# SOLIDWORKS

Application: Dassault Systèmes

Also called solid works, dassault solidworks

Dassault Systèmes, Creative

Mechanical CAD common in engineering schools. SLDWORKS.EXE is the process. It is not Fusion 360.

## What you need to know

SOLIDWORKS is school and shop mechanical CAD. Fusion is Autodesk cloud CAD/CAM.

SLDWORKS.EXE edits .sldprt files. Fusion360.exe is Autodesk. They both do mechanical CAD. They are not the same license or file.

- **What is it?**: Mechanical CAD

  **Still current?**: Yes, see Current status

  **Official download?**: Use the vendor link in this article

Feex says

If SLDWORKS.EXE is the process, that is Dassault SOLIDWORKS, not Fusion 360. I would not hunt Fusion360.exe to explain a .sldasm assembly.

## What is SOLIDWORKS?

SOLIDWORKS is a parametric mechanical CAD application. Parts are .sldprt. The Windows executable is SLDWORKS.EXE.

## If you have never used it

SOLIDWORKS is Dassault's mechanical CAD. SLDWORKS.EXE is the process. It is not Fusion 360. Fusion is Autodesk cloud CAD/CAM. Schools often teach SOLIDWORKS. You install it from a reseller or school portal, not from a random SLDWORKS host.

## What is it used for?

**Parts and assemblies**

Parametric solids. Fusion 360 does this in the cloud. This is SLDWORKS.EXE.

**Drawings**

2D drawings from the model. AutoCAD drafts DWG without that parametric link.

**School labs**

The common teaching seat. Fusion is the Autodesk classroom sibling.

## Who is it for?

- Engineering students
- Machine shops on SOLIDWORKS
- Anyone who opened Fusion looking for a .sldprt

## Current status

SOLIDWORKS (1995) is a current mechanical cad from Dassault Systèmes. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.solidworks.com/.

## How old is it?

SOLIDWORKS shipped in 1995 and Dassault bought the company in 1997. Fusion 360 arrived in 2013. Current SOLIDWORKS is a yearly desktop release plus a 3DEXPERIENCE cloud line this article does not treat as the same exe.

## Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Current Windows build

## System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

### Minimum

| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| RAM              | 16 GB class, per Dassault for recent SOLIDWORKS                      |

## Resource profile

- **CPU demand**: Follows what you open inside the app

  **RAM demand**: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

## Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

| SLDWORKS.EXE | Main Windows executable |
| ------------ | ----------------------- |

## Startup components

SOLIDWORKS does not need to start with Windows. A license manager service may run on lab PCs.

## File locations

| Typical install | C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\\ |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------- |

## File formats

SLDPRT, SLDASM, SLDDRW, STEP

## Common problems

### Toolbox or license server down

School network licenses fail offline. That is not a Fusion cloud login.

### Service Pack vs year mismatch

Install the SP the lab documents. A random 2020 exe on 2024 data is a mess.

## Getting unstuck

### Confirm SLDWORKS.EXE

Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp is the app. Fusion360.exe is Autodesk.

### Use the school or reseller installer

solidworks.com/support is the vendor door. A keygen is malware.

### Repair SolidWorks Rx

Dassault documents Rx diagnostics. This is not Fusion Service Utility.

## Alternatives

Fusion 360, Inventor, and Onshape overlap. Fusion does not open a full .sldasm the way SLDWORKS does.

## Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

| Download      | [www.solidworks.com/ ](https://www.solidworks.com/)Official installer or vendor page |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Help          | [www.solidworks.com/support ](https://www.solidworks.com/support)Vendor support      |
| Official site | [www.solidworks.com/ ](https://www.solidworks.com/)Start here, not a random exe host |

## Related hardware

Dassault lists 16 GB RAM class machines and certified GPUs for recent SOLIDWORKS. A gaming GPU can work and is not the certified list.

## Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[Fusion 360: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/fusion-360)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [SOLIDWORKS official site ](https://www.solidworks.com/)· Vendor product page
- [SOLIDWORKS help ](https://www.solidworks.com/support)· Vendor support
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Developer**: Dassault Systèmes

  **Category**: Mechanical CAD

  **Process**: SLDWORKS.EXE

  **License**: Subscription through resellers, per Dassault

  **First released**: 1995

  **Official site**: [solidworks.com](https://www.solidworks.com/)

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/solidworks/)

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