"How many computers can I install this on?" and "Can I keep the old version after I update?" are two of the most common questions we get from Autodesk subscribers — and the honest answer is that Autodesk's own licensing terms have changed more than once in recent years, which is exactly why so many users are working from outdated information. This guide walks through Autodesk's current subscription licensing rules directly from Autodesk's own Terms of Use, updated as of July 2026.
Named User Licensing | Install vs. Concurrent Use | Previous Version Rights |
The Three Autodesk Licensing Types
Type |
How It Works |
Best For |
| Single User (Named User) | Each subscription is tied to one unique person's Autodesk ID. Only that individual may access and use it. | Individuals, freelancers, and firms assigning one seat per employee |
| Multi User (Network), DISCONTINUED | A license server on your local network manages a pool of seats; any employee or on-site contractor can use a seat, up to your purchased concurrent seat count. | Teams with shared workstations, shift-based work, or fluctuating headcount |
| Flex (Token-Based) | Pay-as-you-go access to 100+ Autodesk products using prepaid tokens, consumed only on days the software is actually opened. | Occasional users, project-based work, or testing software before committing to a full subscription |
How Many Installations Are Allowed?
This is where most of the confusion comes from, because Autodesk's own policy changed. Here's the current rule, taken directly from Autodesk's Terms of Use (Offerings section, last updated July 31, 2026):
| ✓ | Installation is effectively unlimited. Since a June 2024 policy change, Autodesk removed the previous cap (which used to limit Single User subscriptions to installing on 3 devices). You can now install a Single User subscription on as many devices as you need — office desktop, home PC, laptop, and more. |
| ✕ | Concurrent use is restricted to one (1) Desktop Device and one (1) Mobile Device at a time. This is the rule that matters. You can be logged in and actively working on one desktop/laptop and one phone or tablet simultaneously — but not on two desktops at once, even if both are yours. |
If Autodesk detects the same Autodesk ID actively running the software on two desktop devices at the same time, it will display a "Device Limit Reached" message and require you to pause the session on one device before continuing on the other. This is a compliance check, not a bug — it's enforcing the named-user model, which ties each subscription to one specific person rather than one specific machine.
Rules and Regulations You Should Know
| 1 | One Autodesk ID, one person, no sharing. Your subscription must be used only by the specific individual assigned to that Autodesk ID. Sharing login credentials with a colleague, even briefly, violates the license terms. |
| 2 | Subscriptions can be reassigned, but only through Autodesk's official process. If an employee leaves and a new hire takes over their role, an administrator can reassign the Single User subscription to the new employee's unique Autodesk ID — you cannot simply hand over the old login. |
| 3 | Global use rights depend on where you purchased. If bought in an "Approved Country," you can use the subscription worldwide. If bought in a "Non-Approved Country," use is generally limited to that country and other non-approved countries, with travel exceptions of up to 90 days per 12 months when visiting an approved country for work. |
| 4 | Multi User (network) licenses have their own rules. Authorized Users are limited to your own employees and on-site contractors/consultants working on your premises or your equipment. Concurrent usage cannot exceed your purchased seat count, and access is via your secured LAN or VPN. |
| 5 | Home Use Copies exist for Multi User subscriptions. Employees can request an authorized "Home Use Copy" of Multi User software for remote work/training, valid for up to 13 months, provided they don't use the office seat and home copy at the same time. |
Which Old Versions Can You Use?
This is the "Previous Version Rights" benefit, and it's genuinely one of the more generous parts of an Autodesk subscription — but the exact scope is often misunderstood.
| ✓ | Current version + 3 previous versions are directly downloadable through your Autodesk Account for most products, with no separate license or approval needed. |
| ✓ | Up to 5 versions back are accessible via Autodesk's Virtual Agent (AVA) for products eligible under the extended previous-version-rights policy, though full support is generally limited to current + 3 versions back. |
| ✕ | Previous version rights only exist while your subscription is active. If your subscription lapses or is cancelled, access to every version — current and previous — ends at the same time. This benefit is not a permanent entitlement to old software; it's tied entirely to your ongoing subscription status. |
| ℵ | Non-concurrent use applies across versions too. You can have multiple versions installed, but under a Single User subscription you may only actively run one version at a time — you can't have AutoCAD 2024 and AutoCAD 2026 both open and in active use simultaneously on the same license. |
Can the Old Version Stay Installed After You Update?
Yes — and this directly contradicts what a lot of users have been told. Autodesk's General Terms normally require you to uninstall a previous version when installing a new one. But the Previous Version Right creates a specific exception to that rule: for Single User Offerings, "you may install and non-concurrently access eligible previous versions of the Software" — meaning you do not need to uninstall your old version before, or after, installing the new one.
In practice, this means an architect running AutoCAD 2026 can keep AutoCAD 2023 installed on the same machine at the same time, to open old project files in their original version or finish a project that started before the upgrade, without violating the license — provided they aren't running both versions actively at the same moment, and provided their subscription remains active.
A Quick Reference Summary
Question |
Answer |
| How many devices can I install on? | Effectively unlimited (as of the 2024 policy update) |
| How many devices can I use at once? | 1 desktop device + 1 mobile device concurrently |
| Can I share my login with a colleague? | No — strictly one named individual per Autodesk ID |
| How many old versions can I access? | Current + 3 versions back (downloadable), up to 5 back via AVA for eligible products |
| Do I need to uninstall the old version when updating? | No — you can keep both installed, just not running both at once |
| Does this apply if my subscription lapses? | No — all version access ends when the subscription ends |
The DPI Recommendation
Licensing compliance questions come up constantly with growing firms — someone leaves, someone joins, a laptop gets replaced, or a project needs an older file format opened in its original software version. As an authorized Autodesk reseller, DPI Technology can help your firm manage subscription reassignments, confirm your team is within compliance, and answer licensing questions directly — before they become a problem during an audit.
This article summarizes Autodesk's publicly published Terms of Use as of July 31, 2026, for general informational purposes. Licensing terms are subject to change by Autodesk at any time without notice — always confirm current terms at autodesk.com/company/terms-of-use for decisions affecting your specific subscription.