1. SOLIDWORKS
  2. System Requirements

SOLIDWORKS and SW Data Management System Requirements

These requirements apply to all SOLIDWORKS products except where noted. 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 2023 SOLIDWORKS 2024 SOLIDWORKS 2025
Client Products (e.g. SOLIDWORKS)
Windows 11, 64-bit
 
 
 
Windows 10, 64-bit
 
 
 

(End of Life: SW 2025)
Server Products (e.g. SOLIDWORKS PDM, SNL Manager)
Windows Server 2022
 
 
 
Windows Server 2019
 
 
 

(End of Life: SW 2025)
Windows Server 2016
 
 
 
eDrawings for Mac
macOS Sequoia (15.0)
 
 
 
macOS Sonoma (14.0)
 
 
 

(End of Life: eDrawings 2026)
macOS Ventura (13.0)
 
 
 

(End of Life: eDrawings 2025)
macOS Monterey (12.0)
 
 
 
macOS Big Sur (11.0)
 
 
 
 

Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Office

  SOLIDWORKS 2023 SOLIDWORKS 2024 SOLIDWORKS 2025
MS SQL
SQL 2022
 

(SW2023 SP2)
 
 
SQL 2019
 

SQL 2019 CU4 required
 

SQL 2019 CU4 required
 

SQL 2019 CU4 required

(End of Life: SW 2026)
SQL 2017
 
 
 
SQL 2016
 
 
 
MS Office
Word, Excel, PowerPoint

2016, 2019, 2021

2021

2021
 

Hardware and Hypervisors

 

SOLIDWORKS 2023

SOLIDWORKS 2024

SOLIDWORKS 2025
Hardware
Processor x86_64 (Intel 64 or AMD64)
RAM

16 GB or more
PDM Contributor/Viewer or Electrical Schematic: 8 GB or more
Graphics / GPU Certified cards and drivers
Drives

SSD drives recommended for optimal performance
Hypervisors (Virtual Environments)
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0 U3f 8.0.1 U1 To be announced
VMware Workstation 16.2.4 17.0.2 To be announced
Microsoft Hyper-V 2022 2022 To be announced
Parallels Desktop, Mac 17.1.2 18.3.2 To be announced
Citrix XenServer 8.2 LTSR To be announced To be announced
  • SOLIDWORKS and eDrawings require a GPU for optimal performance in a virtualized environment.
  • Check Hardware Benchmarks for applications and references that can be used to help determine hardware performance.
  • SOLIDWORKS Composer is not supported in virtualized environments.
 

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).
  • 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 Support site for known issues or contact your SOLIDWORKS reseller.
 

Microsoft/Apple Products Support Lifecycle (SOLIDWORKS 2023 - 2025)

Products

 Start of Support End of Support1
Windows 11, 64-bit SW 2022 SP2 Active
Windows 10, 64-bit SW 2015 SP5

SW 2025 SP5
Windows Server 2022 SW 2022 SP4 SW 2028 SP5
Windows Server 2019 SW 2019 SP3

SW 2025 SP5
Windows Server 2016 SW 2017 SP2 SW 2023 SP5
SQL Server 2022 SW 2023 SP2 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
Word, Excel, PowerPoint 2024 (64-bit recommended) To be announced To be announced
Word, Excel, PowerPoint 2021 (64-bit recommended) SW 2022 SP2 Active
Word, Excel, PowerPoint 2019 (64-bit recommended) SW 2019 SP2 SW 2023 SP5
Word, Excel, PowerPoint 2016 (64-bit recommended) SW 2016 SP3 SW 2023 SP5
macOS Sequoia (15.0) eDrawings 2025 eDrawings 2027
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
 

Microsoft/Apple Products Support Lifecycle (SOLIDWORKS 2022 and older)

Products

 Start of Support End of Support1
Windows 8.1, 64-bit SW 2014 SP1 SW 2018 SP5
Windows 7, 64-bit SW 2010 SP1 SW 2020 SP5
Windows 7, 32-bit SW 2010 SP1 SW 2014 SP5
Windows Vista, 64-bit SW 2008 SP3.1 SW 2013 SP5
Windows Vista, 32-bit SW 2008 SP0 SW 2013 SP5
Windows XP, 64-bit SW 2006 SP4 SW 2012 SP5
Windows XP, 32-bit SW 2001Plus SP0 SW 2013 SP5
Windows Server 2012 R2 SW 2014 SP3 SW 2019 SP5
Windows Server 2012 SW 2014 SP0 SW 2018 SP5
Windows Server 2008 R2, SP1 SW 2009 SW 2017 SP5
Windows Server 2008 SW 2008 SW 2014 SP5
SQL Server 2014 SW 2015 SP0 SW 2021 SP5
SQL Server 2012 SW 2013 SP2 SW 2019 SP5
SQL Server 2008 R2 SW 2010 SP4 SW 2017 SP5
IE 11 SW 2014 SP3 Ended
IE 10 SW 2013 SP0 SW 2016 SP5
IE 9 SW 2011 SP4 SW 2015 SP5
IE 8 SW 2009 SP5 SW 2014 SP5
Word, Excel 2013 SW 2013 SP4 SW 2020 SP5
Word, Excel 2010 SW 2010 SP5 SW 2018 SP5
Word, Excel 2007 SW 2008 SP1 SW 2014 SP5
macOS Catalina (10.15) eDrawings 2020 eDrawings 2022
macOS Mojave (10.14) eDrawings 2019 eDrawings 2021
macOS High Sierra (10.13) eDrawings 2019 eDrawings 2020
macOS Sierra (10.12) eDrawings 2017 eDrawings 2019
OS X El Capitan (10.11) eDrawings 2017 eDrawings 2018
OS X Yosemite (10.10) eDrawings 2015 eDrawings 2018
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 and Office.
  4. SOLIDWORKS supports each Windows 10 and Windows 11 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.