0121 544 1400   info@solidapps.co.uk 

SOLIDWORKS System Requirements

SOLIDWORKS and SOLIDWORKS Data Management System Requirements

Use this information to ensure you are always working with a SOLIDWORKS-supported and optimized system for hardware, operating system and Microsoft products.

 

System Requirements

Operating Systems | MS SQL/Office | Hardware & Hypervisors | Antivirus | Support Lifecycle | Notes

 

Operating Systems

SOLIDWORKS 2022 SOLIDWORKS 2023 SOLIDWORKS 2024
Client Products (e.g. SOLIDWORKS)
Windows 11, 64-bit
(SW2022 SP2)
Windows 10, 64-bit
Server Products (e.g. SOLIDWORKS PDM)
Windows Server 2022
(SW2022 SP4)
Windows Server 2019
(End of Life: SW 2023)
Windows Server 2016
(End of Life: SW 2023)
eDrawings for Mac
macOS Ventura (13.0)
(End of Life: eDrawings 2025)
macOS Monterey (12.0)
(End of Life: eDrawings 2024)
macOS Big Sur (11.0)
(End of Life: eDrawings 2023)
macOS Catalina (10.15)

 

Microsoft SQL and Office

SOLIDWORKS 2022 SOLIDWORKS 2023 SOLIDWORKS 2024
Microsoft SQL
SQL 2022
(SW2023 SP2)
SQL 2019
SQL 2019 CU4 required
SQL 2019 CU4 required
SQL 2019 CU4 required
(End of Life: SW 2025)
SQL 2017
(End of Life: SW 2024)
(End of Life: SW 2024)
SQL 2016
(End of Life: SW 2023)
Microsoft Office
Excel and Word 2016, 2019, 2021 (SW2022 SP2) 2016 (End of Life: SW 2023),
2019 (End of Life: SW 2023),
2021		 2021

 

Hardware and Hypervisors

SOLIDWORKS 2022 SOLIDWORKS 2023 SOLIDWORKS 2024
Hardware
Processor 64-bit, Intel or AMD
RAM 16 GB or more
PDM Contributor / Viewer or Electrical Schematic: 8 GB or more
Graphics Card Certified cards and drivers
Hard Drives SSD drives recommended for optimal performance
Hypervisors (Virtual Environments)
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7 U3c 7.0 Usf To be announced
VMware Workstation 16.2.3 16.2.4 To be announced
Microsoft Hyper-V 2019 2022 To be announced
Parallels Desktop, Mac 17.1.2 17.1.2 To be announced
Citrix XenServer 8.2 LTSR 8.2 LTSR To be announced

 

Antivirus Products

Guidelines to help ensure SOLIDWORKS installation success and optimal runtime performance
  • Use a trusted antivirus product.
  • Keep your antivirus product updated to the latest version.
  • Stay updated with the latest antivirus definition/signature file (This defines the known current vulnerabilities and exemptions).
  • To ensure optimum performance, it is not recommended to install antivirus software on the SOLIDWORKS PDM vault server.
  • Consider creating exemptions for SOLIDWORKS file types and folder locations to improve SOLIDWORKS file based runtime performance such as File Open/Save/Save As and PDM Vault Checkin/Checkout.
  • If you encounter install or runtime errors or warnings from your antivirus product, first check the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base for known issues or contact your SOLIDWORKS reseller.

 

Microsoft/Apple Products Support Lifecycle (SOLIDWORKS 2021 - 2023)

Products Start of Support End of Support1
Windows 11, 64-bit SW 2022 SP2 Active
Windows 10, 64-bit SW 2015 SP5 Active
Windows 7 64-bit SW 2010 SP1 SW 2020 SP5
Windows Server 2022 SW 2022 SP4 Active
Windows Server 2019 SW 2019 SP3 SW 2025 SP5
Windows Server 2016 SW 2017 SP2 SW 2023 SP5
SQL Server 2022 SW 2023 SP3 Active
SQL Server 2019 SW 2020 SP0 SW 2026 SP5
SQL Server 2017 SW 2018 SP0 SW 2024 SP5
SQL Server 2016 SW 2017 SP0 SW 2023 SP5
SQL Server 2014 SW2015 SP0 SW 2021 SP5
Excel, Word 2021 (64-bit recommended) SW 2022 SP2 Active
Excel, Word 2019 (64-bit recommended) SW 2019 SP2 SW 2023 SP5
Excel, Word 2016 (64-bit recommended) SW 2016 SP3 SW 2023 SP5
Excel, Word 2013 SW 2013 SP4 SW 2020 SP5
macOS Sonoma (14.0) eDrawings 2024 eDrawings 2026
macOS Ventura (13.0) eDrawings 2023 eDrawings 2025
macOS Monterey (12.0) eDrawings 2022 eDrawings 2024
macOS Big Sur (11.0) eDrawings 2021 eDrawings 2023
macOS Catalina (10.15) eDrawings 2020 eDrawings 2022
macOS Mojave (10.14) eDrawings 2019 eDrawings 2021

 

Notes:

  1. End Of Support (EOS) corresponds to the last SOLIDWORKS release where a Microsoft product is supported (This is synchronized with the Microsoft Mainstream Support End Date). SOLIDWORKS releases after the EOS are not supported for the said Microsoft product and SOLIDWORKS installation is blocked in the case of an operating system.
  2. SOLIDWORKS Product Support Lifecycle defines the End Of Support for SOLIDWORKS versions.
  3. SOLIDWORKS recommends using the latest Microsoft update of Windows, Office and Internet Explorer.
  4. SOLIDWORKS supports each Windows 10 release for applicable SOLIDWORKS releases as long as it is still covered by both the SOLIDWORKS Product Support Lifecycle and Microsoft Windows Lifecycle Fact Sheet.
  5. SOLIDWORKS recommends using a Windows Server operating system for all SOLIDWORKS server-based products. Refer to the Microsoft Windows Server documentation to select the Windows Server edition that meets your needs.
  6. Windows Home Editions and Windows To Go are not supported.
  7. Apple Mac ® based machines running Windows using Boot Camp are not supported.
  8. SOLIDWORKS 2018 on Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 requires the Microsoft April 2014 update
  9. It is not recommended to install any instances of other applications on the SOLIDWORKS PDM Archive or Database Server. For PDM Professional, it is recommended the Archive and Database servers are two separate, dedicated machines.
  10. SOLIDWORKS does not test or certify VPN (Virtual Private Network) solutions but provides best-effort support. Users may be directed to work directly with their VPN provider to resolve issues on a case-by-case basis.
  11. Beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2020, DVD distribution media will only be provided on request. Please contact your Reseller.

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