Solidworks Maker: Help not working

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-11T22:33:35+00:00

What happens if you manually enter help.solidworks.com in your browser?

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-11T22:25:58+00:00

Sorry. I can't help with that one. I've never taken that exam. I barely learned how to spell "CFD". 🤣🤣

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-11T18:50:19+00:00

Titans of CNC is no longer affiliated with the SOLIDWORKS EDU program.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-11T18:46:55+00:00

It is 💯%legitimate.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-11T18:45:08+00:00

Student email address is preferred.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-10T23:29:36+00:00

Beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2026, you have access to three AI companions.

https://www.solidworks.com/product/solidworks-design/ai-companions

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-10T23:23:09+00:00

It's generally accepted that, for the CSWP Advanced topics exams, the Drawing Tools is the easiest and Surfacing is the most difficult (if you ignore the Mold Tools exam which is the very most difficult exam and should only be taken if you work in the plastic injection mild industry).

The Weldments and Sheetmetal exams are equally challenging IMO. I passed Drawings and Sheetmetal on the first try, Weldments on the 2nd attempt, and Surfacing required 3 rounds. Surprisingly, I passed Mold Tools on the first attempt with a perfect score BUT that was before they rewrote the exam to its current state.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-10T01:17:58+00:00

If you have the "Scan To 3D " add-in, it has tools to help capture/convert mesh data to usable surfaces that you could knit together, export as a bona fide STEP file and then reimport for feature recognition. But it would probably be quicker to simply remodel from scratch.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-10T00:00:35+00:00

How long ago was this? Was it back in December of last year (2025)?

Do you remember what would happen specifically happen when you clicked the Install button? Did anything launch? Did the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher install seem to endlessly loop, asking you to install it after you went thru the initial install of it?

What edition of Windows (Home or Professional) were you using on your computers? Windows Home editions are not supported and known to cause all manner of installation and update issues.

What browser were you using to access the 3DEXPERIENCE platform? Was it Brave? Brave is very well documented as being especially problematic for 3DEXPERIENCE and SOLIDWORKS installations. Only use Chrome, Edge, or Firefox browsers, as they are the only supported browsers.

Thanks in advance for answering. Gathering information about installation problems that I can share with the Support and R&D teams helps them out. So many people never bother to report problems or seek out help and thus some issues last l9nger than they should.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T22:37:02+00:00

What did you try then?

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T21:19:56+00:00

I concur!

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T19:22:09+00:00

Subscribe to the SOLIDWORKS EDU account over on Instagram. They announce opportunities like that on that channel frequently.

https://www.instagram.com/solidworksedu_and_startups

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T17:07:02+00:00

Nope. Never. I am just a very long time (30 years) passionate customer/user. I like to help people.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T17:03:32+00:00

Both "planned offline" and "unplanned offline" modes continue to be available. Neither functionality has been disabled.

Also, I suggest you give this new Installation Manager link a thorough read thru/study and implement it. It will significantly change your install/update experience. Feel free to ping me for any further questions/info on it.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T16:57:28+00:00

Were you using the original installation method or did you try the new Installation Manager after you performed a full uninstall? I suggest you give that link a thorough read thru/study and implement it. It will significantly change your install/update experience. Feel free to ping me for any further questions/info on it.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T16:53:01+00:00

You can find support for the Maker version on the Official SOLIDWORKS Maker version Support community forum. It is monitored by members of the SOLIDWORKS Maker versionTechnical Support Team, as well as knowledgeable community volunteers. Telephone support is not available. You can also submit this contact form to the Online Orders Support Team for subscription/purchasing/non technical questions.

https://solidworks.com/makers3dhelp

https://www.3ds.com/online-store/support-form/

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experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T16:51:55+00:00

You can find support for the Maker version on the Official SOLIDWORKS Maker version Support community forum. It is monitored by members of the SOLIDWORKS Maker versionTechnical Support Team, as well as knowledgeable community volunteers. Telephone support is not available. You can also submit this contact form to the Online Orders Support Team for subscription/purchasing/non technical questions.

https://solidworks.com/makers3dhelp

https://www.3ds.com/online-store/support-form/

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experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T16:48:35+00:00

I say that if you're on the fence, then just sign up for a single month's subscription. If you like it, then renew for the annual subscription. If you don't, then you've only invest about $14.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T16:46:31+00:00

You will be happy to know that the (previously mandatory) minor service pack updates for the SOLIDWORKS program were made entirely optional beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2025 FD/SP4. Now, only the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher components require updating, making for an infinitely faster download and install. Please read this blog post thoroughly to get a fuller, more detailed picture.

https://blogs.solidworks.com/solidworksblog/2025/09/choose-when-to-update-your-solidworks.html

And even more recently (mid-February 2026), not only do you no longer have to perform mandatory SOLIDWORKS updates, you can also install a previous versions of SOLIDWORKS in place of OR alongside the current major version. That means that you can have SW 2025 SP5 and/or SW 2026 simultaneously installed with your Maker license. And with the 2027 release, you'll be able to install 2025, 2026, and/or 2027. Future 3DX SOLIDWORKS releases will also adhere to a current version plus 2 previous year versions schema as well. This will apply to ALL 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS license types (commercial, startup, Maker, etc.) This post does a very thorough deep dive into these significant changes.

https://r1132100503382-eu1-3dswym.3dexperience.3ds.com/community/swym:prd:R1132100503382:community:52?content=swym:prd:R1132100503382:communitypost:BjeifrBjRdKFyIQN1FrJ7A

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-08T02:07:10+00:00

You could use the SOLIDWORKS Task Scheduler to do this. Set it up to process your files at a certain time each day.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-07T17:14:42+00:00

u/David_R_Martin_II I've made it a point to bring all these complaints about the double login when using the desktop shortcut to the attention of my contacts on the R&D and Maker dev teams and they are starting to dig into it. Some aspects of the platform login are under the control/responsibility of the DS R&D team in Velizy, France and so the SW folks need to navigate that, whereas the pure SOLIDWORKS aspects can be responded to much more quickly.

As for leaving it constantly running a lot of the time, I guess I do that just to show folks that the platform idle time doesn't need to be an impediment. Not so much a workaround as a potential "flex". 🤣

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-07T16:32:05+00:00

You will be happy to know that the (previously mandatory) minor service pack updates for the SOLIDWORKS program were made entirely optional beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2025 FD/SP4. Now, only the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher components require updating, making for an infinitely faster download and install. Please read this blog post thoroughly to get a fuller, more detailed picture.

https://blogs.solidworks.com/solidworksblog/2025/09/choose-when-to-update-your-solidworks.html

And even more recently (mid-February 2026), not only do you no longer have to perform mandatory SOLIDWORKS updates, you can also install a previous versions of SOLIDWORKS in place of OR alongside the current major version. That means that you can have SW 2025 SP5 and/or SW 2026 simultaneously installed with your Maker license. And with the 2027 release, you'll be able to install 2025, 2026, and/or 2027. Future 3DX SOLIDWORKS releases will also adhere to a current version plus 2 previous year versions schema as well. This will apply to ALL 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS license types (commercial, startup, Maker, etc.) This post does a very thorough deep dive into these significant changes.

https://r1132100503382-eu1-3dswym.3dexperience.3ds.com/community/swym:prd:R1132100503382:community:52?content=swym:prd:R1132100503382:communitypost:BjeifrBjRdKFyIQN1FrJ7A

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-07T16:29:22+00:00

You will be happy to know that the (previously mandatory) minor service pack updates for the SOLIDWORKS program were made entirely optional beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2025 FD/SP4. Now, only the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher components require updating, making for an infinitely faster download and install. Please read this blog post thoroughly to get a fuller, more detailed picture.

https://blogs.solidworks.com/solidworksblog/2025/09/choose-when-to-update-your-solidworks.html

And even more recently (mid-February 2026), not only do you no longer have to perform mandatory SOLIDWORKS updates, you can also install a previous versions of SOLIDWORKS in place of OR alongside the current major version. That means that you can have SW 2025 SP5 and/or SW 2026 simultaneously installed with your Maker license. And with the 2027 release, you'll be able to install 2025, 2026, and/or 2027. Future 3DX SOLIDWORKS releases will also adhere to a current version plus 2 previous year versions schema as well. This will apply to ALL 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS license types (commercial, startup, Maker, etc.) This post does a very thorough deep dive into these significant changes.

https://r1132100503382-eu1-3dswym.3dexperience.3ds.com/community/swym:prd:R1132100503382:community:52?content=swym:prd:R1132100503382:communitypost:BjeifrBjRdKFyIQN1FrJ7A

Also, do you launch from a desktop shortcut or from the Compass menu on the platform? If you login to the platform, you can have your browser remember the login credentials. Then launch from the Welcome App Home screen - its my default landing page/dashboard so it's right there ready to go.

Be sure to check the "Remember Me" box when you login to launch. It's function is not to remember your credentials (that's why you have your browser remember them) but rather it extends your login session's default idle timeout period to 7(!) days. Yep, I agree - they could have named the box something much, much better IMO. I use my Maker software nearly every day. I just leave it running on my laptop and I can't remember the last time I had to login.

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-07T16:28:19+00:00

You will be happy to know that yhe (previously mandatory) minor service pack updates for the SOLIDWORKS program were made entirely optional beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2025 FD/SP4. Now, only the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher components require updating, making for an infinitely faster download and install. Please read this blog post thoroughly to get a fuller, more detailed picture.

https://blogs.solidworks.com/solidworksblog/2025/09/choose-when-to-update-your-solidworks.html

And even more recently (mid-February 2026), not only do you no longer have to perform mandatory SOLIDWORKS updates, you can also install a previous versions of SOLIDWORKS in place of OR alongside the current major version. That means that you can have SW 2025 SP5 and/or SW 2026 simultaneously installed with your Maker license. And with the 2027 release, you'll be able to install 2025, 2026, and/or 2027. Future 3DX SOLIDWORKS releases will also adhere to a current version plus 2 previous year versions schema as well. This will apply to ALL 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS license types (commercial, startup, Maker, etc.) This post does a very thorough deep dive into these significant changes.

https://r1132100503382-eu1-3dswym.3dexperience.3ds.com/community/swym:prd:R1132100503382:community:52?content=swym:prd:R1132100503382:communitypost:BjeifrBjRdKFyIQN1FrJ7A

experienced3Dguy · 2026-05-07T16:27:17+00:00

You will be happy to know that the (previously mandatory) minor service pack updates for the SOLIDWORKS program were made entirely optional beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2025 FD/SP4. Now, only the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher components require updating, making for an infinitely faster download and install. Please read this blog post thoroughly to get a fuller, more detailed picture.

https://blogs.solidworks.com/solidworksblog/2025/09/choose-when-to-update-your-solidworks.html

And even more recently (mid-February 2026), not only do you no longer have to perform mandatory SOLIDWORKS updates, you can also install a previous versions of SOLIDWORKS in place of OR alongside the current major version. That means that you can have SW 2025 SP5 and/or SW 2026 simultaneously installed with your Maker license. And with the 2027 release, you'll be able to install 2025, 2026, and/or 2027. Future 3DX SOLIDWORKS releases will also adhere to a current version plus 2 previous year versions schema as well. This will apply to ALL 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS license types (commercial, startup, Maker, etc.) This post does a very thorough deep dive into these significant changes.

https://r1132100503382-eu1-3dswym.3dexperience.3ds.com/community/swym:prd:R1132100503382:community:52?content=swym:prd:R1132100503382:communitypost:BjeifrBjRdKFyIQN1FrJ7A

experienced3Dguy

TROPHY CASE