Drawings tab is now the new Libraries tab, displaying the five most recently used block libraries for faster access. You can now specify a folder, drawing file, or any block definition stored in a drawing to insert as a block in the current drawing.

Improvements to Graphics Performance

Pan, zoom, and orbit smoother and faster in real time with multi-core processors. When panning and zooming in 2D, AutoCAD automatically performs regeneration operations for a faster and smoother experience. 3D orbit, pan, and zoom operations are also more responsive, especially for complex 3D models due to multi-core processors.

Additional new features included in AutoCAD 2021 can be found in the What’s New guide within the Help section.

AutoCAD Web App and Google Drive Integration

There are billions of DWG files stored in Google Drive, and millions of them are sent and opened each day. Now, whether you are browsing in Google Drive or sharing DWGs in Gmail, you’ll be able to open those DWG files directly in the AutoCAD web app, in addition to being able to open them in AutoCAD mobile. You’ll also now be able to connect your Google Drive inside the AutoCAD web app, giving you access to your files wherever you go. This announcement, along with our existing Box, Dropbox, and Microsoft integrations announced last year, rounds out the lineup of leading storage provider partnerships.

“Businesses continue moving to collaborate in the cloud using Google Drive at a rapid rate, and as a result we’re seeing adoption of tools like the AutoCAD web app by many of our customers,” says Alexander Vogenthaler, Director, Product Management at Google Drive. “We are excited to launch a new integration with Autodesk, enabling our joint customers to open and save DWG files stored in Drive in the AutoCAD web app and helping our customers access the power of AutoCAD from desktop, web, or mobile.”

Download AutoCAD 2021 Today

Check out the new features in AutoCAD 2021 and AutoCAD LT 2021 by logging into your Autodesk Account and downloading the latest release. If you are not yet a subscriber, make sure to check out our 30-day free trials of AutoCAD 2021 and AutoCAD LT 2021.

Free Extended Access Program for AutoCAD Web and Mobile

Autodesk is keeping a close eye on the impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on the world. To better support customers facing the new reality of a remote work environment and an increased need to minimize business disruption, collaborate and stay connected, Autodesk announced a temporary Extended Access Program for several of our flagship cloud collaboration products, including AutoCAD web and AutoCAD mobile apps through May 31, 2020. Customers can take advantage of this program by accessing these links to AutoCAD web and AutoCAD mobile. Questions and answers are available via Autodesk Knowledge Network.

Coming Soon: AutoCAD 2021 for Mac and AutoCAD LT 2021 for Mac

And we have great news for those who use Mac! As of April 3, 2020, AutoCAD 2021 for Mac and AutoCAD LT 2021 for Mac users will be able to enjoy a number of new features and enhancements including Xref Compare, Purge improvements, and a floating command line. Also new this year: AutoCAD 2021 for Mac will be available for the first time in the Simplified Chinese language. Be sure to stay tuned for more information about the AutoCAD 2021 for Mac release.

“We take an enormous amount of pride in helping our AutoCAD subscribers design better outcomes and we can’t wait to see how automation included in AutoCAD 2021 can boost your productivity and add value no matter where you’re working,” says Mimi Hoang, Vice President of AutoCAD strategy and marketing.   

We are excited to see you how you use AutoCAD 2021—across desktop, web, and mobile—to make anything.