If you’ve ever had an Autodesk product crash, you’ve likely seen the Customer Error Report (CER) dialog pop up. In that moment, it can be tempting to just close it and move on with your day. But clicking “Send Report” is one of the simplest and most powerful ways you can help improve the software you use every day.
Here’s why it matters.
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It helps Autodesk see the issue.
Each CER includes a stack trace and other technical details about what went wrong. That data lets Autodesk engineers understand the problem instead of guessing. -
It gives context.
CER reports often include information about your drivers, system setup, and other background details. This helps Autodesk spot if a crash is tied to a specific graphics driver, workflow, 3rd party application, or environment. -
It shows patterns and trends.
One crash on one machine is important. But if thousands of users send in CERs for the same issue, it instantly signals a widespread problem that needs attention and rings bells at Autodesk. I know this as in the past I have been on the Autodesk team researching CER reports. -
It can lead to solutions.
Sometimes a CER maps directly to a known problem, which means Autodesk can provide a workaround or fix much faster. Other times, it helps engineers uncover new issues that wouldn’t have been found otherwise. -
It strengthens the products you rely on.
Every report makes Autodesk software better. It’s a direct feedback loop, your few seconds of effort contribute to fixing bugs, stabilizing tools, and making the overall experience stronger.
So the next time a crash happens and that CER dialog appears, take a moment to hit “Send.” It’s quick, anonymous, and genuinely valuable. Your report may be the key to preventing that same crash from happening again, for you and thousands of other users.
Learn more about Autodesk CER
Update: I spoke to Autodesk friends on the CER Team while at Autodesk university in Nashville and learned that after 2025 releases there is no CER dialog, and the data is sent to Autodesk of each crash.
