Autodesk Inventor 2020 — Install

Installing Autodesk Inventor 2020 in 2024 feels like restoring a classic car. You need the original parts (ISO), modern fuel (hotfixes), and a lot of patience (registry tweaks).

If you are a solo freelancer with a legacy license, it is possible—but block the executable from accessing the internet via Windows Firewall to prevent Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service from forcing a compliance check that will hang.

If you are an IT admin, do not deploy this to new hardware. Migrate your data to 2024 or 2025. The installation pain is a sign: 2020 is a legacy app now.

Have you gotten Inventor 2020 running on Windows 11 successfully? Let me know in the comments if the DPI hack worked for you. autodesk inventor 2020 install

Disclaimer: Autodesk strongly recommends using the latest version. This guide is for legacy support scenarios only.

Let’s be blunt: Autodesk officially ended mainstream support for Inventor 2020 on April 27, 2022. Extended support (security patches) ended April 27, 2023.

However, the software doesn't stop working. The problem is the installer itself. The original 2020 installer does not natively know how to handle the latest Windows OS builds or security certificates from 2024. Installing Autodesk Inventor 2020 in 2024 feels like

You have two options:

For this guide, we choose “Install.”

After ~45 minutes, you’ll see “Installation Complete.” Click Finish. Reboot your computer even if not prompted—many background services need a fresh state. Do NOT install Inventor 2020 if:

Use Autodesk Uninstall Tool (start menu) – it removes all Inventor components cleanly. Do not use Windows “Add/Remove Programs” alone – leaves registry clutter.

Install Inventor 2020 if:

Do NOT install Inventor 2020 if: