What Is An AutoCAD Viewport?

An AutoCAD viewport is a rectangular (or non-rectangular) window in a layout (paper space) that shows a specific portion of your drawing at a defined scale. Viewports let you present multiple views, scales, and orientations of the model on one sheet for clear, print-ready drawings.

Table of Contents

What is an AutoCAD viewport?

A viewport in AutoCAD is a display window on a layout tab that shows contents from Model space. Key points:

Viewports can be rectangular or non-rectangular (clipped to a polyline, circle, or custom shape).
Each viewport has an independent view, zoom, and scale.
Viewports support layer overrides (freeze or thaw layers per viewport), annotation scales, and display locking so the view does not change accidentally.
Use the MVIEW command to create and manage paper-space viewports.

When to use viewports

Use viewports when you need multiple representations of your drawing on a single sheet, for example:

Architectural plans: floor plans, elevations, and sections at different scales on one sheet.
Mechanical drawings: top/front/side views and detail zooms with various scales.
Urban planning: different map sections with tailored zoom levels.

How to create and manage viewports — step-by-step

Create a rectangular viewport (paper space)

Switch to the layout tab where you want the viewport.
Type MVIEW and press Enter.
Choose the Rectangular option (or simply click two corners) and drag to place the rectangle.
Double-click inside the viewport to activate it (enter model space inside the viewport). Pan and zoom to set the desired view.
To set an exact scale, with the viewport active use the annotation scale drop-down on the status bar or open the Properties palette and set Standard Scale.

Create a non-rectangular (clipped) viewport

Create the polyline, circle, or closed shape you want as the viewport boundary on the layout.
Select the viewport frame.
Type VPCLIP and choose New Boundary. Select the closed object you made. The viewport will adopt that shape.

Create multiple viewports quickly

Use the Layout ribbon > Layout Viewports > New Viewports (Two: horizontal/vertical, Three, Four: equal, etc.).
Or in older versions use the VPORTS command for split configurations.

Lock and protect a viewport

Select the viewport frame.
Right-click and choose Display Locked → Yes, or open Properties and set Display Locked = Yes.
Locking prevents accidental zoom/pan changes once the view is set.

Rotate the view inside a viewport

Method A — Using UCS + PLAN:

Activate the viewport (double-click inside).
Set the desired orientation with the UCS command (e.g., rotate UCS to align to a wall).
Type PLAN and choose Current to align the view to the new UCS.
Lock the viewport after adjusting.

Method B — Using DVIEW/Twist (less common):

Activate viewport and run DVIEW then use the TWIST option to rotate the view angle.

Alternative methods and related commands

VPORTS — quickly divide paper or model space into predefined tiles (useful for model-space layouts).
VIEW / VIEWMANAGER — save and recall named views; combine with viewports for repeatable layouts.
VPCLIP — clip viewport to custom shapes.
SCALELISTEDIT — edit the list of available standard scales.
layer properties Manager — use Freeze in Viewport to hide layers in specific viewports.
VPFRAME system variable — control viewport frame display (on/off/printable behavior).

Common errors and fixes

Problem: Viewport zoom or pan changes accidentally.
- Fix: Set Display Locked = Yes for the viewport.
Problem: Viewport scale looks wrong or text sizes inconsistent.
- Fix: Ensure Annotation Scale matches the viewport scale and that text/blocks are annotative or sized for paper units. Use SCALELISTEDIT to add a required scale.
Problem: Objects inside viewport don’t show.
- Fixes:
  - Check the relevant layers aren’t frozen or off in that viewport (use Layer Properties → VP Freeze).
  - Ensure the viewport is active and the view is panned to the object; use REGEN or REGENALL.
Problem: Cannot select geometry inside a locked viewport.
- Fix: Temporarily set Display Locked = No, make edits, then lock again.
Problem: Clipped viewport shows background or clipping boundary issues.
- Fix: Recreate clipping boundary (VPCLIP > New Boundary) or check that the clipping object is closed and on a printable layer.
Problem: Viewport frame does not print or hides in output.
- Fix: Use VPFRAME = 1 to display viewport frames during drawing (change to 2 to hide on-screen but print) and ensure the viewport layer or style is set to plot.

Practical tips and best practices

Create a dedicated layer for viewport frames and lock that layer to prevent accidental moves.
Use named views for repeatable setup of viewports across layouts.
Make objects annotative for consistent annotation sizing across different viewport scales.
Always lock the viewport once scale and position are correct.
Use VP Freeze to hide construction layers only in the necessary viewports.
Save your layout as a template (.DWT) with commonly used viewports and scales preconfigured.
Use SCALELISTEDIT to keep only the scales you use for a cleaner list and fewer mistakes.
When plotting, use Plot Preview to verify each viewport scale and visibility before printing.

FAQ

What is the difference between model space and paper space viewports?

A model space viewport divides the model environment into tiled views inside the drawing window; a paper space viewport is placed on a layout to show parts of the model at a specific paper scale for printing. For sheet setup and plotting, use paper space viewports.

How do I create a circular or custom-shaped viewport?

Draw a closed shape (circle, polyline) in the layout, select the rectangular viewport, run VPCLIP → New Boundary, then select the shape. The viewport will adopt that boundary.

Why does my text appear too large or too small inside a viewport?

Check the viewport scale and annotation scale. Use annotative text styles and set the viewport’s standard scale to match the drawing scale so annotations display at the intended paper size.

How can I prevent accidental zooming inside a viewport?

Select the viewport frame and set Display Locked = Yes in the Properties palette or right-click menu.

How do I rotate the model view inside a viewport without rotating the frame?

Activate the viewport, set a rotated UCS, then run PLAN → Current to rotate the view. Finally lock the viewport.

Can I have different layer visibility per viewport?

Yes — in the Layer Properties Manager use VP Freeze or VP Thaw to control layer visibility for each viewport individually.

My viewport shows nothing when I plot. What should I check?

Verify the model objects are on visible/thawed layers for that viewport, the viewport isn’t clipped incorrectly, and the viewport scale is set properly. Use REGENALL and Plot Preview to troubleshoot.

How do I add a custom scale to the scale list for viewports?

Type SCALELISTEDIT, add your custom scale, and then set your viewport’s Standard Scale to the new value.