“Cannot find the specified drawing file. Please verify that the file exists” when double-clicking a file to open in AutoCAD

“Cannot find the specified drawing file. Please verify that the file exists” when double-clicking a file to open in AutoCAD

Issue:

When double-clicking a DWG, DXF, or DST file to have it open in AutoCAD products (including AutoCAD LT), a message similar to the following is displayed:

AutoCAD Message

Cannot find the specified drawing file. Please verify that the file exists.

AutoCAD Message

Cannot find the specified drawing file. 
Please verify that the file exists. 

Causes:

• A slash character (/ or \) is in the path or file name of the drawing file.

Note: The macOS allows using slashes but it is not recommended.

• AutoCAD has a /p startup switch designating a profile that has a spaces in its name.
• A missing or invalid drawing is designated in AutoCAD’s shortcut target field (such as for use with AutoCAD Map 3D and industry-model sign in parameters).
• Drawing file type associations in the operating system are wrong or not working.
• The file (for example, file type) being opened is associated with AutoCAD but the program does not support it, for example, DWF (Design Review), RVT (Revit), BAK (AutoCAD Backup), and DOC (Word) files.
• Antivirus software is blocking the file from being opened.
• Files are stored in a cloud storage service that is not logged in to.
• The file has been removed from it original location
• The extension might be .dwg.bak or .bak.dwg

Solution:

Do one or more of the following:

• Remove slash characters (/ or \) from the path and directory of the drawing file.
• Edit the /p startup switch in the shortcut Target field for AutoCAD (for example, right-click > Properties > Shortcut) so that the profile name has quotes around it (for example, /p “my profile.arg”).
• Repair drawing file type associations. See Double-clicking a DWG file fails to launch AutoCAD.
• Verify that the intended file to be opened is a supported AutoCAD file format. For Windows, the file type can be found by right-clicking the file and selecting Properties.
• Update the antivirus software and its definition file.
• Reset the User Specific Setting (Autodesk AutoCAD/ Civil 3D Profile).
• Rename the DWG file.
• If trying to open a file from a ZIP folder, extract the files to a new/existing folder first and then open the file in AutoCAD. 
• If files are stored on a cloud storage service, such as OneDrive:
  • Verify that the user is signed in.  
  • Move files to the local drive, for example on the desktop.

Files stored on a network folder

If the error appears with files on a network, do the following in order, testing after each step:

• Check if mapped drives are available.
  1. Press WINDOWS+R on the keyboard to bring up the Run window, enter REGEDITand click OK.
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.
  3. Right-click System and choose New > DWORD value.
  4. Type EnableLinkedConnectionsand press Enter.
  5. Double-click (or right-click > Modify) on EnableLinkedConnections.
  6. In the Value data field, type 1and then click OK.
  7. Close the Registry Editor and restart the computer.
• Lower permissions for the AutoCAD Software.
  1. Navigate to the installation folder for the AutoCAD-based software installed.
     • For example: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2020.
  2. Right-click the EXE file for the software and click Properties.
     • For example: exe.
  3. Go to the Compatibility tab.
  4. Deselect Run this program as an administrator.
  5. Click OK.
• Lower permissions for the AutoCAD DWG Launcher.
  1. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AcShellEx.
  2. Right-click exeand click Properties.
  3. Go to the Compatibility tab.
  4. Deselect Run this program as an administrator.
  5. Click OK.
• Add the path to the project in the Options:
  1. To Specify the customized file path in the Options
• If the file has been displaced from IT original location:
  1. Navigate to %temp% and restore the file name by adding the .dwg extension
• Confirm that the filename extension is .dwg and not .dwg.bak or .bak.dwg