Using SOLIDWORKS From Home
Steve Ruffin
Facilitating manufacturers and the DOD to implement a robust Digital Engineering Strategy that spans your product life.
Using SOLIDWORKS From Home March 16, 2020
I know that many organizations have made the proactive decision to allow their staff to work from home to minimize the potential risk of exposure to COVID-19. Fortunately, there are several options available to SOLIDWORKS users that can make using your software away from the office a little easier, depending on your license type and hardware situation. For more information on what options you may have and instruction on how you and your colleagues can successfully implement the ideal solution, please see the information that follows.
Using SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses at Home
If you use a network license at work AND can bring your work device home, you will need to “Borrow” a network license for use while disconnected from the network.
To borrow a network license, open the SOLIDNetwork License Manager and choose the License Borrowing tab.
On the License Borrowing tab select the products you’ll need to use at home (Ex SOLIDWORKS Premium, Simulation, PDM). You’ll need to set the duration of the borrowing period and then click on Borrow. Licenses are limited to a 30-day maximum borrow period.
When using a higher level of SOLIDWORKS (Professional or Premium), you’ll notice that it also borrows a standard license. This is intended functionality.
If you’re using a home computer, and your company owns network licenses, you will have to connect to your company’s network with a VPN so you can access the network license server. You can either stay connected via the VPN while you use SOLIDWORKS or you can borrow the license and then disconnect from the VPN.
Using SOLIDWORKS Standalone Licenses at Home
If your company uses standalone licenses and can bring it home, that may be the easiest way to continue working with SOLIDWORKS. There are no additional requirements for working with SOLIDWORKS at home other than copying the engineering files you need to edit to your machine.
If you’re planning on using a home computer and your company owns standard activation-based licenses, there are two options.
1) Using SOLIDWORKS Standalone Licenses (deactivate/reactivate)
One option is to deactivate the license on your work computer. This can be done within SOLIDWORKS by choosing Help > Deactivate License. When you start SOLIDWORKS on your home computer, you will then be prompted to activate the license.
Before you can resume using the license on your work computer, you must deactivate the license on your home computer. Note: You must use the same serial number at both locations, not sure what your serial number is? In SOLIDWORKS select Help à About SOLIDWORKS then select Show Serial Number.
2) Using SOLIDWORKS Standalone Licenses (online licensing)
Another option is to switch from activation-based licensing to online licensing. To use online licensing, the licensing type must first be switched from activation-based licensing.
Watch this video or use the instructions below to set up online licensing
To do this you must associate the license with your MySOLIDWORKS account. This can be done via the Admin Portal on MySOLIDWORKS.
Here are the steps to switch to online licensing from activation-based licensing:
- Deactivate SOLIDWORKS on your computers
- Login to My.SOLIDWORKS.com.
- Select the Admin Portal from the user profile drop down menu in the upper right corner.
- From there, you can search licenses by the user to which they’re assigned. Once you’re on the license page, you should be able to switch from activation-based licensing to online licensing.
Now, when you start up SOLIDWORKS, you’ll be able to use the same login from My.SOLIDWORKS.com, and you’ll never have to transfer your license, ever again! If you need to travel to a destination without internet access, you can also place the license in offline mode. Just remember that you’ll have to turn offline mode off if you wish to login to SOLIDWORKS on a different system.
By using online licensing, you have access to My.SOLIDWORKS.com and the customer portal from directly inside SOLIDWORKS. As a bonus, all your user settings should transfer between licenses as well! Online Licensing streamlines the user experience and brings SOLIDWORKS licensing into the modern era, so you can save time in your workflow.
Having trouble?
If you have any difficulties managing your license, our experienced support team is ready to help you out. Technical Support: 888.874.6324 | [email protected]
I hope these tips help you stay productive while working from home.