Resolving AutoCAD Error 1603 on Autodesk Products (2020 and Later)

Applies to:
AutoCAD and other Autodesk products (versions 2020 and later)

Issue

During installation or reinstallation of Autodesk software, the setup process may fail with Error 1603.
This error is commonly associated with issues in the installer environment, such as corrupted installer components or missing Autodesk background services.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Run Force Install

Launch DeepUninstaller.
Click Force Install directly. Product or version selection is not required for this operation.
Wait until the process completes successfully.

This step repairs installer-related components that may prevent Autodesk products from installing correctly.

Step 2: Install ADSK Service (If Required)

If you receive a notification indicating that the ADSK Service is not installed, proceed as follows:

Click Install ADSK Service.
Select a compatible service version corresponding to the affected Autodesk product range (for example, Autodesk 2020–2026).
Complete the installation.

Step 3: Retry Force Install

After the ADSK Service installation finishes, run Force Install again to finalize the repair.

Result

After completing these steps, the Autodesk installer environment is typically restored, allowing AutoCAD to be installed successfully without Error 1603.

Notes

This process does not modify license files or activation data.
No changes are made to Autodesk product licensing or authentication mechanisms.
Autodesk and AutoCAD are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.
DeepUninstaller is an independent third-party utility and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Autodesk.