SOLIDWORKS Frequently Asked Questions

All SOLIDWORKS web pages and applications have switched from a SOLIDWORKS ID login page to a 3DEXPERIENCE ID login page. 

Whether you are logging into a 3DEXPERIENCE application, the DS Support Knowledge Base, the SOLIDWORKS User Forum, MySolidWorks, or the SOLIDWORKS downloads page, you have a single login everywhere – 3DEXPERIENCE ID.

Learn more about 3DEXPERIENCE IDs for SOLIDWORKS users.

Generally, this issue can be seen if prerequisites are not installed correctly.

To verify this: Try running SLDWORKS.exe from the install directory (Default location is “C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS”) and see what happens.  Do you see "Side by Side" error message window showing: "The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect…."

If yes, it points to an issue with the installation Microsoft Prerequisites “Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable" required for SOLIDWORKS. Please try the following steps to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Go to Start > User Account > User Account Control Settings. Set it to “Never Notify”. Restart the system
2. Login as administrator
3. Uninstall VC++ redistributable components (2008 and 2010 and 2012, 2013, 2015) from Programs and Features
4. Restart the computer
5. Login as administrator
6. Reinstall: VC++ 2008 and 2010 and 2012, 2013, 2015

1. downloaded files\prereqs\VCRedist9\vcredist_x86.exe and vcredist_x64.exe
2. downloaded files\prereqs\VCRedist10\vcredist_x86.exe and vcredist_x64.exe
3. downloaded files\prereqs\VCRedist11\vcredist_x86.exe and vcredist_x64.exe
4. downloaded files\prereqs\VCRedist12\vcredist_x86.exe and vcredist_x64.exe
5. downloaded files\prereqs\VCRedist14\vcredist_x86.exe and vcredist_x64.exe

7. Restart computer
8. Login as administrator
9. Install SOLIDWORKS

If the problem still occurs, repair the installation of SOLIDWORKS:

1. Go to Start > User Account > User Account Control Settings. Set it to “Never Notify”. Restart the system
2. Login as administrator
3. Turn off all anti-virus, popup blocker, ad-ware and spy-ware applications along with Windows Firewall
4. Go to Start > Control Panel > SOLIDWORKS and click ‘Change’ to repair the installation
5. Select ‘Repair the individual installation (on this computer)’
6. Click ‘Next’
7. Follow the instruction to complete the modification

This error is related to the network license of SOLIDWORKS. It is possible that an Education Edition network license (serial number starting with '9710…') got auto-populated during the installation. Note that this is an incorrect serial number for installing a Student Edition version. If you wish to install a SOLIDWORKS Student Edition, contact your school/university and request that they provide a Student Edition serial number which begins with '9020…’.

Once you have the correct serial number, you can follow the steps below to modify the serial number:

1. Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features and select SOLIDWORKS. Select “Change”.
2. Select the option for "Modify installation” and then change the serial number.
3. Select “Next” for the other prompts and finish the installation.

Yes, all service packs are supported.

Yes, the SolidNetWork licenses provide for multiple installations for commercial customers only. Each installation needs to be identified upon order.

Yes. You are allowed to purchase exams in bulk on our webstore then transfer testing credits to users of your choice in the form of a 'voucher'. To create vouchers from your bulk purchase, log into your virtualtester account and follow the simple instructions: https://3dexperience.virtualtester.com/#home

No, once installation is complete the only way to change the data directory is to uninstall, then reinstall the software.

You are encouraged to discuss your exam with an authorized training and support provide or fellow SOLIDWORKS users.  The SOLIDWORKS Certification cannot share the answers or solution methodology so as not to prejudice your next attempt. 

Due the complexity of an online testing environment, where every candidate receives a unique exam, we are unable to provide individuals with hands on analysis of improvement areas in their exam.  However, we can encourage you to visit our public website, where you will find a list of exam topics that you should be proficient in for each exam.

You can increase or decrease the number of licenses through your reseller.  You will need to re-activate through the SNL license manager for the changes to take effect.

Student Edition serial numbers allow for two simultaneous activations. You can install and activate SOLIDWORKS on two systems at a time. Hence you can use the same serial number to install and activate SOLIDWORKS on another system.

Yes. Starting with SOLIDWORKS Student Edition 2020-2021, this serial number will license the previous version of Student Edition 2019-2020. The same will be true for future releases, licensing the previous year's release. 

SOLIDWORKS Student Edition licenses are version-specific, and hence it is not possible to upgrade these products. The licenses will be valid up to 365 days, beginning from the first date of activation. If your current Student Edition license has expired, contact your school/university to issue you a free home use license of SOLIDWORKS. If the school/university is not able to assign you a free home use license, you can purchase a new Student Edition license from the SOLIDWORKS student store website -www.solidworks.com/studentstore

Yes, resellers can disable a customer’s license through the Activation Manager. 

Yes. SOLIDWORKS recommends that resellers encourage and assist SolidNetWork License customers to create an internal support team responsible for coordinating support efforts with the reseller. It is in the best interest of both the reseller and the customer to "limit" the number of users contacting the reseller to the number of concurrent licenses purchased.

No, The SNL can only float SOLIDWORKS Licenses and those of SOLIDWORKS supplied add-in products, such as PhotoWorks, FeatureWorks, Animator etc.