How To Clean Uninstall SolidWorks: Step-by-Step Registry & File Purge

To perform a complete and clean uninstallation of SolidWorks, you must first deactivate your product license through the Help menu, run the SolidWorks Installation Manager to execute the native uninstall with all advanced clean-up options enabled, and then manually purge remaining system registry keys and hidden AppData directories. Skipping manual registry and file cleanup often leads to corrupted installations when upgrading or reinstalling the CAD suite. Following this technical guide ensures a 100% sterile system state, free of lingering SolidWorks artifacts.

Pre-Uninstall Planning & System Safeguards

SolidWorks is an enterprise-grade parametric 3D CAD application that deeply integrates with the Windows operating system. A standard uninstallation via the default Windows Control Panel frequently leaves behind gigabytes of cached installation files, custom Toolbox databases, template directories, and hundreds of registry keys. If you plan to reinstall SolidWorks to troubleshoot persistent performance issues or upgrade to a newer version year, these remnants can conflict with the new installation, leading to instability, file path mapping errors, and system crashes.

Before executing any removal processes, you must safeguard your customized configurations. This includes custom weldment profiles, sheet formats, drawing templates, and your custom routing or Toolbox databases. Backing up these directories prevents accidental data loss during the purging process.

Pre-Uninstallation Checklist and Resource Benchmarks

• Administrative Access: You must log into a Windows user account with full local Administrator privileges to modify system registries and access hidden system folders.
• License Credentials: Locate your 24-digit SolidWorks serial number before starting. You will need this to reactivate the software later.
• Custom Data Backup: Copy your custom templates, sheet formats, and custom Toolbox files (typically located in C:\SolidWorks Data) to an external drive or secure cloud storage directory.
• SolidWorks Settings Utility: Run the Copy Settings Wizard (accessible via the Windows Start Menu under SolidWorks Tools) to export your keyboard shortcuts, mouse gestures, and menu layouts to a safe .sldreg settings file.
• Required Tools: Windows Registry Editor (regedit.exe), Windows File Explorer configured to show hidden files, and the SolidWorks Installation Manager matching your installed version.
• Estimated Duration: 30 to 45 minutes of active execution, depending on system drive write speeds and registry density.
• Zero-Cost Process: This cleanup procedure utilizes native Windows system tools and does not require third-party uninstaller software.

Complete Clean Uninstallation Procedure for SolidWorks

Step 1: Deactivate Your SolidWorks License

Before deleting any files, you must return your standalone license to the SolidWorks activation server. Failing to complete this step will lock your serial number, preventing you from activating the software on a new computer or on the same machine after a clean operating system reinstall.

1. Launch your SolidWorks application.
2. Navigate to the main menu bar at the top of the screen and click on Help.
3. Select Licenses from the dropdown menu, then click on Deactivate. If you are using SolidWorks 2019 or older, this option is labeled as Transfer Licenses.
4. In the product activation wizard, select the products you wish to deactivate. Usually, selecting all products is recommended.
5. Choose the activation method (Automatic over the internet is fastest and most reliable) and click Next.
6. Wait for the confirmation dialog showing that the license has successfully returned to the Dassault Systemes server, then close the application.

Warning: Do not uninstall SolidWorks before deactivating your license. If the computer experiences hardware changes or operating system updates post-uninstall without deactivation, the activation server will flag subsequent activation attempts as an exceeded activation limit, requiring a support call to your Value-Added Reseller (VAR).

Step 2: Run the SolidWorks Installation Manager

To initiate the official removal process, utilize the native installation utility which contains specialized hooks to tear down core software services.

1. Open the Windows Control Panel, navigate to Programs, and select Programs and Features.
2. Scroll down the alphabetical list of installed software to find SolidWorks.
3. Right-click on your SolidWorks installation (e.g., SolidWorks 2023 SP05) and select Change. Do not choose Uninstall from the initial Windows prompt; choosing Change launches the dedicated SolidWorks Installation Manager interface.
4. The SolidWorks Installation Manager will open. Select the Uninstall option from the main list and click Next.
5. On the Summary screen, you will see a list of installed components (e.g., SolidWorks Flow Simulation, PhotoView 360, eDrawings, SolidWorks Composer). Next to the program size, click on the Advanced Options change link.
6. In the Advanced Options menu, check every single box to ensure a deep clean. These options include Program Files and Folders, Registry Entries, Data Folders and Templates (such as SolidWorks Data/Toolbox), and Download Folders.
7. Click Back to Summary, confirm that the Advanced Options are set to Remove All, and click the Remove Products button at the bottom of the window.
8. The uninstallation process will begin. This can take between 15 to 30 minutes. Once completed, click Finish to close the wizard. Restart your workstation immediately if prompted.

Step 3: Manually Clean Residual Registry Hives

Even after utilizing the Advanced Options in the native uninstaller, isolated registry keys often remain. These orphan keys can cause subsequent installation configurations to point to non-existent historical directories.

1. Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit in the input field and press Enter to launch the Windows Registry Editor. Click Yes on the User Account Control pop-up.
3. In the left-hand navigation pane, locate and expand the folder labeled HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
4. Navigate to Software and locate the SolidWorks folder. Right-click on the SolidWorks folder and select Delete. Confirm the action.
5. Scroll down within HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software to find the folder labeled SRAC. This contains simulation configuration settings. Right-click and delete this folder if it exists.
6. Collapse the HKEY_CURRENT_USER directory and expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder.
7. Navigate to Software, locate the SolidWorks folder, right-click, and select Delete.
8. Locate the folder named SolidWorks Corporation within the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software directory and delete it as well.
9. If your system was running a 64-bit version of SolidWorks on a standard Windows architecture, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WOW6432Node and delete any residual SolidWorks folders found within this node.
10. Close the Registry Editor.

Pro-Tip: Modifying the Windows Registry incorrectly can compromise system stability. It is highly recommended to export a backup copy of your registry by clicking File followed by Export inside the Registry Editor before deleting any keys.

Step 4: Purge Hidden ProgramData and AppData Directories

SolidWorks caches user profiles, UI custom configurations, and temporary rendering folders deep within hidden system directories. Removing these prevents older, corrupted configuration files from loading into future installations.

1. Open Windows File Explorer. Click on the View tab at the top of the window, and check the box next to Hidden items to ensure all folders are visible.
2. Navigate to your primary local disk drive (typically C:).
3. Open the ProgramData folder. Locate the SolidWorks folder. Right-click this folder and select Delete.
4. Navigate to C:\Program Files and locate the SOLIDWORKS Corp directory. If this folder is still present after uninstallation, delete it.
5. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86) and delete any SolidWorks-related folders, including eDrawings or SolidWorks Explorer folders if they remain.
6. Open your Windows User profile folder by navigating to C:\Users\YourUserName. Replace YourUserName with your actual Windows login name.
7. Open the AppData folder, then open the Roaming directory. Locate the SolidWorks folder, right-click it, and choose Delete.
8. Go back to the AppData folder, open the Local directory, and delete the SolidWorks folder located there.
9. Finally, navigate back to the root of your C: drive and locate the SolidWorks Data folder. This folder contains default design library components. If you have already backed up your custom Toolbox, delete this entire folder to prevent directory path mapping conflicts later.
10. Empty your Windows Recycle Bin and restart your computer to apply all changes.

SolidWorks Residual Directory & Registry Architecture Reference Table

The following table serves as a technical checklist of standard directory and registry paths modified during a complete clean-up process. It outlines where SolidWorks stores critical application data and configuration states.

Common Uninstallation Failures & Advanced Recovery Fixes

Scenario 1: Uninstaller Fails with a "Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" Error

• Root Cause: This occurs when the Windows Installer service is unregistered or disabled, or when the SolidWorks installation source files (MSI packages) inside the hidden Windows Installer cache folder have been corrupted or deleted by third-party disk cleaning software.
• Actionable Fix: Open the Windows Run command, type services.msc, and press Enter. Locate the Windows Installer service, right-click it, and click Start if it is stopped. If this does not resolve the issue, download the official Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter utility. Run the utility, select Uninstalling, choose SolidWorks from the list of programs, and allow the Microsoft diagnostic tool to bypass the broken MSI registration keys to force-remove the program.

Scenario 2: The SolidWorks Installation Manager is Grayed Out or Fails to Launch

• Root Cause: This issue is typically caused by pending Windows updates requiring a reboot, or a hanging background process of SolidWorks (such as sldworks.exe or the SolidWorks Licensing Service) remaining active in the system memory.
• Actionable Fix: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Windows Task Manager. Click on the Details tab and search for processes starting with "sld" or containing "SolidWorks" (such as sldbgproc.exe, swldbeans.exe, or swlicserver). Select each process and click End Task. Ensure all Windows updates are fully installed, reboot the computer, and then launch the uninstaller again directly from the source setup.exe file located within your original SolidWorks download package.

Scenario 3: Toolbox Database "C:\SolidWorks Data" Cannot Be Deleted Because of Active Locks

• Root Cause: The SQL Server Compact database engine or the SolidWorks Collaboration service continues to hold a lock file on the database files in the background, preventing File Explorer from deleting the directory.
• Actionable Fix: Open the Command Prompt as an Administrator. Type net stop "SolidWorks Licensing Service" and press Enter. If you run a local network licensing environment, stop the SolidNetwork License Manager service. If the folder remains locked, restart Windows in Safe Mode. Safe Mode prevents auxiliary database engines from launching, allowing you to easily navigate to the C: drive and delete the locked SolidWorks Data folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does uninstalling SolidWorks delete my custom CAD files and assemblies?

No, uninstalling SolidWorks does not delete your custom part files (.sldprt), assemblies (.sldasm), or drawings (.slddrw) unless you saved those custom design files directly inside the Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp folder. To ensure safety, keep your files organized in dedicated document directories outside of any SolidWorks program folders.

What happens if I forget to deactivate my SolidWorks license before uninstalling?

If you uninstall SolidWorks without deactivating, the license remains registered to that specific computer's motherboard and hard drive ID on the activation server. If you intend to reinstall on the same machine without major hardware upgrades, the licensing server will re-recognize the computer. However, if you attempt to install the software on a new computer, you will receive an "Activation Limit Reached" error, and you must contact your local VAR to manually release the locked license.

Should I use third-party cleaner tools to remove SolidWorks registry entries?

It is highly recommended to avoid automatic third-party uninstaller utilities when purging SolidWorks registry keys. These automated tools frequently miss deep CAD paths, or they may overreach and delete shared Windows DLLs or licensing keys utilized by other engineering programs like Autodesk Inventor or Matlab. Utilizing the native SolidWorks Installation Manager followed by the manual steps detailed in this guide is the safest method.

How do I remove the SolidNetwork License Manager from a server?

To remove the SolidNetwork License Manager (SNL), open the Control Panel on the host server and select Programs and Features. Choose SolidWorks SolidNetwork License Manager and click Uninstall. Once completed, launch regedit, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\SolidWorks, and delete the FLEXlm License Manager key. Ensure you have transferred the hosted licenses back to the activation portal before running this routine.

Optimize Your CAD Environment

If you are looking to deploy a fresh, error-free CAD setup across your organization, our dedicated engineering IT consulting team can help. Contact us today to access custom enterprise deployment scripts, optimized hardware configurations, and professional SolidWorks database migration services.