Part 3.1: Installing SOLIDWORKS Design from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform
This is the third and final "Getting Started" part for SOLIDWORKS Design licenses on the 3DEXPERINCE platform.
Note: If you have 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Design please see our other guide.
Installing SOLIDWORKS Design:
The 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS role (SOLIDWORKS Design) is the full install of your cloud connected SOLIDWORKS product. This installation will allow you to work in SOLIDWORKS Design locally on your PC and comes completely integrated with the cloud connection tools.
To complete the installation of the 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS role, please make sure you have completed all previous steps to activate your platform, invite users, assign the proper roles (including 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS). If you have purchased Standalone Desktop SOLIDWORKS licenses, you will not need to complete this step and instead should complete the section Installing the Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS (UES) Add-in.
Step 1: Navigate to the App and Roles Menu
Start by logging into your 3DEXPEREINCE Platform from your browser and click on the compass icon in the top left corner of your window. This will bring up the Roles and App menu in a column on the left side of the window.
In this menu, under “My Apps,” scroll down to select the “SOLIDWORKS Design” icon.
*Alternatively, if you are in a dashboard with a “Welcome” tab, you can select to install the add-in from here (Shown in yellow)

Step 2: Installation
Once the icon has been clicked, an installer will begin to download, and you may see a small 3DEXPERIENCE window with a loading bar.
The system will first want to install the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher. If a pop-up asks for which roles, select “All Granted Roles.”
Additionally, make sure to select “always” when prompted about sending/receiving data for the launcher. This will allow the launcher to always connect to the platform to start SOLIDWORKS Design, without having to login once launched.
Once the 3DEXPERIENCE launcher installation is finished, another window will pop-up to walk through the remainder of the SOLIDWORKS Design installation. Follow the onscreen prompts to download and install SOLIDWORKS Design.

Step 3: Creating Desktop Shortcut
After the add-in is installed, return to your 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, and navigate to the same App menu from the Compass. Navigate to the “SOLIDWORKS Design” app and click the dropdown arrow next to the icon.
Then, in the small menu that appears, click the arrow icon all the way to the right. This will create a desktop shortcut.
This Desktop shortcut will do 2 main things:
- It will launch your SOLIDWORKS program through the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Launcher.
- It will automatically log you into the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform from within SOLIDWORKS.
Alternatively, you can launch by clicking the same “SOLIDWORKS Design” Icon from the browser interface. This is the best way to launch, as it sends a fresh login message to your PC.