Inheriting Default File Locations When Upgrading to SOLIDWORKS 2025

The logic for inheriting file locations from previous installations has improved. Previously, you had to modify or reset file locations when upgrading because of default file locations from earlier installations.

Default file locations now follow this logic:

  • If you kept the default file location in an earlier installation, SOLIDWORKS® 2025 creates and uses a new default file location when you first run the software.
  • Any new sheet formats and document templates added in the previous default location are integrated into the 2025 default file locations. The integration includes any new files referenced in ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version.

There is no change if you customized file locations to custom paths. SOLIDWORKS 2025 continues to inherit custom paths from earlier installations. Custom paths exist outside of ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS or the SOLIDWORKS installation folders.

The data in the SOLIDWORKS installation directory is updated only if SOLIDWORKS is installed in the Windows Program Files folder. If SOLIDWORKS is installed outside this folder, file locations inherit custom paths.