How to Insert an Online Map and Map Snapshot into AutoCAD

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Learn how to add a map to your AutoCAD project

Written by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: May 16, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Inserting an Online Map
|
• Inserting a Map Snapshot
|
• Inserting an Image
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

This wikiHow guide will teach you how to insert a map in AutoCAD on a Windows or Mac computer. We will also show you how to add an image to your AutoCAD drawing.

How to Add a Map to AutoCAD

To insert a map into AutoCAD, go to Insert > Set Location > From Map. You can then search for a location, set the coordinate system, and designate the north angle. Once you've done that, you can add a snapshot of the map by going to Geolocation > Online Map > Capture > Area.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

How to Insert an Online Map

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1. 
   1
   Open your project in AutoCAD and click the Insert tab. It's in the menu above the editing space with Home and Featured Apps.
2. 
   2
   Click Set Location. You'll see this is the last option in the menu in the "Location" group.

   • A menu will drop down.
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3. 
   3
   Click From Map. It's the first option in the drop-down menu and will open up a map that you can use to search for a location.

   • If you already have a KML or KMZ map file, you can select From File instead.
4. 
   4
   Search for your location. Using the search bar at the top of the map window, enter the name of the location you want to include in your map (like "Penn University).

   • You can use the locations in the panel on the left to change the location. You can also click the view (it defaults to "Road") to change the map view to Road, Aerial, or Bird's eye.
5. 
   5
   Right-click and select Drop Marker Here. When you have the map situated as you want it, right-click on the map and a menu will appear at your cursor.

   • A red pin will appear on the map where you right-clicked.
6. 
   6
   Click Next. It's in the lower right corner of the window.
7. 
   7
   Set the coordinate system. Scroll through the list to see the options of coordinate systems you can choose from.

   • Choose a coordinate system with the same unit reference as your main project. For instance, if your project is set to "Meters," choose a coordinate system that lists "Meter" under the "Unit" heading.
   • Click the time zone and drawing unit drop-down menu if you want to change the time zone/drawing unit from the default.
8. 
   8
   Click Next and click your AutoCAD drawing space. This will designate the first point that you marked on the map in your AutoCAD drawing.

   • When you click Next, the map will close so you can transfer it to your drawing space.
9. 
   9
   Designate the "North" direction. Click on another space in AutoCAD according to the "North" angle that you want to designate in your project.

   • The map will be added once you click to add the northerly direction.
   • Use the "Distance" command to measure the distance between two points. The command prompt is centered at the bottom of your screen and typing "Di" will pull up the correct command.
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Section 2 of 3:

How to Insert a Map Snapshot

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1. 
   1
   Click the Geolocation tab. After you've inserted an online map into AutoCAD, you can add a snapshot of the map to your drawing.
2. 
   2
   In the Online Map panel, click Capture > Area. The Area option has an icon of the Earth with two blue lines on it.

   • This option will only be available if the current view is plan view of the WCS. To change views, go to View > 3D Views > Plan View > World UCS.
     • If you don't see this option, type plan into the command prompt and choose the "world" option.
3. 
   3
   Select the rectangular area you want to snapshot. You can do this by choosing the two points to create the rectangular bounding box. The map snapshot will be added to your drawing over the online map.
4. 
   4
   Disable the online map, if desired (optional). Go to Geolocation > Online Map > Map > Map Off.
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Insert an Image in AutoCAD

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1. 
   1
   Open your project in AutoCAD and click the Insert tab. It's in the menu above the editing space with Home and Featured Apps.
2. 
   2
   Click Attach in the References panel. The Attach button has an icon of a document with a blue paperclip.
3. 
   3
   Choose a method to insert an image. After clicking Attach, AutoCAD will open a Select Image File dialog box, and it will give you three ways to choose an image:

   • Choose a file name from a list.
   • Browse to/enter the path of an image file in the File Name field.
   • Enter the URL of an image in the File Name field.
4. 
   4
   Click Open. AutoCAD will then open an Image dialog box, and it will give you two methods on how to insert the image you've specified:

   • Choose Specify On-Screen to insert the image at the location, scale, or angle you want using the mouse.
   • Clear Specify On-Screen and manually enter the Insertion Point, Scale, or Rotation value.
5. 
   5
   Click OK. The image will be inserted into your AutoCAD project.
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