AutoCAD Drawing — Native CAD drawing format used by AutoCAD for 2D and 3D design data.
Quick facts
What is .dwg
A .dwg file is a AutoCAD Drawing — Native CAD drawing format used by AutoCAD for 2D and 3D design data.
In the mime-db registry it maps to image/vnd.dwg. When serving .dwg over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.
Related entities: it maps to image/vnd.dwg — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.
How to open .dwg files
Developer info
When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:
Content-Type: image/vnd.dwg
Common software that reads/writes .dwg:
Relation chain
Related extensions
Related MIME types
Common uses
How to edit .dwg files
How to create .dwg files
Frequently asked questions
Common options include AutoCAD, DWG TrueView, DraftSight. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.
Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .dwg extension.
image/vnd.dwg is the media type identifier used for .dwg files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
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