: Your graphics card may not meet the minimum requirements for the version of AutoCAD you are running (e.g., lacking DirectX 11 or 12 support).
❌ – Frequently crashes during PUBLISH or batch plot. Error: "Unknown exception in plot module – gdi16.hdi" autocad virtual device gdi16.hdi
The virtual device is a software-based graphics driver (Heidi driver) used by AutoCAD as a fallback mechanism when hardware acceleration is disabled or unavailable . Key Feature: Software Emulation : Your graphics card may not meet the
Understanding the "Virtual Device: gdi16.hdi" Notification in AutoCAD If you’ve recently opened your Graphics Performance autocad virtual device gdi16.hdi
If you want to switch from gdi16.hdi back to your dedicated graphics card (like NVIDIA or AMD):
Run AutoCAD as admin → REINIT → check Digitizer / PnP / HDI → OK.