The most popular questions

Installation and registration

To get detailed instructions on how to install and register nanoCAD products, please download our Installation and Registration Guide at the nanoCAD Download page.

Licensing and Subscriptions

We provide subscriptions that run for either one year or three years. During the duration of the subscription, you receive free technical support and free upgrades.

With the one-year subscription, you can use nanoCAD for one year, as well as receive, at no charge, all upgrades released during the year. After the year ends, the software stops working; to continue using nanoCAD, renew the license.

The three-year subscription includes a perpetual license. You can use it forever. Technical support and upgrades to new versions are free during those three years, after which you can purchase a one- or three-year subscription to receive ongoing updates and technical support.
Workstation subscriptions run nanoCAD on a single computer only. The license cannot be transferred to another computer.

Network subscription can be used to run nanoCAD on any computer connected to the local network, once the license server software (supplied) is installed. Licenses can be temporarily transferred to computers disconnected from the network, such as for working from home or going on business trips. For more information, please download our Installation and Registration Guide at the nanoCAD Download page.
No. The workstation license cannot be moved between computers. If your computer breaks down, or if you have purchased a new one, then please send an email to support@nanocad.com with the software serial number and a description of the issue. We will activate the license for your new computer.
Follow these steps:

  1. Download the license server software from our web site at the nanoCAD Download page.
  2. Run LicServSetup.exe.
  3. Request a license, after which you will be prompted to install a License Server. Complete the installation by following the prompts (standard settings can not be changed).
  4. Install nanoCAD on workstation computers.
  5. Connect nanoCAD to the license server by running the Registration Wizard utility (external to nanoCAD), or else by starting nanoCAD and then choosing the “Register Now” option.
  6. Enter the name of your server prefixed by the @ symbol, such as @Server1.
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for each workstation on which nanoCAD is installed.
Please contact nanoCAD technical support through e-mail at support@nanocad.com. We will make the change for you.
The permanent license of nanoCAD lets you run the software in perpetuity. To obtain a permanent license, purchase a three-year subscription, which includes the permanent license and three years of free updates and technical support.
This depends on the length of subscription you licensed:

  • One-year subscription - the program stops working at the end of the subscription period.
  • Three-year subscription - the program continues to keep working after the three-year subscription ends.

In either case, you need to renew your subscription to continue receiving updates, and, in the case of one-year subscriptions, to keep using the software.
The three-year subscription includes three years of upgrades and technical support. If you wish to upgrade nanoCAD products to a new release once the subscription period ends, you should purchase another subscription, either for one year or for three.
Once your subscription expires, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to your Personal account in the nanoCAD licenses section. 
  2. Select the license you want to renew and click the Manage license button. 
  3. In the Renew Subscription section, select appropriate period for renewing your subscription and click the Add to cart button.
  4. After making a purchase, your license will be renewed.


FAQ nanoCAD Free

Yes, nanoCAD v.5 is completely free to use, making it a highly accessible CAD software for all users. Registration on our website is the only requirement. After registering, you gain unlimited access to all the tools and features within the program at no cost. We are committed to offering a full-fledged CAD solution that caters to both professionals and hobbyists, entirely free of charge. Enjoy the full spectrum of our free CAD software capabilities without spending a dime.
You can access the nanoCAD User Guide in PDF format in the following ways:

  • Go to the Start menu and look for the nanoCAD folder for access to the guide and additional resources that you can download.
  • Navigate to the directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Nanosoft AS\nanoCAD en 5.0\help to find and download the User Guide directly from your computer.
For more educational resources, check out the nanoCAD YouTube channel and visit the nanoCAD Learning Center, where you can find and download various tutorials and educational materials to enhance your learning experience.
Activating the free version of nanoCAD is a simple and hassle-free process:

  1. Register on our website, log into your personal account and generate a Serial Number by clicking the Get Serial Number button of nanoCAD 5 Free.
  2. Download the nanoCADver.5 software from your account or click the Download button on our website.
  3. Install the software and enter the serial number from your account when prompted.
  4. Launch nanoCAD and start using it at no cost.
This efficient process ensures full access to the capabilities of nanoCAD’s free version.
Yes, absolutely. The free version of nanoCAD is fully equipped to support commercial projects. As a comprehensive design software, nanoCAD Free offers a complete suite of functionalities that are available for commercial use. You can leverage the full potential of our software for your business needs without any restrictions. Whether you're working on small-scale projects or large, complex designs, nanoCAD Free provides you with the tools you need to succeed.
The free version of nanoCAD includes basic functionalities such as native DWG support, creating and editing DWG files, layer management, and basic 3D modeling features. However, it lacks some advanced features available in paid versions, such as tool palettes, sheet sets, and more comprehensive 3D modeling tools. Advanced user interface options like the ribbon interface, dynamic input, and custom command creation are also exclusive to the paid versions. For detailed comparisons and specific features, please visit the nanoCAD comparison page. This page provides an in-depth look at the differences, highlighting what functionalities are available in the free software version versus what additional features and capabilities are unlocked with the paid versions
nanoCAD files are saved in the DWG format, making it an effective free DWG editor. This compatibility allows users to easily create, edit, and manage their designs, ensuring a seamless workflow with other CAD software that utilizes the DWG format.
Yes, you can open DWG files in nanoCAD Free. However, It’s important to note that although nanoCAD supports a wide range of DWG file versions, the newest DWG formats may encounter some compatibility issues or limitations. This means that while you can typically work seamlessly with most DWG files, files saved in the most recent formats from other software might occasionally present challenges.
nanoCAD Free supports DWG file versions up to 2013 only. Please verify the version of your DWG file by following these steps:

  1. Open the DWG file with any text editor (such as Notepad).
  2. At the beginning of the file, you will find a code in the format: AC10XX, where "XX" varies and could be 32, 27, 24, 21, etc.
  3. The code "AC1032" indicates that the file is in the DWG 2018 format. To work with DWG files of this format, upgrade to the nanoCAD Platform.

If your file is version 2013 or earlier and you still encounter issues, attempt to recover the file by using nanoCAD Platform:

  1. Run nanoCAD 23, then call the RECOVER command to open the file.
  2. Unfreeze, unlock and turn on all layers.
  3. Call the RMPROXY command - Nongraphicalproxies to remove proxy objects which do not have a graphic. You can also use the XPROXY command to explode visible proxy-entities.
  4. Use the Purge command to clear waste objects. We also advice to use the PURGE command (works in the command line, without dialog) and use its different options, especially ANnotscales and sorTTable
  5. Select all, then call the Flatten command. You can do it twice, because some objects can be flattened only the second time.
  6. Use the Audit command.
  7. Use the Audit Geometry command twice: first audit z-coordinates, then hatches.
  8. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat steps 3-6 several times to fix the file.
If you're experiencing issues with drawings, such as performance problems or freezing, it's recommended to use the utilities available in the nanoCAD Platform to fix these errors.

After installation try next:

  1. Run nanoCAD 23, then call the RECOVER command to open the file.
  2. Unfreeze, unlock and turn on all layers.
  3. Call the RMPROXY command - Nongraphicalproxies to remove proxy objects which do not have a graphic. You can also use the XPROXY command to explode visible proxy-entities.
  4. Use the Purge command to clear waste objects. We also advice to use the PURGE command (works in the command line, without dialog) and use its different options, especially ANnotscales and sorTTable
  5. Select all, then call the Flatten command. You can do it twice, because some objects can be flattened only the second time.
  6. Use teh Audit command.
  7. Use the Audit Geometry command twice: first audit z-coordinates, then hatches.
  8. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat steps 3-6 several times to fix the file.
nanoCAD can open and display 3D models, serving as an effective 3D CAD tool for viewing. However, when it comes to creating or editing 3D models, the free version of nanoCAD has its limitations. While you can use nanoCAD as a 3D modeler to view 3D designs, the functionalities to create or extensively edit these models is restricted in the free version. Try nanoCAD 23 with 3D Solid Modeling module to create, edit and modify 3D models.
nanoCAD Free has NO built-in support for directly converting files to PDF. However, with the release of nanoCAD 23, this functionality has been introduced, allowing users to easily export their designs to PDF format. This feature significantly enhances the software's utility, making it easier to share and print designs in a widely accessible and portable format.
Please make sure that the serial number you are using starts with the correct prefix, which should be NC50AS. You can verify this information on your account page for nanoCAD Free.
nanoCAD Free licenses cannot be activated on multiple computers as network licensing is not available for this version. Each license permits activation on a single computer only. For network licensing options, upgrade to the nanoCAD Platform.
The nanoCAD Free (v. 5) was released before before Windows 10 in 2013. We can’t guarantee its compatibility with the Windows OS 10/11. Whenever users experience these issues, we recommend completely uninstalling nanoCAD Free (v. 5) following the instructions provided below.

  1. Uninstall program via Control Panel.
  2. Check and delete folder with NanoCAD files in: C:\Program Files\Nanosoft AS\
  3. Check and delete folder with NanoCAD files in: C:\ProgramData\Nanosoft AS\
  4. Check and delete folder with NanoCAD files in: C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Nanosoft AS\
  5. Call REGEDIT in command line and check if this brunch is clean: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Nanosoft AS
* (note that ProgramData might be hidden in Windows)

Then, install a more recent version of nanoCAD, such as the nanoCAD Platform. Start the newer version, close it, and then attempt reinstalling nanoCAD Free (v. 5). This process may resolve the compatibility issues.
This error indicates a system malfunction in the operating system (OS) that altered the current date and time to a future date. Despite the current time settings appearing correct, the presence of files and Windows events with inaccurate dates has led the OS to determine the current date based on these files, not the date shown in the taskbar.

To address this issue, there are two primary solutions:

  1. Reinstall the OS.
  2. Identify and modify the creation date of files generated during the system failure. This step may also require clearing all Windows event logs.

It's important to note that this error stems from an internal OS failure and is not related to nanoCAD. If attempts to synchronize the clock and correct file dates are unsuccessful, the problem might be with the BIOS battery; replacing it can resolve the issue.
If the suggested solutions don't fix the issue, your next steps are to either reinstall the operating system or install nanoCAD on another computer.
You can access the nanoCAD User Guide in PDF format in the following ways:

Navigate to the directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Nanosoft AS\nanoCAD en 5.0\help.
Go to the Start menu and look for the nanoCAD folder.
For more educational resources, check out the nanoCAD YouTube channel and visit the nanoCAD Learning Center.
Yes, you can use nanoCAD Free (v. 5) for commercial purposes.
nanoCAD Free (nanoCAD v.5) is available only in English. You can also request an Italian version of nanoCAD Free from our Italian dealer Fabrizio Pieri - openoikos@gmail.com
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