Several factors can force AutoCAD into this "Safe Mode" or software rendering state:
If you are using AutoCAD 2023 or newer and your GPU is struggling, forcing a downgrade to DirectX 11 often fixes the gdi16.hdi error. autocad virtual device gdi16.hdi
Type GRAPHICSCONFIG in the AutoCAD command line and press Enter. Toggle the switch to ON . Several factors can force AutoCAD into this "Safe
If you’ve opened your AutoCAD Graphics Performance settings and seen listed instead of your powerful NVIDIA or AMD graphics card, you are likely experiencing a significant performance drop. This common issue indicates that AutoCAD has reverted to a legacy software rendering mode, bypassing your high-performance hardware. What is gdi16.hdi? autocad virtual device gdi16.hdi
If the option isn't grayed out, you can often fix this in seconds: