Running a SOLIDWORKS Mac Version
By Solid People
We often get asked about whether it’s possible to run SOLIDWORKS on a Mac; as we have several customers successfully running SOLIDWORKS Mac systems, the short answer is: Yes, you can!
In 2019, SOLIDWORKS updated their system requirements to include virtualization software such as Parallels. However, this only means that the software can be installed. DS SOLIDWORKS make no guarantees regarding performance or stability as the hardware itself is unsupported.
For this reason, we always recommend SOLIDWORKS be used on a Windows-based professional workstation. Although SOLIDWORKS will run on a Mac computer, there are some important considerations to be aware of.
How to install SOLIDWORKS on a Mac
SOLIDWORKS cannot run directly on MacOS, so first you will need to install a genuine copy of Windows on your Mac using an application like Parallels.
Parallels allows you to run a virtual copy of Windows within MacOS. The advantage is that you can easily switch between Windows and MacOS within the same session.
It is worth noting that this setup can suffer from poor performance, particularly if you are running multiple programs on both Windows and MacOS at once.
Since Apple released the M1 and M2 chips produced by ARM, things have become a little more complicated.
Officially, only x86 CPUs are supported for SOLIDWORKS. The M1 and M2 chips are x64.
To get SOLIDWORKS operational on these machines, users will need to install the 64bit ARM version of Windows, and make some modification to the Windows pre-requisites — a process which can be quite intimidating for some users, and which may not work in the future.
Once you have correctly set up your Mac, then you can proceed to install SOLIDWORKS with our step-by-step guide.
What you need to know before running SOLIDWORKS Mac Version
Once SOLIDWORKS is up and running on a Mac, you may notice that the graphics don’t quite match an equivalent Windows workstation. This is because Apple don’t offer laptops with appropriate video cards such as the NVIDIA RTX Professional series, AMD Radeon Pro series, or the Intel Arc Pro series.
Without these approved graphics cards and their drivers, SOLIDWORKS lacks access to the OpenGL technology that drives a lot of its advanced graphics options. This means that options like RealView graphics and Enhanced Graphics Performance may be unavailable.
There are some workarounds available, but these are not always reliable and are not supported by DS SOLIDWORKS, Apple, or Solid People. Your best bet for help with using Parallels is their own official support, particularly their FAQs and forums.
Be aware, however, that many Mac hardware and software fixes are not officially supported by SOLIDWORKS and may involve manual edits to the registry, a process which carries a significant level of risk for your business!
Can I run other SOLIDWORKS Add-ins on a Mac?
Not recommended Add-ins
We don’t recommend running the more demanding SOLIDWORKS programs such as SOLIDWORKS Visualize or the SOLIDWORKS Simulation add-ins on a Mac, as not enough resources can be committed to running them effectively.
Recommended Add-ins and Applications
However, there are several SOLIDWORKS application designed specifically for MacOS and iOS. These include eDrawings View, eDrawings, eDrawings Professional, and DraftSight.
The 3DEXPERIENCE platform is also designed to run in any browser on any device, so you can review, edit, and manage your CAD data wherever you are, even if you’re using an Apple device.
SOLIDWORKS on a Mac conclusion
If you are considering attempting to use SOLIDWORKS on Apple hardware, then we recommend contacting us to discuss pros and cons of using SOLIDWORKS on MacOS before any final decisions are made.