How to fix the SOLIDWORKS file association issue

There may be a problem with SOLIDWORKS that SOLIDWORKS files tend to open in some other program, such as eDrawings. The file preview may also be missing in the Windows File Explorer.

A typical problem is that the files are displayed with the wrong file icon in the Windows File Explorer. Typically, the icon is the eDrawings program icon shown below or the red SOLIDWORKS icon.

Another typical symptom of the issue is that SOLIDWORKS files tend to open in a new SOLIDWORKS program session when opened from the Windows File Explorer, even if the SOLIDWORKS program is already started.

How to fix the issue?

Start fixing the problem from step 1. If the problem is not fixed, proceed to the next step.

Step 1: "Restore File Associations" button

1. Start the SOLIDWORKS program in "Run as administrator" mode.

2. Select "Options" from the Tools menu, then "General" from the "System Options" tab and press the "Restore File Associations" button. Press "OK" and confirm the Options window by pressing "OK".

3. Close SOLIDWORKS and check if the problem is fixed. If the problem is not fixed, proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Use "Open with" to associate SOLIDWORKS file types to SOLIDWORKS

1. In the Windows File Explorer, go to a folder with at least one SOLIDWORKS file of each file type: assembly = *.sldasm, drawing = *.slddrw, and part = *.sldprt.

Note: Files can also be displayed without a file extension. SEE THIS ARTICLE!

2. Start with assembly file (*.sldasm file), for example. Press the right mouse button on the file and select the submenu "Open With" and then the option "Choose another app".

3. In the "How do you want to open this file?" window, select the program called "SOLIDWORKS Launcher" from the list of programs. Do not select a program called "SOLIDWORKS"!

If the program "SOLIDWORKS Launcher" does not appear in the list, press the button "More apps" to expand the list to show hidden programs.

Tick the checkbox "Always use this app to open .SLDXXX files".

Finally, press the "OK" button.

4. SOLIDWORKS will now open the file.

Note: If several SOLIDWORKS major versions are installed on the workstation, the dialog below appears and version must be selected from the options. You can also check the option "Do not show this again..", so that the dialog is not shown the next time you open the file.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 for the SOLIDWORKS file types *.slddrw and *.sldprt as well, so that these file types are also associated.

If the problem is not fixed, proceed to step 3.

Step 3: Repair your SOLIDWORKS installation

The problem is usually fixed by following steps 1 and/or 2 above.

If the problem is not fixed, you can try repairing your SOLIDWORKS installation.

SEE THIS GUIDE TO REPAIR YOUR SOLIDWORKS INSTALLATION.