How to open and edit DWG files on Linux (without converting to DXF)

November 4, 2026 · Guides

If you work on Linux and receive drawings as DWG files, you soon hit the same problem: AutoCAD does not exist for Linux, and the usual programs open DXF but not always DWG. This guide sums up the options available today and how to open and edit DWG files without losing information along the way.

Why “convert to DXF” is not the answer

The usual trick is to ask for the drawing in DXF or convert it with a separate tool. It works for simple drawings, but every conversion can change the result: dimension and text styles, blocks with attributes, custom linetypes, layouts and paper space, or external references. If you then have to send the file back as DWG, those differences show up at the other office. The safer route is to edit the DWG as it is.

Options for working with DWG files on Linux

AutoCAD with Wine or in a virtual machine. AutoCAD is not compatible with Linux. With Wine it sometimes starts, but it is neither a stable nor an official solution; in a Windows virtual machine it works, at the cost of a license, memory and convenience. Autodesk also offers a web version with reduced features.
CAD with a native Linux version and DWG. There are few: BricsCAD and ARES Commander are among the known ones, both paid, and LinceCAD (below). Compare prices and licenses in our comparison of AutoCAD alternatives.
Open-source programs such as LibreCAD or QCAD. They are free and fine for simple 2D drawings, but they work mostly with DXF; DWG support is limited depending on the version. To exchange DWG files with other offices, test them with your own files before you rely on them.

Open and edit DWG files with LinceCAD on Linux

LinceCAD is a 2D and 3D CAD written from scratch that reads and saves DWG natively, on Linux too, without going through DXF: it opens R14 to 2018 (the format current versions still use) and saves in the version you choose. It keeps layers, blocks with attributes, dimensions, layouts and external references, with a command line, aliases and a ribbon.

How to install it

LinceCAD is distributed for Linux x86_64 with a graphical desktop (X11 or Wayland) in two formats:

Ubuntu and Debian: .deb package, tested on Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04 and on Debian 12.
```
sudo apt install ./lince_<version>_amd64.deb
```
Other distributions (tested on Fedora 43): a .tar.gz archive that you extract and run without installing anything else. Any desktop already ships the graphics libraries it needs.
```
tar -xzf lince-<version>-linux-x86_64.tar.gz
```

A snap package for the Snap Store (the store behind the Ubuntu App Center) is also in preparation. The packages for each version are published on the download page with their SHA-256 checksum, so you can check the file has not been altered. The full trial lasts 30 days.

Open a DWG file and save it

Open the file with OPEN (or drag it onto the window) and work with the usual commands. To save in another DWG version, use SAVEAS and pick the one the recipient needs; you can also export to DXF, PDF, SVG or PNG. If you start from a PDF, read how to convert a PDF to DWG.

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose information when I open an AutoCAD DWG file? The aim is not to: LinceCAD keeps layers, blocks, attributes and styles. Some very specific AutoCAD features may be missing; try the evaluation version with your own drawings before you decide.

Do I need a special graphics card? On Linux, a graphics driver with Vulkan or OpenGL is enough, like the one in almost any current computer.

Can I automate tasks with scripts? Yes: LinceCAD supports AutoLISP and has a Python API.

LinceCAD opens and saves DWG files on Linux and Windows, with a perpetual license. See pricing · Download · See all features.