Here is a comprehensive guide to resolving this issue and getting back to your drafting. 1. Run AutoCAD as Administrator

Under the tab, ensure the Read-only attribute is unchecked. 5. Clear Temporary Files

Right-click the shortcut > Properties > Compatibility tab. Check the box for Run this program as an administrator and click Apply. 2. Check Folder Permissions

Sometimes the "current directory" AutoCAD refers to isn't where your drawing is, but rather the default working directory the program looks at when it first boots up. Right-click your AutoCAD icon > . In the Shortcut tab, look at the Start in: field.

If you are seeing the error message when trying to save or open a drawing in AutoCAD 2013, you are likely dealing with a Windows file permission or folder ownership conflict. This legacy version of AutoCAD often triggers this alert when it lacks the administrative "handshake" required to modify files in specific locations.

Select your user profile and ensure and Write are checked.

In AutoCAD, type OPTIONS , go to the tab, and expand Temporary Drawing File Location to ensure it points to a valid, writable path. 6. Disable User Account Control (UAC)

Change this path to a standard, accessible folder like C:\Users\YourName\Documents . 4. Address Read-Only Drawing Files

Search for "UAC" in the Start menu and select .

For older software like AutoCAD 2013 running on newer Windows versions (10 or 11), UAC can be overly aggressive.