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

	SOLIDWORKS 2019	SOLIDWORKS 2020	SOLIDWORKS 2021
Client Products (e.g. SOLIDWORKS)
Windows 10, 64-bit
Windows 7 SP1, 64-bit
Server Products (e.g. SOLIDWORKS PDM)
Windows Server 2019	(2019 SP3)
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2012 R2
eDrawings for Mac
macOS Big Sur (11.0)
macOS Catalina (10.15)
macOS Mojave (10.14)
macOS High Sierra (10.13)
macOS Sierra (10.12)

Microsoft SQL and Office

	SOLIDWORKS 2019	SOLIDWORKS 2020	SOLIDWORKS 2021
Microsoft SQL
SQL 2019			SQL 2019 CU4 required
SQL 2017
SQL 2016
SQL 2014		SQL 2014 SP3 required	SQL 2014 SP3 required (End of life: SW2021 SP5)
SQL 2012
Microsoft Office
Excel and Word	2013, 2016, 2019 (SW2019 SP2)	2013, 2016, 2019	2016, 2019

Hardware and Hypervisors

	SOLIDWORKS 2019	SOLIDWORKS 2020	SOLIDWORKS 2021
Hardware
Processor	3.3 GHz or higher
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	6.5	6.7	6.7 U3
VMware Workstation	14	15	15.5
Microsoft Hyper-V	2016	2019	2019
Parallels Desktop, Mac	14	14	TBA
Citrix XenServer	7.4	7.6	8.2

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.

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 2019 - 2021)

Products	Start of Support	End of Support¹
Windows 10, 64-bit	SW 2015 SP5	Active
Windows 7 64-bit	SW 2010 SP1	SW 2020 SP5
Windows Server 2019	SW 2019 SP3	Active
Windows Server 2016	SW2017 SP2	Active
Windows Server 2012 R2	SW 2014 SP3	SW 2019 SP5
SQL Server 2019	SW 2020 SP0	Active
SQL Server 2017	SW 2018 SP0	Active
SQL Server 2016	SW 2017 SP0	Active
SQL Server 2014	SW2015 SP0	SW 2021 SP5
SQL Server 2012	SW 2013 SP2	SW 2019 SP5
IE 11	SW 2014 SP3	Active
Excel, Word 2019 (64-bit recommended)	SW 2019 SP2	Active
Excel, Word 2016 (64-bit recommended)	SW 2016 SP3	Active
Excel, Word 2013	SW 2013 SP4	SW 2020 SP5
macOS Big Sur (11.0)	eDrawings 2021	Active
macOS Catalina (10.15)	eDrawings 2020	Active
macOS Mojave (10.14)	eDrawings 2019	Active
macOS High Sierra (10.13)	eDrawings 2019	Active
macOS Sierra (10.12)	eDrawings 2017	eDrawings 2019

Notes:

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.
SOLIDWORKS Product Support Lifecycle defines the End Of Support for SOLIDWORKS versions.
SOLIDWORKS recommends using the latest Microsoft update of Windows, Office and Internet Explorer.
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.
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.
Windows Home Editions and Windows To Go are not supported.
Apple Mac ® based machines running Windows using Boot Camp are not supported.
SOLIDWORKS 2018 on Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 requires the Microsoft April 2014 update
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.
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.
Beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2020, DVD distribution media will only be provided on request. Please contact your Reseller.