Installation & Licensing Center
HOW TO - Download & Install Ansys Thermal Desktop
Install order for AutoCAD, the Sinda compilers, Thermal Desktop, licensing, and SpaceClaim
Authored by Carlos Rodriguez
November 1st, 2026
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KB4005792
Description
Ansys Thermal Desktop runs inside AutoCAD and solves with Sinda, the solver Thermal Desktop uses. A complete installation is made up of several components installed in a set order. This article is for the person installing Thermal Desktop. It lists that order and where each component comes from, following the official Thermal Desktop installation guide. The guide, on the Thermal Desktop page of the Ansys Download Center, has the screen-by-screen detail for every step.
TD Direct links Thermal Desktop to SpaceClaim. TD Designer links Thermal Desktop to Discovery.
A complete installation includes:
- AutoCAD, licensed through the Autodesk Network License Manager
- Build Tools for Visual Studio 2022 and the Intel Fortran Compiler and Runtime, which the Sinda solver requires
- Thermal Desktop and Sinda, plus Discovery if you will use TD Designer
- The Ansys License Manager and your Thermal Desktop license file
- SpaceClaim 2024 R2, if you will use TD Direct
Solution
Before You Start
You need administrator rights on each computer you install on.
1. Prepare the Computer
- Uninstall any previous Thermal Desktop and Sinda release.
- Set User Account Control to Never notify, as the installation guide recommends.
- Restart the computer.
2. Download the Installation Guide & AutoCAD
- Go to the Thermal Desktop page of the Ansys Download Center at download.ansys.com/thermalDesktop.
- Download the Thermal Desktop installation guide and the AutoCAD installer.
- In the installation guide, check which AutoCAD versions your Thermal Desktop release supports.
3. Set Up the Autodesk Network License Manager
Keep the Autodesk & Ansys License Files Separate
Thermal Desktop and AutoCAD use two separate license managers. Install the Autodesk license file only in the Autodesk Network License Manager. If you install it in the Ansys License Manager, you get ERROR - A correctly-formatted VENDOR line was not found in the license file.
- On your license server, set up the Autodesk Network License Manager with your AutoCAD license file, as described in HOW TO - Set Up the Autodesk Network License Manager for Thermal Desktop (AutoCAD).
4. Install AutoCAD
- Run the AutoCAD installer you downloaded in stage 2.
- When AutoCAD first opens, select Use a network license and enter your Autodesk license server.
- Open AutoCAD once to confirm it is licensed, then close it.
- Install the latest AutoCAD service pack available from Ansys.
5. Install Build Tools for Visual Studio 2022
- Download Build Tools for Visual Studio 2022 from Microsoft and run the installer.
- When the installer asks which workloads to install, select Desktop development with C++. Leave the other selections as they are.
- When the installation finishes, restart the computer.
6. Install the Intel Fortran Compiler & Runtime
- Download the Intel Fortran Compiler for Windows from Intel and install it using the recommended installation.
Note: If you see "There is no IDE installed, product cannot be integrated", ignore it. Build Tools for Visual Studio 2022 provides what the compiler needs. - When the installation finishes, note the compiler's version number.
- Open the system environment variables and check that the
VS2022INSTALLDIRsystem variable exists and points to your Build Tools folder. See HOW TO - Create an Environment Variable. - If the variable does not exist, create it under "System variables" with these values:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Variable name | VS2022INSTALLDIR |
| Variable value |
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\BuildTools (your Build Tools folder) |
- Download the Intel Fortran Compiler Runtime for Windows from Intel. Choose the runtime version closest to the compiler version you noted in step 2.
- Run the runtime installer.
7. Install Thermal Desktop & Sinda
- On the Ansys Download Center, select Current Release ➜ choose your release and Windows x64 ➜ click Ansys Automated Installer to download AnsysInstaller.exe.
Note: For general help with the Ansys installer, see the Ansys Download & Installation Guide (Start Here!). - Run AnsysInstaller.exe, accept the license agreement, and sign in with your Ansys account.
- Choose your installation and download folders.
- In the Applications list, clear Applications at the top of the tree to deselect everything. Then expand Fluids and select Thermal Desktop and Sinda.
Note: If you will use TD Designer, also expand 3D Design and select Discovery. - Click Next to download and install. Review the Confirmation page for errors, then click Exit.
8. Set Up Thermal Desktop Licensing
Moving From CRTech Licensing
If you are moving from CRTech licensing to Ansys licensing, delete the CRTECH_LICENSE_FILE system environment variable before you install the license. If you leave a value in it, you get ERROR - Thermal Desktop Unable to Get a License.
- On your license server, install the Ansys License Manager and add your Thermal Desktop license file, as described in HOW TO - Install an Ansys FlexNet License Key/File.
- On each client computer, point Ansys to the license server, as described in HOW TO - Specify an Ansys License Server.
Note: Skip to stage 10 unless you will use TD Direct.
9. Install SpaceClaim 2024 R2 for TD Direct (Optional)
TD Direct requires SpaceClaim 2024 R2. SpaceClaim 2024 R2 also works with later Thermal Desktop releases, so you do not need to keep an older Thermal Desktop release installed alongside the current one.
- Download SpaceClaim 2024 R2 from the Thermal Desktop page of the Ansys Download Center, and extract it.
- Right-click setup.exe and select Run as administrator.
- Click Install Ansys Products.
- On the Default Licensing Mode screen, select Server Shared License, then finish the installation.
- Open SpaceClaim and select File ➜ SpaceClaim Options ➜ General.
- Clear Load model in background.
10. Verify It Worked
- Start Thermal Desktop from the Start menu. The Thermal Desktop Launcher opens.
Note: To open TD Designer, search for TD Designer in the Start menu. - Select Help ➜ Run Beer Can Tutorial. The model opens in AutoCAD and solves on its own.
- Check that the Sinda Run Status window completes. When it does, Thermal Desktop and Sinda are installed and licensed.
If Something Goes Wrong
See ERROR - Thermal Desktop Unable to Get a License or ERROR - Critical Error when Installing Ansys.
