Problem

The SOLIDWORKS Launcher opens files with the appropriate SOLIDWORKS version when multiple versions are installed. However, some users experience multiple SOLIDWORKS instances opening when right-clicking a file and selecting Open or double-clicking it in Windows Explorer. This article goes over how to restore the SOLIDWORKS File Associations to help with this, and it can also help restore the thumbnail preview for SOLIDWORKS files. This issue occurs if the SOLIDWORKS file type is directly associated with a specific version of the SOLIDWORKS executable application, instead of the SOLIDWORKS Launcher’s executable application.

Solution

To re-associate the files to the correct executable application, please follow the instructions below:

1. Close all applications on the system and restart the computer
2. Browse to the SOLIDWORKS installation folder. By default, the location will be under: 
   C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks

3. Right-click on SLDWORKS.exe and choose Run as administrator

   

4. Go to Tools > Options > System Options > General

5. Select Restore File Associations

   

6. Close SOLIDWORKS

7. Right-click on any SOLIDWORKS part (sldprt) file in a Windows Explorer folder, choose Open with, and select Choose another app

   

8. In the "Open with" window, select the SOLIDWORKS Launcher under Recommended Programs. 
9. If the SOLIDWORKS Launcher is not available as a Recommended Program, click on "Browse…" and select the swShellFileLauncher.exe, which can be found in:
   C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks
   Starting in SOLIDWORKS 2024, this has been changed to: 
   C:\Program Files\Common Files\SOLIDWORKS Shared

10. Also, make sure to check "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" and select "OK"

    

11. Repeat steps 7 and 8 with a SOLIDWORKS assembly (sldasm) and drawing (slddrw) file
12. Test opening SOLIDWORKS files again to see if the issues are resolved

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