SOLIDWORKS on Windows 10 After 2026: Support Dates and Your Options

Microsoft ended standard Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, and SOLIDWORKS 2025 SP5 became the last release supported on that operating system. For many engineering teams, the change didn’t seem urgent because SOLIDWORKS 2025 still ran on Windows 10 and still received fixes. 

On December 31, 2026, SOLIDWORKS 2025 stops receiving hotfixes, and Windows 10 PCs in a business setting receive security updates only through paid Extended Security Updates. Teams with Windows 10 workstations need a supported setup in place before that date, and the option with no added Windows license cost is a Windows 11 upgrade on eligible hardware. 

Which SOLIDWORKS Releases Still Support Windows 10 

 The system requirements published by SOLIDWORKS list the 2025 release (SP5) as the last one supported on Windows 10. Releases from 2026 onward require Windows 11, and Windows 11 support starts with the 2022 SP2 release. 

SOLIDWORKS ties each Windows end date to Microsoft’s mainstream support end date. A Windows 10 or Windows 11 release is supported only while it is covered by both the SOLIDWORKS product support lifecycle and the Microsoft Windows lifecycle. 

 The 2026 release is now on Service Pack 4.1, according to the technical alerts on the SOLIDWORKS support page, and the 2027 release, shown in its What’s New session on October 15, also excludes Windows 10. 

What Changes for Windows 10 Seats on December 31, 2026 

According to the product support lifecycle, hotfixes for SOLIDWORKS 2025 end on December 31, 2026. After that date, support is limited to non-software solutions, and no further service packs or hotfixes are released. 

Because SOLIDWORKS 2025 is the newest release that supports Windows 10, a team that keeps Windows 10 workstations has no release left that receives software fixes. If a Windows update or a graphics driver change causes a crash in January 2027, SOLIDWORKS will not issue a fix for that release. 

Teams also run into this when they buy new licenses. One user on the SOLIDWORKS community forum bought a SOLIDWORKS 2026 license and then found that it did not support Windows 10 and that the PC could not be upgraded. 

Does the Free Windows 10 Extension Cover Engineering Workstations? 

On June 25, 2026, Microsoft extended its consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to October 12, 2027. The consumer program cannot be used in commercial scenarios. Microsoft does not offer it to PCs joined to an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra, or enrolled in mobile device management, although Microsoft Entra registered devices can use it. 

Most company engineering workstations are joined to a domain or managed by IT, so they do not qualify. These devices need commercial ESU, which Microsoft sells through Volume Licensing at $61 per device for Year One. The price doubles each year for up to three years, and the licenses are cumulative. 

Year One of commercial ESU ended on October 13, 2026, and Year Two runs to October 12, 2027. A business that enrolls now pays for both years, which comes to $183 per device. ESU delivers only critical and important security updates for Windows. It does not make SOLIDWORKS 2026 supported on Windows 10, and it does not extend SOLIDWORKS 2025 hotfixes. 

Other Support Dates That Affect SOLIDWORKS Teams 

Microsoft ended support for Office 2021 on October 13, 2026, with no extension and no extended security updates. Office LTSC 2021, the volume-licensed edition, reached end of support on the same date. SOLIDWORKS supports Office 2021 through SOLIDWORKS 2026 SP5, and the system requirements list only Office 2024 for SOLIDWORKS 2027. This matters for CAD work because design tables require Microsoft Excel on the same computer. 

Server products have their own deadlines.  Windows Server 2019 is supported through SOLIDWORKS 2025 SP5, and SQL Server 2019 through the 2026 SP5 release. Teams that run PDM, the SolidNetWork License Manager, or SOLIDWORKS Electrical on those versions need a server plan alongside the workstation plan. 

Four Ways to Move SOLIDWORKS Off Windows 10 

The options below are listed from lowest upfront cost to highest. A team can combine them, for example by upgrading eligible PCs and moving the remaining seats to cloud desktops. 

Upgrade Eligible PCs to Windows 11 

If a workstation meets the Windows 11 hardware requirements, an in-place upgrade costs nothing in license fees. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 and a processor on Microsoft’s supported processor list. Check each workstation against that list before you plan the upgrade. 

Before you upgrade, confirm that the machine runs SOLIDWORKS 2022 SP2 or later, and deactivate standalone SOLIDWORKS licenses. After the upgrade, install the certified graphics driver for your card and test one machine with your largest assemblies before you upgrade the rest of the team. 

Purchase a Commercial Extended Service Upgrade (ESU) as a Short-Term Solution 

Commercial ESU allows you to keep your Windows 10 machines updated while you complete your migration process. This service is ideal for a small number of machines that require additional time, such as a workstation connected to a test fixture or a system awaiting hardware delivery. 

 It does not make the 2026 release supported on Windows 10, and it does not extend hotfixes for SOLIDWORKS 2025. Paying for ESU past that date protects Windows but still leaves the CAD software without fixes. 

Replace the Workstations 

New Windows 11 workstations solve the problem at the device level. SOLIDWORKS lists 16 GB of RAM, with 32 GB recommended, an SSD, and a graphics card from its certified hardware list. 

This path requires an upfront hardware budget for every seat, and the machines go through the same review when Windows 11 reaches its own end of support. Delivery and setup time also needs to fit inside the window before December 31. 

Move SOLIDWORKS to GPU-Powered Cloud Desktops 

With a cloud-hosted desktop, SOLIDWORKS runs on a Windows 11 virtual machine in a data center, and each engineer connects to it from a local device. The model is processed and displayed on the server’s GPU, and Citrix HDX 3D Pro streams the screen to the user. The local PC no longer runs SOLIDWORKS, so it no longer has to meet SOLIDWORKS hardware requirements. CAD files stay in the hosted environment when drive mapping, clipboard, and download policies are set to keep them there. 

SOLIDWORKS states in its system requirements that SOLIDWORKS and eDrawings require a GPU for optimal performance in a virtualized environment. A cloud desktop for 3D modeling needs an allocated NVIDIA vGPU profile behind it, and a standard office virtual desktop is not enough. 

Ace Cloud Hosting delivers GPU-powered desktops through Managed Citrix DaaS solutions on VMware ESXi 8.0.3 U3g, the hypervisor build that SOLIDWORKS lists for SOLIDWORKS 2026 in its system requirements. SOLIDWORKS has not yet published its supported hypervisor list for SOLIDWORKS 2027. 

 The GPU profile, graphics driver, and SOLIDWORKS release also have to match your workload, so test your own assemblies and PDM tasks during a trial before you move production users. 

SOLIDWORKS lists lower requirements, 8 GB of RAM, for PDM Contributor, PDM Viewer, and Electrical Schematic users. These users are candidates for a standard hosted virtual desktop, and engineers who model parts and assemblies get GPU-powered desktops. Confirm each role’s daily tasks during the trial. 

You will need to bring your existing SOLIDWORKS licenses. In a managed desktop-as-a-service setup, the SolidNetWork License Manager can function within the same environment as the desktops to offer floating licenses. Please confirm your license type and any required transfer steps with your SOLIDWORKS reseller before proceeding with the migration. 

SOLIDWORKS Composer is not supported in virtualized environments, so Composer users need a local workstation. The local device still needs a supported, patched operating system for security, even though it no longer runs SOLIDWORKS, so plan those endpoint upgrades on their own schedule. Responsiveness depends on connection quality, so run the trial from the locations where your engineers work. 

How the Four Paths Compare 

Compare each path over the same three-year period, and include hardware, ESU fees, migration time, and monthly desktop fees in the total. 

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Planning the Move Before December 31 

Start with an inventory of every SOLIDWORKS seat. For each machine, record the SOLIDWORKS release and service pack, the Windows version, and whether the PC passes the Windows 11 compatibility check. This list shows how many seats can upgrade in place and how many need another path. 

Next, check the server side. SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional 2026 supports SOLIDWORKS 2026, 2025, and 2024, and a newer SOLIDWORKS release with an older PDM version is not supported. Check PDM server and client compatibility before upgrading SOLIDWORKS workstations. Upgrade the PDM server and SQL Server only where the existing versions do not meet the target release’s requirements. 

Then confirm which SOLIDWORKS versions your customers and suppliers use. Files saved in a newer release do not open in older releases. Since SOLIDWORKS 2024, you can save files back to the previous two releases, and this requires an active subscription. A partner on SOLIDWORKS 2023 or earlier needs a separate plan. 

Before committing, always test your work. Open your largest assembly, rebuild it, and create a drawing on the target setup, whether it is an upgraded PC, a new workstation, or a cloud desktop trial. 

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 Choosing a Path for Your Team 

If most of your workstations pass the Windows 11 checks, upgrade them first and use commercial ESU only for the few machines that need extra time. If a large share of your machines fail the checks, compare the cost of new workstations with Cloud Hosted SOLIDWORKS VDI for those seats before December 31. 

For teams with remote engineers or a changing headcount, a desktop-as-a-service provider replaces local workstation purchases for those seats with a monthly cost per user. You add or remove seats as the team changes, and the GPU drivers, Citrix configuration, and Windows updates are managed for you. For a closer look at how GPU sizing affects SOLIDWORKS performance, see why SOLIDWORKS needs a VDI GPU and how to run SOLIDWORKS remotely. 

Frequently Asked Question 

Does SOLIDWORKS run on Windows 11 Home? 
No. The system requirements state that Windows Home editions are not supported, so a laptop sold with Windows 11 Home needs a Pro or Enterprise edition. 

Does SOLIDWORKS run on Windows 11 laptops with ARM processors? 
SOLIDWORKS lists x86-64 processors (Intel 64 or AMD64) in its system requirements. ARM-based Windows laptops, such as models with Snapdragon chips, are not on that list. 

Can I run SOLIDWORKS on a Mac after moving off Windows 10? 
SOLIDWORKS does not run natively on macOS, and its system requirements state that Boot Camp is not supported. A cloud-hosted Windows 11 desktop is one option, covered in running SOLIDWORKS on a Mac. 

Can the SolidNetWork License Manager stay on Windows Server 2019? 
Not for SOLIDWORKS 2026. Windows Server 2019 support for server products, including the license manager, ends with SOLIDWORKS 2025 SP5, so move the license server to Windows Server 2022 or 2025. 

Will Windows 11 feature updates affect SOLIDWORKS? 
They can. Microsoft released Windows 11 26H2 on September 29, 2026, and SOLIDWORKS supports each Windows 11 release only while it falls inside both the SOLIDWORKS and Microsoft lifecycles. Test each new Windows version on one machine before rolling it out.