Autodesk does not provide a way to recover or reset passwords for encrypted files. If the password was set by a file owner or a third-party distributor and is lost, the file cannot be opened.

Look for a Readme.txt or Instruction.txt inside the folder where you downloaded the setup.

Are you stuck at the of the file, or are you trying to activate the software after it has already installed? Get help with Account management - Autodesk

When a user encounters a prompt to "enter password for the encrypted file setup" while running a setup.exe for AutoCAD 2013, it typically indicates that the installer files themselves are contained within a password-protected archive (like a ZIP or RAR) or were created with a custom encryption layer. This is not a standard part of the official Autodesk installation process.

Technically, you could try brute-force tools like john the ripper or fcrackzip (if it’s a ZIP-based encryption), but that would take days and the file is likely malicious. Bypassing is not recommended.

For AutoCAD 2013, the setup process typically involves running an executable file ( .exe ) that guides you through the installation. If the file is encrypted, you might need a password or a decryption tool to access it.

The message is a major red flag. Legitimate AutoCAD 2013 setup files do not have this feature. In nearly all consumer-facing scenarios, this is a malware delivery mechanism.

AutoCAD 2013 is obsolete; consider using a free alternative like DraftSight or NanoCAD , or upgrade to a current AutoCAD subscription from Autodesk.

Before you type anything into that password box, follow these steps in order.

If you have landed on this page, you are likely staring at a frustrating dialog box asking you to This prompt is not a standard part of Autodesk’s official installation process. In fact, encountering it usually signals one of three things: a corrupted download, an incorrectly packaged corporate deployment, or (most commonly) a red flag for malware.