Problem

This article goes over the best practices for multiple installations of SOLIDWORKS. The most common reason for multiple installs is for working with outside contractors or vendors on a different year version since SOLIDWORKS files are generally not backwards compatible in a writable format.

Solution Step 1: Uninstall Best Practices

It is best to start with a clean slate by performing a clean uninstall of all instances of SOLIDWORKS. This is not required, but it is recommended. If you want to uninstall, follow the uninstall guide here for each version of SOLIDWORKS installed:

How To Uninstall And Remove SOLIDWORKS Products – Hawk Ridge Systems

Solution Step 2: Installation Best Practices

After the uninstall is complete, it is recommended to start your installs from the oldest version of SOLIDWORKS first. Follow these steps to install each version of SOLIDWORKS:

1. Double-click on Setup.exe from your install files to begin the install.
2. The SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager will ask you which type of installation you would like to perform. Choose Install on this Computer and select Next.

3. If you have a previous version of SOLIDWORKS installed on this computer, you will be presented with the options to create a new installation or to upgrade your existing installation. Select Create a new installation of SOLIDWORKS 20XX and hit Next.

4. At the Summary page, we will need to change a couple of locations. First, click the blue text "Change" next to Installation Location, then add the year of the SOLIDWORKS version that you're installing to the folder path and click "Back to Summary"
   
    

5. Click the blue text "CHANGE" next to Toolbox/Hole Wizard Options. We will now select "Create a new SOLIDWORKS 20XX Toolbox", and then add the year of the SOLIDWORKS version that you're installing to the folder path and click "Back to Summary"

   

6. Now accept the terms and start the installation by hitting the install button at the bottom right of the Summary page.
7. Once the installation is done, repeat steps 1-6 to install the other versions of SolidWorks.

These changes help us to identify which folder is for which version of SOLIDWORKS. If we were installing SOLIDWORKS 2026, for example, the Installation Location and Toolbox Location would look like: 

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp 2026
• C:\SOLIDWORKS Data 2026

For additional resources on best practices & considerations for multiple versions of SOLIDWORKS, check out these articles:

Graphics Card Driver Best Practices for Multiple Installations of SOLIDWORKS – Hawk Ridge Systems

SOLIDWORKS Tools Considerations for Multiple Installs of SOLIDWORKS – Hawk Ridge Systems

For additional support, existing customers can submit a ticket or new customers can contact Hawk Ridge Systems.