Autodesk Inventor 2026 is here!
Autodesk continues with the just-do-it process, focusing on improving existing features rather than introducing new features. This update knocks off the list, many suggestions from the Autodesk IdeaStation, and other customer-requested changes. It highlights that if you have ideas on how Inventor could be better, you should get it on the list
There is a little bit of everything in this new release, so hopefully you find something that improves your common workflows. This release continues the trend of improving Revit interoperability, introduces new associative mirror patterns, brings a more modern UI overhaul to the sheet metal environment, and contains many drawing updates.
From Autodesk, this release “contains a multitude of enhancements to help you solve your everyday design challenges.”
Let’s take a look at what’s new and improved!
Workflow, Productivity, and General Enhancements
Inventor 2026 General Improvements
Autodesk has made “significant optimizations” to the opening and saving processes. The result means quicker access to opening and working with files.
You should find files saved with Inventor 2026 smaller than previous. The goal was to make sharing, storing, and archiving files easier.
Most Inventor-supplied add-ins, like Content Center and Tube & Pipe, have improved behaviors related to multiple monitors. When you connect or disconnect monitors, the dialogs and panels display on the active monitor.
Finally, MM or IN are now accepted inputs for units! This makes sense, as many, if not most, engineering types work with caps lock on, so this little change is a big deal.
Copy Path and Open Location buttons are now available in the Create New File dialog. Both allow you to quickly locate the template’s file location. Copy Path copies the file path to the clipboard. Open Location launches File Explorer, which then navigates to the template’s location.
Heads up that the theme for the Inventor user interface now defaults to dark. From the Application Options, you can select a different theme if you so choose. You can now more easily change the color scheme and background color from the View tab.
Changes to Open and Save
Inventor 2026 overhauls the Open and Save dialogs. The changes align it with the standard Windows File dialogs. You will find an updated, modernized user interface with many design changes to make it easier to access features. Note, more options appear when there are no files open (due to how projects work).
The file path bar now shows the full path and… drum roll please… it is editable!
The commands for Help, Find Files, Create New, Vault Open, and iMate remain in the lower left corner. Find the file type selection and filtering options in the lower right corner of the dialogs.
The workspace and library trees are now merged into the folder tree view, allowing you to scroll through the entire file system.
The active project now appears in the top left. It shows only the project name, not its full path. To set the active project or access the Projects dialog, use the new controls along the top of the dialog. Remember, you cannot change the project while files are open.
The thumbnail displays the file’s last saved version. Opposed to being difficult to find, file options for Inventor files are now available without the additional dialog. A new link to open the selected file’s iProperties is also now available in the lower right corner.
Model States
Inventor 2026 moves the Model State folder into the Representations folder, which makes sense. Autodesk also tidied the icons for Relationships and Representations for easier differentiation.
When creating a new component, regardless of the workflow, if the selected template contains model states, these model states transfer to the new component. This includes Create In-Place Component, Make Part, and Make Components.
Model States now use a native table editor, meaning no longer do you need to punch out to Excel. It does not mean you will never use Excel, but probably use it less often. If the table looks familiar, it’s because it’s the same style used with iParts and iAssemblies. Why redo when you can reuse!
Blue dots in the browser indicate the instances or features tracked by Model States. While it may cause some browser noise, it better communicates the potential impact of a change. Even better is when hovering over a blue dot, a thumbnail flyout that exposes current state settings. Double-click a dot to launch the table editor.
If you do not want the dots, you can turn them off from the browser menu.
The 2026 Create Model States menu is consolidated into one menu. Having the substitute options separate did not make sense.
Inventor 2026 Parts and Assemblies
Modern User Interface
The modernization of the sheet metal environment started in Inventor 2025 with Flange, Face, and Cut. Inventor 2026 continues this transition to the property panel interface and workflows with updates to Contour Flange, Corner Round, and the Punch Tool.
I am glad this modernization continues. I just wish it could happen quicker. The property panel interface is simpler, and it presents frequently used options upfront. So instead of hunting through tabs or menus, the panel approach streamlines workflows. The panel UI also does a better job with context-sensitive options. It shows only the relevant parameters for the current task. This minimizes clutter and helps you focus.
Not only does Inventor 2026 update Shell to the modern panel interface, it also introduces a new rounded corner option. Use this new option to apply fillets to all sharp exterior edges participating in the feature.
I’d love to see some real-world examples of applying the new rounded corner option if anyone wants to share.
Parts & Sketches
When 2D sketching, use the new Midpoint Line command to create lines that are symmetrical from their midpoint. After selecting the midpoint, select one of its endpoints or use the edit fields to define the length and angle.
With both 2D and 3D sketches, you can now switch to another sketch without first finishing or canceling the active sketch first.
When patterning features, use the new in-canvas distance inputs and direct manipulation arrows to adjust pattern features without needing to use the panel or other dialogs. You can now create irregular rectangular patterns with varying distance inputs for rows or columns and irregular circular patterns with varying angular distance inputs.
Simplify is now available within the part environment (yay!). Use this function to reduce content by removing features and excluding bodies. Do this to improve performance or protect that intellectual property when sharing with others.
The included presets speed the process by offering options for different levels of simplification. You can also build your own presets.
There are four selection options for replacing bodies with simpler shapes. When working with a multi-solid part, use the Exclude Bodies option for selecting bodies by size to include in or exclude from the simplified part.
With Remove Features, you select features by type and size to exclude from the simplified part. The selection includes holes, fillets, chamfers, and other features. Use Preserve Features to select specific features to maintain even if they fall in the set suppression range.
Assembly Mirror Enhancements
In addition to the newly designed dialog, you can now mirror both the geometry and position of the source components. In the dialog, two new buttons replace the Associative Mirror checkbox. Create flat structure is the legacy behavior.
The new Create Mirror Pattern choice mirrors the geometry and position of the source components. It maintains the associativity between the source and target components. A new Mirror browser node is created. Use this node to modify the pattern after creation.
The process remains to start by selecting the components to mirror and picking the Mirror plane. Use the Status buttons to set what’s happening with each component. Click Next to move to the File Names dialog and set the names of the new components. Naming the files stays the same as with past releases.
As a bonus, Inventor now multithreads the assembly mirror process for calculating reused components and previewing the mirror. Meaning? It’ll be faster!
Drawings
Break Views
Prior to 2026, you could not explicitly set the location of a drawing view break. Now, a sketch controls the break location like it does with detail and section views. Sketches for break views must contain only two parallel lines, either vertical or horizontal.
When creating a new break view, you can follow the legacy behavior of selecting the view without first creating a sketch. Inventor 2026 creates a new sketch with two unconstrained lines for you. Or you can use the new behavior of selecting a pre-prepared sketch.
Find the new Break View browser entry located under the parent view. Modifications to the model preserve the view location, just like with other drawing views.
Upon opening a drawing, the inventor migrates existing break views to non-dimensioned sketch geometry.
Linear Sum and Angular Sum Dimensions
Two new features allow you to dimension equally spaced features. With Linear Sum dimensions, Inventor calculates the total from the value of the spacing dimension and the total distance. The Angular Sum is calculated using the value of the spacing dimension and the total angle. I am unfamiliar with this style of dimensioning, so I am not sure yet if we will be using it.
After creating the base dimension, right-click, and select Linear Sum or Angular Sum from the menu. After selecting the base dimension, Inventor creates the new sum dimension with the total value.
When deleting the base dimension, Inventor also deletes the sum dimension.
Inventor 2026 Other Drawing Enhancements
With Inventor 2026, projected views with broken, jagged edges should now be clearer with less visual noise. To update drawing views created in earlier Inventor versions, change the detail to smooth edges and back to jagged.
The new Alt + V keyboard shortcut controls component visibility.
You can now add the parent sheet zone and sheet name, index, and zone to drawing labels. If the view moves to a different sheet, the label updates to match. This function will prove useful with details and sections placed on different sheets than their parents.
Revit Interoperability Enhancements
Autodesk restructured the BIM Content environment to make it easier to work with existing features and to incorporate new commands.
The new Coordinate System panel includes the UCS and new Placement commands. With Placement, you select the Inventor model orientation and insertion point that align with the selected Revit location in the exported RVT file.
The new RVT panel includes the options for exporting to RVT. Use Include Properties to select the properties for inclusion in the export. This supplies better control over the shared content.
Simplify & Export starts the Simplify feature preloaded with the parameters for RVT export. Use the new Parts Only structure choice to include only the parts without any assembly structure. Each included part gets an equivalent Revit element in the RVT file.
You can include Revit Categories anywhere you use iProperties. For instance, you can include Revit Categories as a column within the Bill of Materials. This feature allows you to not only review the details but to set the category as well.
Summary
Inventor 2026 is not a stellar release, but is solid. With the many updated and improved features, I am sure you will find something making it worth the upgrade.
I did not touch on everything. For the complete list, refer to the Autodesk website.
Feature Photo by ThisisEngineering on Unsplash
