How To: Save or Restore User Settings in SOLIDWORKS

Our latest ‘How To’ blog will take you through the steps on how to save or restore user settings in SOLIDWORKS. This can be useful if transferring to a new computer or wanting to share your settings with a friend or colleague.

The settings file can hold all, or a combination of, the following:

• System options.
• Toolbar layouts.
• Keyboard shortcuts.
• Mouse gestures.
• Menu customisations.
• Saved views.

A SOLIDWORKS settings file has the file extension “.sldreg” which stand for SOLIDWORKS registry – as you may know SOLIDWORKS settings are held in various registry locations.

Please note there is also a third option in the SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard to reset all SOLIDWORKS settings. This will reset all settings back to default ‘Out of the Box’ setup.

Accessing the SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard

There are two ways to access the SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard – see below for both options.

Method One

In your Windows start menu search for “SOLIDWORKS settings wizard” shown below:

Or..

Method Two

Open up SOLIDWORKS and navigate to Tools then the Save/Restore Settings

Both methods will bring up the same window as below:

Saving your SOLIDWORKS settings

Select “Save Settings” and click “Next”

You will now be presented with the following screen, here you can select where you want to save your settings to by pressing “Browse” and adding a file name (1). You can also select which settings you wish to save.

To include or exclude settings tick or untick the boxes respectively (2).

Once you have made the necessary selections click “Finish” (3) you will then be presented with a message confirming the action, click “OK”.

Restoring SOLIDWORKS settings

First open up the SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard using Method 1 or 2 from above. To Restore settings select the “Restore Settings” option, and click “Next”.

Just like with saving the settings you are presented with a similar window but this time from the browse option, find and “Open” the settings file you wish to use (you will be looking for a file with the extension “sldreg”), using the “Browse” button (4). Then select the settings you wish to restore by ticking the appropriate boxes (5). Then click “Next” (6) as seen below:

You will be presented with one final question about whether you want to back up the current settings or not, if yes leave the box ticked if not untick the box. Now click “Finish”.

You will be presented with a confirmation message when the action is completed. Press “OK” to proceed.

Your settings should now be restored.

Resetting SOLIDWORKS settings

Resetting the SOLIDWORKS settings to SOLIDWORKS default can be useful if you are experiencing issues and you suspect this is due to settings or if you would like a fresh start.

First off, take a copy of your current settings using the save option first just in case you want them again later. Alternatively this can be done as part of the reset.

To reset your settings start the SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard.

Then select the “Reset Settings option” and click “Next” (Please note SOLIDWORKS must be closed for this action).

To reset and not save current settings select the “Reset Only” (7) option.

To save current settings and reset, select the “Save and Reset Settings” (8) option and click the “Browse” button to set a location and file name.

Now click the “Next” (9) button

You will be presented with the below window informing how to restore settings, if required click “Finish”.

You have now successfully reset your SOLIDWORKS settings.

For more guidance on how to save or restore your SOLIDWORKS settings Visiativ customers can contact us via the SOLIDWORKS technical support page.