Problem

With each new year version of SOLIDWORKS, the chance that users will need to send a file to another user or customer who uses a previous year's version grows. SOLIDWORKS is backward compatible, meaning users can open a 2025 file in SOLIDWORKS 2026, but it is generally limited in forward compatibility, such as opening a 2026 file in 2025. 

Starting in SOLIDWORKS 2014 SP5, SOLIDWORKS introduced a way to open Parts and Assemblies in a read-only state one version previous to the version in which it was saved. That means users can open a 2026 Part or Assembly in 2025 SP5 or a 2021 file in 2020 SP5. This is only available in the Service Pack 5 of each year, and it has limited functionality. See this help article for its capabilities.

This article goes over the different options for taking files back to older versions of SOLIDWORKS.

Solution 1: SOLIDWORKS 2024 & Newer Save to Previous

SOLIDWORKS 2024 introduced the ability to save files back to a previous version of SOLIDWORKS. This functionality works up to two years back and requires an active SOLIDWORKS Subscription to use. This means SOLIDWORKS 2024 can save files back to SOLIDWORKS 2022 or SOLIDWORKS 2023, and SOLIDWORKS 2026 can save files back to SOLIDWORKS 2024 or SOLIDWORKS 2025. Here are the steps to use it:

1. Open the file you want to save and go to File > Save As

2. Select your desired year version from the "Save as type" drop-down list

   

3. Specify a name and location for your file and hit "Save"

If the file contains features that did not exist in previous versions of SOLIDWORKS, the save will be blocked, and there will be a window showing the incompatible item. Leave that window open, fix the feature in question, and update the window to confirm that the save can proceed.

The ability to save files to a previous version is also available in Pack & Go from File > Pack and Go for multiple files with references, or assemblies, drawings, and their components. 

Solution 2: Save as a Neutral File

SOLIDWORKS treats all .x_t Parasolid files as neutral 3rd party files. Because of this, it is possible to export a file as a Parasolid and then import it back into a previous year's version of SOLIDWORKS. This workaround can be done with both part and assembly files. We recommend the Parasolid format rather than STEP because it is native to the kernel of SOLIDWORKS, so there is no fidelity lost because there is no translation.

1. Open the part or assembly within SOLIDWORKS that you wish to export.

2. Verify within your system options that the file will export properly. If you plan on exporting using a STEP file format, the Solid/ Surface geometry will need to be toggled on. Parasolid does not need to have any options changed since it will always be saved as a solid

   

3. Save the file using File > Save As and change the file type to .x_t (Parasolid). Keep in mind that the more faces and edges to export, the longer it will take and the larger the file size. Large assemblies can take a long time to export, and the file size can be quite large.

   

Once the file has been saved as a Parasolid, it can be sent to the user who wishes to open it in the previous version. Even though the file comes from SOLIDWORKS, it will still be treated like any other imported file and needs to follow the normal import process. There will be no features, but it will be editable just like any other imported body.

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