DWT File

What are DWT files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a DWT file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your DWT files.

What is a DWT file?

A .DWT file is an AutoCAD Drawing Template file.

AutoCAD Drawing Template files (.DWT) are template drawings used by AutoCAD to establish standardized settings and layouts for new drawings. They serve as starter files preloaded with styles, configurations, title blocks, and drawing standards so users don't need to reapply common settings each time they begin a design. Such templates are used rather than beginning from a blank document.

The creator of .DWT files is AutoCAD (or any full AutoCAD‐compatible product). When you make a drawing (.DWG) and configure it with units, dimension and text styles, layers, linetypes, layout viewports, plot settings, title blocks, and other similar drawing‐template settings, you save that file in the template format by choosing "Save As → Drawing Template (.dwt)". New drawings can then be based on that .DWT so all these preconfigured standards carry forward automatically. You can edit .DWT files like regular drawings.

A .DWT file is technically just a drawing file saved with the .dwt extension; it uses the native AutoCAD DWG file format for whatever release it was created in. If a template must work with an earlier release, the template can be saved as DWG in that older file format and then renamed with a .dwt extension.

There is no reliably published unique byte signature or "magic number" that distinguishes a .DWT file header from a .DWG file header. Since .DWT templates are DWG files in structure, they follow whatever internal signature is used by that DWG format version. An internal identifier marking a file as a template (versus ordinary drawing) is not exposed in Autodesk's documentation.

How to open DWT files

We have identified two DWT openers that are compatible with this specific type of DWT file.

Programs that open AutoCAD Drawing Template files

Last updated: August 4, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of DWT files. Remember, different programs may use DWT files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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