Problem

This article goes over how to upgrade the SOLIDWORKS toolbox. This is useful for users who utilize a custom toolbox and need to upgrade it when upgrading SOLIDWORKS.

Solution Step 1: Upgrading the Toolbox

When utilizing a custom toolbox, we will want to preserve the part numbers and custom settings by upgrading the toolbox.

1. Back up the toolbox data folder by making a copy of the folder just in case the older files are ever needed for an older version of SOLIDWORKS or the upgrade fails.

2. Make sure all users who may be accessing the toolbox have exited SOLIDWORKS

3. If you are using PDM, check out the entire SOLIDWORKS Data folder as the Admin

4. Locate the UpdateBrowserDatabase.exe. This will be located in the data utilities folder of your Installation files. By default, this should be: 
   C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\Toolbox\data utilities

5. Right-click on UpdateBrowserDatabase.exe and select "Run as Administrator"

   

6. In Database To Update, this location should be pointing to the "swbrowser.sldedb" located in the lang\english folder of the previous toolbox (toolbox being upgraded). If it is not, hit the "..." button next to the location and navigate there. By default, this is located here: 
   C:\SOLIDWORKS Data <previous version>\lang\english

   

7. The Updating Database should be pointed at updatedb.sldedb in the same folder as the UpdateBrowserDatabase.exe. This should already be filled in, but if it is not, select the "..." button and navigate to the SOLIDWORKS Corp folder of the newer version of the software located here: 
   C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp <new version>\SOLIDWORKS\Toolbox\data utilities\lang\English
    

   

8. The window should also show the database version and the update version. The versions are not in line with the year, but are as follows:

   • 2024 = 27

   • 2025 = 28

   • 2026 = 29

   The decimal value represents the service pack (28.10 = SOLIDWORKS 2025 SP 1)

9. If everything looks correct, hit Update

9. This should run through and show a progress bar

   

Solution Step 2: Updating the Toolbox Data Files

The database is now upgraded, and the next step is to update the toolbox data files. The SOLIDWORKS source installation files or the downloaded file set for the version that the toolbox is being updated to are needed. If you do not have the installation files, contact Technical Support.

1. Run the sldtoolboxupdater.exe as an administrator, which can be found at 
   C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS

2. Click SOLIDWORKS/Toolbox installation media location

   

3. Navigate to the installation file set and select that folder 

4. Click Process

   

5. The update is now complete. Open SOLIDWORKS and test functionality.
   Note: When using PDM, check in the SOLIDWORKS Data folder and have end users perform a get latest on the swbrowser.sldedb file & toolbox data folder.
   Note: An alternative method to this would be to run a repair of the SOLIDWORKS installation. The files will be updated with a repair as well. Here is our Repair Article: How to Repair SOLIDWORKS – Hawk Ridge Systems

For downloading a default toolbox and resolving a common toolbox error, check out this article: SOLIDWORKS Hole Wizard/Toolbox Version Error Plus Toolbox Files – Hawk Ridge Systems

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