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How to Reset the SOLIDWORKS Registry

Reset SOLIDWORKS User Settings to Troubleshoot Registry-Related Issues

Resetting the SOLIDWORKS registry returns your user-specific SOLIDWORKS settings to their default values. This can resolve issues caused by damaged, outdated, or conflicting settings, including:

  • SOLIDWORKS failing to launch
  • Missing or unresponsive toolbars and menus
  • Unexpected interface behavior
  • Commands that no longer function correctly
  • Repeated crashes associated with a specific Windows user
  • Problems that do not occur when SOLIDWORKS is run with default settings

SOLIDWORKS stores many user settings in the Windows registry and provides the SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard for saving and restoring those settings.

WARNING: The Windows Registry contains settings used by Windows and installed applications. Modifying the wrong registry key can cause application or operating-system problems. Follow these instructions carefully and do not modify unrelated registry entries.

Before resetting the registry:

  1. Close SOLIDWORKS.
  2. Close all other SOLIDWORKS applications, including:
    • SOLIDWORKS Visualize
    • SOLIDWORKS Composer
    • SOLIDWORKS Electrical
    • SOLIDWORKS PDM applications
    • SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
  3. Consider saving your current SOLIDWORKS settings before proceeding.

 Optional: Save Your Current SOLIDWORKS Settings

Your saved settings can be restored later if the registry reset does not resolve the problem or if you need to recover specific customizations.

  1. Open SOLIDWORKS.
  2. Select Tools > Save/Restore Settings.
  3. Select Save Settings.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Choose a location and name for the .sldreg settings file.
  6. Select the settings you want to save.
  7. Click Finish.

More in depth instructions for this are available here: Settings Wizard Backup 

Depending on the options selected, the settings file can preserve items such as system options, toolbar layouts, keyboard shortcuts, menus, and mouse gestures. The SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard is specifically designed to save and restore user settings stored in the registry.

Do not immediately restore this file after resetting the registry. Restoring all previous settings may also restore the setting responsible for the original problem.

Step 1: Close All SOLIDWORKS Applications

Close SOLIDWORKS and every related SOLIDWORKS application. Confirm through Task Manager that no SOLIDWORKS processes remain active.

Step 2: Open Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows key + R.
  2. Enter: regedit
  3. Press Enter.

Step 3: Navigate to the SOLIDWORKS Key

  1. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software

  2. Locate the folder named: SolidWorks.

Step 4: Rename the SOLIDWORKS Key

  1. Right-click the SOLIDWORKS key.
  2. Select Rename.
  3. Rename it to: SolidWorks_OLD.

Step 5: Restart SOLIDWORKS

Start the affected SOLIDWORKS version and test the original behavior.

A new HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SolidWorks registry structure will be generated using default user settings.

Optional: Restore the Original Registry Settings 

Use this procedure when the reset did not resolve the problem and you want to return to the previous configuration.

  1. Close SOLIDWORKS and all related applications.
  2. Open Registry Editor.
  3. Return to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software.
  4. Locate and right click on the newly created SolidWorks registry key and select Delete.
  5. Rename the original key back to its original name by removing the _OLD.

 

For further assistance, please contact the SWYFT Support team at support@swyftsol.com and we’ll be happy to assist.