Set up Antivirus AV for AutoDesk to run smoothly

How to install antivirus programs to make AutoDesk software run more efficiently?

Antivirus software and Microsoft Defender may impact the installation and performance of AutoDesk programs.

After installing the program, it may be beneficial to exclude the following AutoDesk folders in your antivirus settings

1. C:Program FilesAutodesk
2. C:Program Files (x86)common FilesAutodesk Shared
3. C:Program Files (x86)Autodesk
4. C:Program Files (x86)common FilesAutodesk
5. C:ProgramDataFlexnet
6. C:ProgramDataAutodesk
7. C:Users AppDataRoamingAutodesk
8. C:Users AppDataLocalAutodesk
9. C:tempAutoDeskViewer
10. C:Program FilesCommon FilesAutodesk Shared

Additionally, it can be effective to create exclusions for these various files used by AutoDesk products. Some of the file types used by AutoDesk programs are: 

3ds, ac$, apj, .atc, bak, ctb, cui, cuix, dcl, dst, dwf, dwg, dwl, dwl2, dwt, fbx, ipt, iam, idw, ipn, ipj, lin, ma, mat, max, mb, mns, mnu, pat, pgp, rfa, rft, rte, rvt, rws, dat, slogan, shp, shx, stb, sv$

Also available:

.xml, .mms, .grs, .sq* (sqlite), .wdp, .ldb, .mdb, .mui, .aux, .chm, revit*.xml.zip, .xls, .json*, .dyn

Here are some components that may need to be added to the exclusions for your AntiVirus program:
For AutoDesk 2020 and newer versions:

1. C:Program Files (x86)Common FilesAutodesk SharedAdskLicensingCurrentAdskLicensingAgentAdskLicensingAgent.exe
2. C:Program Files (x86)Common FilesAutodesk SharedAdskLicensingCurrentAdskLicensingServiceAdskLicensingService.exe
3. C:Program Files (x86)Common FilesAutodesk SharedAdskLicensingCurrenthelperAdskLicensingInstHelper.exe

For AutoDesk 2023 and newer versions with a maintenance subscription license:

1. C:Program FilesCommon FilesMacrovision SharedFlexNet PublisherFNPLicensingService64.exe
2. C:Program FilesCommon FilesAutodesk SharedAdLMR14LMU.exe   (the R14 folder may differ depending on the product version installed - i.e. it may be R12, R10.).
3. C:Program FilesAutodeskAutodesk AutoCAD 201xacad.exe e (or the exe of the running Autodesk program).

Note: When choosing to use AutoCAD Electrical, it may be necessary to add an exception for: :Users DocumentsAcade

Temporary files can be created in the %temp% Windows folder with the extensions:

adsklib, dll , log, tmp, xml

Lesley Montoya

Update 16 January 2025