The SOLIDWORKS download for Windows 11 and Windows 10 comes from the SOLIDWORKS Downloads page, where you sign in and run the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager. The same manager can also save a full installation set for offline PCs.
This guide covers which SOLIDWORKS package fits your licence, the install steps, Mac options, system requirements, clean uninstalls and fixes when setup fails.
SOLIDWORKS is paid 3D CAD software, so have your 16-digit serial number or platform licence ready before you start.
Which SOLIDWORKS download do you need?
Dassault Systèmes ships the desktop program in two forms. The licence you bought decides which installer you run, so match your situation to a row.
| Your situation | Get this | How it installs |
|---|---|---|
| You have a SOLIDWORKS serial number from a reseller | SOLIDWORKS Design from the Downloads page | Installation Manager, 16-digit serial number |
| Your licence lives on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform | Design with SOLIDWORKS (Cloud Services) | 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher from your browser |
| You design for personal, non-commercial projects | 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers | SOLIDWORKS Connected app, Windows only |
| You want to try next year’s release early | SOLIDWORKS 2027 Preview | Pre-release test build, not for production work |
| You work on a Mac | Mac options from Dassault | Windows through Boot Camp or Parallels, or browser apps |
Do not install SOLIDWORKS Design and SOLIDWORKS Design (Platform Role) of the same major version on one computer. Older versions of the desktop edition can sit alongside the platform role.
Download SOLIDWORKS from the official links
Every installer comes from Dassault Systèmes after you sign in. There is no public setup file to grab without an account.
- SOLIDWORKS Downloads page — sign in to get the Installation Manager and service packs
- SOLIDWORKS Design installation guide — Dassault’s step-by-step guide for serial-number installs
- Design with SOLIDWORKS installation guide — platform installs through the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher
- SOLIDWORKS product page on 3ds.com — editions and buying options
Dassault publishes no single download size, because the Installation Manager fetches only the products you select. SOLIDWORKS Design needs 9 GB of free disk space.
A copy offered on any other site is repackaged or cracked. Skip it.
How to install SOLIDWORKS on Windows 11 and 10
These steps install SOLIDWORKS Design with a serial number. Keep your order confirmation email open, because it holds the serial.
- Open the SOLIDWORKS Downloads page and select Log In.
- Sign in with your 3DEXPERIENCE ID, or create one.
- Read and accept the Customer License and Online Services Agreement.
- Download the Installation Manager and run the executable.
- Select Install on this computer.
- Enter your 16-digit serial number and any extra serials for add-on products.
- Review the Summary page, including the install location and Toolbox options.
- Accept the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement and select Download and Install.
- Launch SOLIDWORKS from the Start menu when setup finishes.
Copy the whole serial, spaces included, click the first empty box and paste it in one go.
Platform licence holders sign in to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform instead. Select Install next to Design with SOLIDWORKS, install the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher when asked, then select Continue.
Download the full SOLIDWORKS installation set for offline PCs
The top option downloads and installs in one pass. The bottom option in the Installation Manager saves the entire media package, so you can install later or on a PC without internet.
| Installation Manager option | What it does | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Install on this computer | Downloads the selected products and installs them in one pass | You set up one PC with a working connection |
| Bottom option: download the entire media package | Saves the complete media set to a folder | You install offline, later, or on several PCs |
| sldim\sldIM.exe | Starts the Installation Manager from a saved set | You install from the downloaded folder |
To install from a saved set, open its sldim folder, right-click sldIM.exe and select Run as administrator. If prerequisites fail, install them first from the PreReqs folder: Bonjour64.msi, every VCRedist package, then VSTA.
Test the set on one machine before you roll it out to a lab.
Which SOLIDWORKS option works on a Mac?
SOLIDWORKS runs on Windows, and Dassault offers three routes for Mac owners. Pick the row that matches how you work.
| Your Mac setup | Use this | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Mac with Boot Camp | Windows through Boot Camp | Boots into Windows at startup; graphics may fall short |
| Any Mac that runs Parallels | Windows in a Parallels virtual machine | Needs a lot of computing power; some functions limited |
| You can model in a browser | xDesign and xShape in the browser | No install; different apps from desktop SOLIDWORKS |
Dassault does not recommend virtualization over a Windows PC, and notes that most Macs lack the graphics cards SOLIDWORKS needs. Log in to the platform from a Mac and the SOLIDWORKS Connected app is missing from the compass.
Is SOLIDWORKS free?
No. SOLIDWORKS is paid software, and the download only works with a licence. Commercial licences are sold and supported through local resellers. Hobbyists can buy 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers, a personal, non-commercial offer whose models cannot be opened in commercial SOLIDWORKS. The browser-only SOLIDWORKS Cloud Apps for Makers launched at $48 a year for people who net $2,000 or less a year from their designs. A site offering a free full version is handing out cracked, tampered software.
The Makers desktop app, SOLIDWORKS Connected, installs on Windows 10 or Windows 11 64-bit only.
Should you install SOLIDWORKS 2026 or the 2027 Preview?
The current production release and the preview build serve different jobs.
Install SOLIDWORKS 2026 for real work. Use the 2027 Preview only on a test machine. SOLIDWORKS 2026 is the generally available release. The 2027 Preview opened on July 15, 2026 so users can test features before they are final and before the production release ships. Keep preview builds off machines you use for client work.
Check the SOLIDWORKS system requirements before you download
SOLIDWORKS runs on consumer PCs, but Dassault tunes it for workstations with certified graphics cards.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Software | SOLIDWORKS Design (3D CAD) |
| Developer | Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation |
| Latest version | SOLIDWORKS 2026 (2027 in Preview) |
| Licence | Paid; Makers offer for personal, non-commercial use |
| Operating system | Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit |
| macOS | Not supported natively; Boot Camp or Parallels only |
| Graphics | Workstation card recommended: NVIDIA RTX or AMD Radeon PRO |
| Disk space | 9 GB for SOLIDWORKS Design; 2.5 GB for Design with SOLIDWORKS |
| Internet | Needed for sign-in, download and platform apps |
| Offline installer | Yes, full media set from the Installation Manager |
| Official source | solidworks.com and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform |
| Last verified | 2026-09-19 |
Press Windows + R, type winver and select OK to confirm your Windows version. Run the Cloud Eligibility Checker linked from Dassault’s installation guides before a platform install.
Fix SOLIDWORKS not installing on Windows 11 or 10
Setup fails or stops with odd errors
Broken links between SOLIDWORKS DLLs and Windows after an upgrade.
- Right-click the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager title bar.
- Select Installation Logging Levels > Create Windows Installer Logs (Slow).
- Run the install again so the log captures the failure.
- If it still fails, follow the clean uninstall steps below and reinstall.
Prerequisites will not install from a saved media set
Bonjour, Visual C++ or VSTA components are missing or damaged.
- Open the downloaded set and then the PreReqs folder.
- Sort the folders from A to Z.
- Install Bonjour64.msi, every package starting with VCRedist, then VSTA.
- Right-click sldim\sldIM.exe and select Run as administrator.
The installer refuses to add the platform role
The same major version of SOLIDWORKS Design is already installed.
- Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
- Check which SOLIDWORKS versions are installed.
- Remove the matching desktop version, or install the platform role on another PC.
SOLIDWORKS Connected is missing from the compass
You signed in from a Mac or another non-Windows device.
- Sign in to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform from a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC.
- Select Install next to the app.
- Install the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher when prompted and select Continue.
How to uninstall SOLIDWORKS completely
Return your licence first, or the activation stays tied to this PC.
- In SOLIDWORKS, go to Help > Licensing > Deactivate, pick a method and select Next.
- Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
- Right-click the SOLIDWORKS installation and select Uninstall.
- On the Summary page, make sure every component is selected.
- Under Advanced Options, select Change, tick every option and select Back to Summary.
- Select Remove Items.
- Back up and delete the C:\ProgramData\Solidworks folder.
- Restart the PC before you reinstall.
The advanced options remove install folders, registry keys and data folders. For a full reset, Dassault also lists HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks ; back up the registry before you delete them.
Which SOLIDWORKS alternative should you pick?
Browser apps and free hobby licences cover people who cannot run desktop SOLIDWORKS.
| Option | Cost | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
| SOLIDWORKS Cloud Apps for Makers | $48 a year at launch | You want xDesign, xDrawing and xSheetMetal in a browser, including on a Mac |
| 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers | Paid, personal use | You want desktop SOLIDWORKS for hobby projects on Windows |
| Autodesk Fusion personal use | Free for personal, non-commercial use | You model parts at home and need no SOLIDWORKS files |
Stay with commercial SOLIDWORKS when clients send native SOLIDWORKS files, because Makers models cannot move into commercial versions.
Frequently asked questions
Is SOLIDWORKS free to download?
The installer is free to fetch, but SOLIDWORKS needs a paid licence to run. Commercial licences come from resellers. Hobbyists can buy the non-commercial 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers offer, and any free full version on another site is cracked.
Where is the official SOLIDWORKS download page?
The official page is solidworks.com/support/downloads. Select Log In, sign in with your 3DEXPERIENCE ID, accept the agreement and download the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager. Platform licence holders install from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform through the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher instead.
Does SOLIDWORKS work on Windows 11?
Yes. SOLIDWORKS installs on 64-bit Windows 11 and Windows 10. Dassault tunes it for workstations with professional graphics cards such as NVIDIA RTX or AMD Radeon PRO, though it also installs and runs on consumer PCs.
How big is the SOLIDWORKS download?
Dassault publishes no single installer size, because the Installation Manager downloads only the products you select. Plan for 9 GB of free disk space for SOLIDWORKS Design, or 2.5 GB for the cloud-connected Design with SOLIDWORKS app.
Is there a SOLIDWORKS offline installer?
Yes. In the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager, choose the bottom option to download the entire media package instead of installing. Copy that folder to the offline PC and run sldim\sldIM.exe as administrator to install from it.
Can I download SOLIDWORKS on a Mac?
SOLIDWORKS does not run natively on macOS. You can run it in Windows through Boot Camp or Parallels, although Dassault does not recommend virtualization over a PC. Browser apps such as xDesign run on a Mac with no install.
Does SOLIDWORKS run on Apple silicon or ARM PCs?
SOLIDWORKS requires 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 and ships no macOS build. On an Apple silicon Mac, the only desktop route is Windows in a Parallels virtual machine, which Dassault says limits some functionality.
Is SOLIDWORKS safe to download?
Yes, when it comes from solidworks.com or the 3DEXPERIENCE platform after you sign in. Cracked copies and keygens from download portals carry tampered files that can hold malware and break the SOLIDWORKS licence agreement.
What is the latest version of SOLIDWORKS?
SOLIDWORKS 2026 is the current production release. SOLIDWORKS 2027 is in the Preview program, which opened on July 15, 2026 for testing before the production release. Dassault announced general availability of the 2026 release on 3ds.com.
Can I use SOLIDWORKS for Makers commercially?
No. 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers is for personal, non-commercial projects, and its models cannot be opened in commercial SOLIDWORKS. The browser-based Cloud Apps for Makers are limited to people who net $2,000 or less a year.
Can I install two SOLIDWORKS versions on one PC?
It depends on the editions. You cannot install the same major version of SOLIDWORKS Design and SOLIDWORKS Design (Platform Role) together. Older versions of SOLIDWORKS Design can run alongside the platform role, for example 2024 next to R2025x.
Why is SOLIDWORKS not installing on my PC?
Common causes are damaged prerequisites, broken DLL links after a Windows upgrade, or a conflicting version. Turn on Windows Installer logs in the Installation Manager, reinstall the PreReqs packages, and do a clean uninstall before trying again.
