How to Open DWF and DWFx Files Online and Offline
DWF and DWFx files show up when an architect or engineer wants to share a drawing without sharing the real CAD file. They are made for viewing and printing, not editing. That makes them safe to send, but confusing to open if you have never seen one.
This guide explains what DWF and DWFx files are, how to open them for free, and what to do if you need a file you can actually edit.
What is a DWF file?
DWF stands for Design Web Format. Autodesk created it in the 1990s as a light way to publish CAD drawings. Think of it as the CAD world’s version of a PDF. It keeps the look of the drawing, with sheets, layers and some data, but it is compressed and locked down.
DWF files are much smaller than the original DWG. That made them easy to email back when inboxes had tight limits. They are still common in construction, facility management and older project archives.
What is a DWFx file?
DWFx is a newer version of DWF. It is built on the XPS format from Microsoft. That small change has a big benefit: Windows can show many DWFx files with its own XPS viewer, no CAD software needed.
Why people still send DWF files
DWF may seem old, but it solves a real problem. Designers do not always want to hand over their working files. A DWG holds every layer, block and setting that took hours to build. Sending it means the other person can copy or change it. A DWF lets them share the look of the design without giving away the source.
DWF files are also neat for big projects. One file can hold a full set of sheets: plans, sections, elevations and details. The client opens one file and sees everything in order. Some firms also publish DWF files for facility managers, who need to look up room layouts years after a building is finished.
Finally, DWF keeps sizes small. A large plan set that would be hundreds of megabytes as DWG can shrink to a few megabytes as DWF. That still matters when you upload to a slow site portal or send through email.
DWF vs DWFx vs DXF
| DWF | DWFx | DXF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made for | Viewing and printing | Viewing and printing | Sharing editable drawings |
| Editable? | No | No | Yes |
| File size | Small | Small, a little larger than DWF | Large |
| Based on | Autodesk format | Microsoft XPS | Open Autodesk format |
| Opens in Windows XPS Viewer? | No | Usually yes | No |
The key point: DXF is for working on a drawing. DWF and DWFx are for looking at one. If you need to change something, you need the DXF or DWG. Learn more about the editable formats in DXF vs DWG.
How to open a DWF or DWFx file online
The easiest online option is Autodesk Viewer. It is free and runs in your browser.
- Go to the Autodesk Viewer website.
- Sign in with a free Autodesk account, or create one.
- Upload your DWF or DWFx file.
- Wait a moment while it processes. Then zoom, pan, switch sheets and measure.
Autodesk Viewer stores your file in the cloud. That is fine for most drawings. For private client work, use one of the offline options below.
A quick note on our viewer: the online viewer on our home page opens DXF files, not DWF or DWFx. If you can get the drawing as a DXF, you can open it there privately, with nothing uploaded.
How to open DWFx files on Windows without extra software
Because DWFx is built on XPS, the Windows XPS Viewer can often show it.
- Right-click the DWFx file and choose Open with.
- Pick XPS Viewer if it is in the list.
- If it is not there, open Settings, go to the optional features section and add XPS Viewer. Then try again.
XPS Viewer shows the sheets like pages in a document. You cannot turn layers on and off, and 3D content will not show. But for a quick look at a plan, it works.
How to open DWF files on Windows
Autodesk Design Review
Design Review is an older free Autodesk program built for DWF files. It lets you view, measure and mark up drawings. Autodesk no longer puts much effort into it, so it may feel dated, but many offices still use it.
DWG TrueView
DWG TrueView is a free Autodesk viewer for DWG and DXF files. It is a good tool to have, but it is not built for opening DWF files directly. Use Design Review or Autodesk Viewer for DWF.
AutoCAD
If you have AutoCAD, you can attach a DWF or DWFx as an underlay with the DWFATTACH command. You can see it and snap to it, but you cannot edit the lines. It is useful for tracing over an old drawing.
How to open DWF files on a Mac
Mac options are limited. Preview cannot open DWF or DWFx files. The most reliable choice is Autodesk Viewer in Safari or Chrome. Free eDrawings Viewer for Mac may also open some DWF files.
How to open DWF files on a phone
On iPhone or Android, open Autodesk Viewer in your browser and upload the file. It works, though large sets of sheets can be slow on mobile data. If the sender can give you a DXF instead, our DXF viewer opens it in seconds with no account. See our guides for iPhone and Android.
Can you convert DWF to DXF or DWG?
This is the most common follow up question. The honest answer: not well.
DWF is a publishing format. When a designer saves a DWF, a lot of CAD detail is simplified or dropped. Converting it back gives you a rough copy at best. Some paid tools try to rebuild lines from a DWF, but the result often needs cleanup.
The better fix is to ask the sender for the original DWG or a DXF. Most designers will happily send it. If they send a DWG, you can follow our guide to convert DWG to DXF, then open it in any DXF tool.
What about DWFx to DWF?
Some people search for a way to turn DWFx into DWF. Few free tools do this. Design Review can open both and publish to DWF. In most cases, though, you do not need to convert at all. Autodesk Viewer opens both types.
How to print a DWF or DWFx file
DWF was built for printing, so this part is easy. In Design Review or Autodesk Viewer, open the sheet you want and use the print button. Pick your paper size and choose to print at the published scale if the option exists. That keeps a 1:100 plan at 1:100 on paper.
For DWFx files in XPS Viewer, use the normal print command. Set the printer to actual size, not fit to page, if you need correct scale. Then measure a known dimension on the printout with a ruler to confirm it.
If you only need a rough copy for notes, fit to page is fine. It shrinks the sheet to the paper so nothing gets cut off.
Tips for working with DWF files
- Check all sheets. A single DWF can hold many sheets, like a full drawing set. Look for a sheet list or tabs.
- Use the measure tool carefully. Measurements are only accurate if the sheet was published to scale.
- Keep the original. If you mark up a DWF, save a copy. Some tools save markups into the same file.
- Ask for DXF when you need to cut or edit. Laser cutters, CNC machines and most design apps want DXF, not DWF.
A simple plan for handling DWF files
If DWF files land in your inbox often, set up a routine. Save every DWF in the project folder with the date in the name. Open it in Autodesk Viewer or Design Review to review it. If you need to cut, edit or measure precisely, reply to the sender the same day and ask for a DXF. Most delays come from waiting until the last minute to ask for the right file.
Frequently asked questions
Is DWF the same as DWG?
No. DWG is the editable AutoCAD format. DWF is a lighter format for viewing and printing.
Can I open a DWFx file in a browser?
Yes, with Autodesk Viewer and a free account.
Why does Windows say it cannot open my DWFx file?
The XPS Viewer may not be installed. Add it from the optional features in Settings, or use Autodesk Viewer instead.
Can I edit a DWF file?
Not really. You can add markups, but not change the drawing. Ask for the DWG or DXF.
Which programs open DXF files?
Many more than open DWF. See our list of programs that open DXF files.
Have a DXF instead? Open it here
If you can get the drawing as a DXF, you do not need any account or upload. Open our free online DXF viewer, choose the file and view it in seconds, right in your browser.