If AutoCAD will not uninstall, hangs during removal, throws Error 1603, or leaves Autodesk components behind after removal, the cause is usually a corrupted installer database, locked Autodesk services, damaged registry entries, or a failed update.

The fastest recovery path is to stop Autodesk services, remove Autodesk Access, repair Windows Installer records, then perform a targeted AutoCAD cleanup before reinstalling.

Why AutoCAD Won’t Uninstall

Common causes include:

• Corrupted Windows Installer (MSI) records
• Broken Autodesk ODIS components
• Active Autodesk licensing services
• Autodesk Genuine Service dependency conflicts
• Failed AutoCAD updates
• Registry corruption
• Partially removed Autodesk products
• Security software blocking the uninstall process

Quick Diagnostic Table

Phase 1: Stop Autodesk Processes and Services

Before attempting any uninstall, close Autodesk processes that may be locking files or registry entries.

Step 1: Close Autodesk Processes

1

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

2

Open Task Manager.

3

Go to the Processes or Details tab.

4

End any Autodesk-related processes you find, including:

• AdskLicensingService.exe
• AdskLicensingAgent.exe
• AdskIdentityManager.exe
• AdAppMgr.exe
• AcWebBrowser.exe
• AdODIS.exe
• Autodesk Access.exe
• AdskAccessCoreHost.exe

Not every system will contain all of them.

Step 2: Stop Autodesk Services

1

Press Win + R.

2

Type:

services.msc

3

Press Enter.

4

Stop the following services if they are running:

• Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service
• Autodesk Access Service Host
• Autodesk Genuine Service

5

Close the Services console.

Phase 2: Remove Autodesk Access

Recent AutoCAD releases rely heavily on Autodesk Access.

A damaged Autodesk Access installation is one of the most common reasons AutoCAD cannot uninstall properly.

Step 1

Open:

Settings → Apps → Installed Apps

Step 2

Locate:

Autodesk Access

Step 3

Click:

Uninstall

Step 4

Restart Windows.

Step 5

Attempt to uninstall AutoCAD normally.

If AutoCAD still refuses to uninstall, continue to the next phase.

Phase 3: Repair the Windows Installer Database

The Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter repairs damaged uninstall entries that prevent Windows from removing software.

Step 1

Download the Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter.

Step 2

Launch the utility.

Step 3

Choose:

Uninstalling

Step 4

Select any Autodesk component that appears:

• AutoCAD
• Autodesk Licensing Service
• Autodesk Genuine Service
• Autodesk Access

Step 5

Click:

Apply This Fix

Step 6

Repeat the process until all problematic Autodesk entries have been repaired or removed.

Phase 4: Use Autodesk Removal Utilities

The appropriate method depends on your AutoCAD version.

Method A: Autodesk Uninstall Tool (AutoCAD 2021 and Older)

Older Autodesk products include a dedicated uninstall utility.

Step 1

Open the Start Menu.

Step 2

Search for:

Uninstall Tool

Step 3

Launch the Autodesk utility.

Step 4

Select:

• AutoCAD
• Language Packs
• Service Packs
• Related Autodesk components

Step 5

Click:

Uninstall

Method B: RemoveODIS.exe (AutoCAD 2022 and Newer)

Modern Autodesk products use the On-Demand Install Service (ODIS).

If the uninstall process is damaged, removing ODIS often restores control of the installation environment.

Step 1

Open File Explorer.

Step 2

Navigate to:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AdODIS\V1\

Step 3

Locate:

RemoveODIS.exe

Step 4

Right-click the file.

Step 5

Select:

Run as Administrator

Step 6

Restart Windows.

Step 7

Attempt the AutoCAD uninstall again.

Important Note

RemoveODIS.exe removes Autodesk’s installation framework.

After running it, Autodesk installations and uninstallations may no longer function until ODIS is reinstalled.

This is normal.

Launching a new AutoCAD installer later will automatically install a fresh copy of ODIS.

Phase 5: Remove AutoCAD Files Manually

If AutoCAD still cannot be removed, manually delete the remaining AutoCAD files.

Step 1: Clear Temporary Files

1

Press Win + R.

2

Type:

%temp%

3

Press Enter.

4

Delete all temporary files Windows allows you to remove.

5

Skip files currently in use.

Step 2: Remove AutoCAD-Specific Folders

Important

Do not delete the entire Autodesk folder structure if other Autodesk products remain installed.

Deleting shared Autodesk folders can break:

• Revit
• Civil 3D
• Inventor
• Maya
• 3ds Max
• Navisworks

Remove only folders related to the AutoCAD version being removed.

Examples

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2024\

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2025\

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2024\

C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2024\

C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2024\

Step 1

Enable Hidden Items in File Explorer.

Step 2

Delete the remaining AutoCAD-specific folders.

Step 3

Restart Windows.

Phase 6: Remove AutoCAD Registry Entries

Warning

Always create a registry backup before deleting entries.

Deleting the wrong Autodesk key can affect other Autodesk products.

Step 1: Open Registry Editor

1

Press Win + R.

2

Type:

regedit

3

Press Enter.

Step 2: Create a Backup

1

Click:

File → Export

2

Save a complete registry backup.

Step 3: Remove AutoCAD-Specific Keys

Do not delete the entire Autodesk branch.

Remove only AutoCAD-related entries.

Examples

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R24.3

Version numbers vary depending on the AutoCAD release.

Step 4: Remove Broken Uninstall Records

Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Inspect the DisplayName values.

Delete only entries associated with the AutoCAD installation that has already been removed.

Phase 7: Remove Autodesk Genuine Service

The Autodesk Genuine Service (AGS) is often the last Autodesk component remaining on the machine.

It frequently refuses removal because it still detects Autodesk-related records.

Method 1: Microsoft Troubleshooter (Recommended)

This method succeeds more often than the standard uninstall process.

Step 1

Launch the Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter.

Step 2

Select:

Autodesk Genuine Service

Step 3

Click:

Apply This Fix

Step 4

Restart Windows.

Method 2: Standard Uninstall

Step 1

Open:

Settings → Apps → Installed Apps

Step 2

Locate:

Autodesk Genuine Service

Step 3

Click:

Uninstall

Method 3: Direct MSI Removal

If the original installation files still exist:

Step 1

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 2

Navigate to the AGS installer directory.

Example:

cd C:\Autodesk\<Version>\x64\AGS\

Step 3

Run:

msiexec.exe /x AGS.msi /qb

The /qb switch forces a basic silent uninstall and avoids some dependency-related dialogs that can interrupt the process.

Phase 8: Use Safe Mode for Stubborn Files

If Windows reports:

• Access Denied
• File In Use
• Permission Required

perform the cleanup in Safe Mode.

Step 1

Hold Shift while selecting:

Restart

Step 2

Navigate to:

Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings

Step 3

Click:

Restart

Step 4

Press:

4 for Safe Mode

or

5 for Safe Mode with Networking

Step 5

Repeat the folder and registry cleanup.

Step 6

Restart Windows normally.

Before Reinstalling AutoCAD

Verify the following:

☐ Windows has been restarted

☐ Autodesk Access has been removed

☐ Autodesk services have been stopped

☐ Temporary files have been deleted

☐ AutoCAD-specific folders have been removed

☐ AutoCAD registry entries have been removed

☐ Autodesk Genuine Service has been removed

☐ No Autodesk processes remain in Task Manager

☐ No AutoCAD entries remain in Installed Apps

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won’t AutoCAD uninstall?

The most common causes are damaged installer records, active Autodesk services, corrupted ODIS components, or leftover registry entries.

How do I force uninstall AutoCAD?

Stop Autodesk services, remove Autodesk Access, run Microsoft’s uninstall repair tool, and manually remove AutoCAD-specific folders and registry entries.

Does RemoveODIS.exe remove AutoCAD?

Not necessarily.

RemoveODIS.exe primarily removes Autodesk’s installation framework. AutoCAD files may still remain on the system and require separate removal.

Will RemoveODIS.exe break future Autodesk installations?

Temporarily, yes.

After ODIS is removed, Autodesk installations and uninstallations may stop working until ODIS is reinstalled.

Launching a new AutoCAD installer automatically reinstalls a clean copy of ODIS.

Is it safe to delete Autodesk registry keys?

Only if they belong to the AutoCAD version you are removing.

Avoid deleting the entire Autodesk registry branch when other Autodesk products remain installed.

Final Cleanup

Restart the computer after completing all cleanup operations.

The reboot clears locked file handles, refreshes Windows Installer records, unloads Autodesk services, and finalizes the cleanup process.

Once the system restarts, it should be ready for a clean AutoCAD installation.