How to open AutoCAD .dwg files on a Mac
By Tiago Almeida · Updated 29 October 2026
DWG is the file format of AutoCAD, and most architects, engineers and fabricators send drawings as .dwg files, along with .dxf files for exchange and .dwf or .dwfx files for publishing. macOS doesn't read any of them: Finder shows a blank icon, Preview can't open them, and pressing space shows nothing.
DWG Viewer is our app, so weigh that in. Every option below works; they suit different jobs.
Can a Mac open .dwg files?
Not on its own. To look at a drawing, check a measurement or print it, use a viewer such as DWG Viewer, ODA Viewer or Autodesk's web viewer. To change a drawing, you need a CAD app: AutoCAD for Mac, or a free one like LibreCAD for simpler 2D work.
The options compared
| Option | Opens .dwg files | Edits drawings | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| DWG Viewer | Yes, plus DXF, DWF and DWFx, in 2D and 3D | No | $19 once; macOS 14 or later |
| AutoCAD for Mac | Yes | Yes | Autodesk subscription |
| Autodesk Viewer in the browser | Yes | No, but you can mark up | Free Autodesk account; the file is uploaded to Autodesk |
| ODA Viewer | Yes | No | Free download from the Open Design Alliance |
| LibreCAD | DXF, and some DWG files | Yes, in 2D | Free and open source |
| DWG TrueView in Parallels | Yes | No | Windows in a virtual machine |
1. Open it in DWG Viewer
DWG Viewer is a native Mac app that reads .dwg, .dxf, .dwf and .dwfx files directly, on your Mac, without uploading them anywhere. Once it's installed, Finder shows a thumbnail of each drawing and the space bar previews it. Open a file and you get the plan as sharp vectors, with text, hatches, dimensions and blocks, and every layer in a list you can switch on and off. Drawings with 3D solids, surfaces or meshes open shaded, and you can turn them around or jump to the top, front, side or isometric views. Shift-drag to measure, and export the plan to PDF or SVG at 1:1, or a DWG to DXF.
It can't edit a drawing, and it shows model space only: paper-space layouts aren't drawn yet. It costs $19 once and runs on macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon and Intel.
2. Use AutoCAD for Mac
Autodesk makes a native Mac version of AutoCAD, and of the lighter AutoCAD LT. It's the way to edit DWG files with no conversion at all, and the right choice if you draw every day. Both are subscriptions, and the Mac version doesn't have every feature of AutoCAD on Windows, so check the comparison on Autodesk's site if you depend on a particular tool.
3. Upload it to Autodesk Viewer
Autodesk Viewer is a free viewer that runs in the browser. Sign in with an Autodesk account, upload the drawing, and you can look at it, measure and add markup. It's handy for a one-off file, but the drawing goes to Autodesk's servers, which may not suit confidential work, and you need to be online.
4. Try a free viewer or CAD app
The Open Design Alliance, which makes the DWG libraries many CAD programs use, offers ODA Viewer as a free download for Mac, Windows and Linux. LibreCAD is a free, open-source 2D CAD app for the Mac: it works natively with DXF and can open some DWG files. Both are good for the occasional drawing; expect a plainer interface, and no Finder thumbnails or Quick Look.
5. Run DWG TrueView in a virtual machine
DWG TrueView is Autodesk's free viewer for Windows, and it can also convert drawings between DWG versions. On a Mac it needs Windows in Parallels or VMware Fusion, which is a lot of setup just to look at files, unless you already run Windows for other reasons.
6. Ask for a PDF
If the drawing comes from someone with AutoCAD, they can plot it to PDF or publish it as a DWF. A PDF opens in Preview on any Mac, keeps the layout they intended, and is often all you need to check a design.
Which should I use?
- Looking through drawings, checking a measurement or a layer, or seeing a 3D model from every side, right in Finder: DWG Viewer.
- Drawing and editing every day: AutoCAD for Mac.
- A single file, now, and you don't mind uploading it: Autodesk Viewer.
- Simple 2D edits on a budget: LibreCAD, with DXF files.
DWG Viewer is not made by or affiliated with Autodesk, Inc. Autodesk, AutoCAD, DWG, DXF, DWF, Revit and Inventor are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.