**What settings do you immediately change in Solidworks?**

Key Takeaways:

SolidWorks Settings to Change Immediately

1. Document Units

Set the correct unit system such as MMGS (mm, g, s) for most mechanical engineering projects.

2. System Options

Configure important options for performance, file locations, backups, and display settings to match your workflow.

3. Graphics & Display

Adjust Image Quality, anti-aliasing, display style, and graphics performance to balance model quality and system speed.

4. Sketch Settings

Enable useful options such as Automatic Relations, Sketch Snapping, and Fully Define Sketch workflows for accurate and efficient modeling.

5. File Locations & Templates

Set standard locations for part, assembly, drawing templates, sheet formats, weldment profiles, and design libraries.

6. Backup & Recovery

Enable Auto-recover and backup options and choose a suitable backup location to protect against data loss.

7. Performance Settings

Configure Large Assembly Settings, lightweight components, display performance, and rebuild options when working with complex models.

8. Mouse & Keyboard Shortcuts

Customize keyboard shortcuts, mouse gestures, and shortcut bars for frequently used commands.

Key Takeaway

Units → System Options → Graphics → Sketch → File Locations → Backup → Performance → Shortcuts

SolidWorks Settings to Change Immediately

When you install SOLIDWORKS for the first time, changing a few default settings can make modeling faster, improve performance, and reduce the risk of losing work.

The most useful settings are found under:

Tools → Options

These settings can be configured at both the Document Properties and System Options levels.

1. Document Units

Set your units before starting a new project.

Steps

Go to:

Tools → Options → Document Properties → Units

Choose the appropriate unit system.

Common Options

MMGS – millimeter, gram, second
MKS – meter, kilogram, second
CGS – centimeter, gram, second
IPS – inch, pound, second
Custom – individually selected units

Quick Tip

You can also change units from the bottom-right status bar.

2. System Options

System Options control SOLIDWORKS behavior across documents.

Go to:

Tools → Options → System Options

Useful areas include:

General
Performance
Assemblies
External References
File Locations
Backup/Recover
Messages/Errors
Display/Selection

3. Graphics & Display

Graphics settings have a major effect on how smoothly SOLIDWORKS displays models.

Go to:

Tools → Options → System Options → Performance

and:

Tools → Options → System Options → Display/Selection

Useful Settings

For graphics-heavy models:

Use a SOLIDWORKS-certified graphics card/driver where possible.
Keep graphics drivers updated according to SOLIDWORKS-certified compatibility.
Avoid unnecessary visual effects when working with large assemblies.
Use simplified display modes when performance becomes slow.

Display Modes

Common options include:

Shaded
Shaded With Edges
Hidden Lines Removed
Hidden Lines Visible
Wireframe

4. Sketch Settings

Good sketch settings make it easier to create accurate and fully constrained models.

Go to:

Tools → Options → System Options → Sketch

Useful Settings

Consider enabling or configuring:

Automatic relations
Inferencing
Snap behavior
Grid/display options
Dimension input
Sketch visibility

Automatic Relations

SOLIDWORKS can automatically detect relationships such as:

Horizontal
Vertical
Coincident
Tangent
Parallel
Perpendicular

This can significantly speed up sketch creation.

5. File Locations & Templates

Correct file locations help keep your CAD projects organized.

Go to:

Tools → Options → System Options → File Locations

You can define locations for:

Document Templates
Sheet Formats
Weldment Profiles
Design Library
Custom Properties
BOM templates
Hole Wizard data

Templates

Create customized templates for:

Part

Assembly

Drawing

For example:

Mechanical Part – MMGS

can contain your preferred:

Units
Drafting standards
Custom properties
Document settings

Recommended Workflow

Configure settings

↓

Save as template

↓

Use template for new projects

This prevents you from repeatedly changing the same settings.

6. Backup & Recovery

This is one of the most important settings to configure.

Go to:

Tools → Options → System Options → Backup/Recover

Enable options for:

Auto-recovery information
Backup copies
Temporary recovery files

Why It Matters

SOLIDWORKS files can contain hours or even days of design work.

A backup/recovery strategy can protect you against:

Software crashes
Power failures
Windows problems
Accidental file closure
Corrupted working files

7. Performance Settings

Performance settings become especially important when working with:

Large assemblies
Complex parts
Imported CAD models
Large drawings
High-resolution graphics

Go to:

Tools → Options → System Options → Performance

Useful Performance Features

Depending on your SOLIDWORKS version and workflow, consider using:

Lightweight components
Large Assembly Settings
Large Design Review
Level of Detail controls
SpeedPak
Simplified configurations

Lightweight Components

Useful for large assemblies because components can be loaded with less information.

Large Design Review

Useful when you mainly need to view and inspect very large assemblies rather than fully edit every component.

SpeedPak

Creates a simplified representation of complex assemblies and can improve assembly performance.

8. Mouse & Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can dramatically speed up everyday SOLIDWORKS work.

Useful Shortcuts

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl + S	Save
Ctrl + Z	Undo
Ctrl + Y	Redo
Ctrl + B	Rebuild
Ctrl + Q	Force Rebuild
Ctrl + N	New document
Ctrl + O	Open
Ctrl + P	Print
Spacebar	View Orientation
F	Zoom to Fit
Esc	Cancel/Exit command

Mouse Gestures

SOLIDWORKS also supports Mouse Gestures.

You can assign frequently used commands to mouse movements.

For example:

Right-click + gesture

↓

Select common command

This can reduce the amount of toolbar navigation required.

Recommended SOLIDWORKS Setup

For a typical mechanical-design user, a good starting configuration is:

Setting	Recommendation
Units	MMGS for metric work
Automatic Sketch Relations	Enabled
Graphics	Certified GPU/driver where possible
Display	Shaded With Edges
Auto-Recovery	Enabled
Backup	Enabled
Templates	Customized
Large Assemblies	Lightweight / appropriate performance modes
Rebuild	Ctrl + B
Force Rebuild	Ctrl + Q
Mouse Gestures	Customize frequently used commands
Keyboard Shortcuts	Customize to your workflow

Best Settings to Change First

If you have just installed SOLIDWORKS and don’t want to change dozens of options, start with these:

1. Set Units

MMGS / IPS

2. Configure Auto-Recovery

Tools → Options → System Options → Backup/Recover

3. Create Templates

Part + Assembly + Drawing

4. Check Graphics

Use a compatible/certified graphics configuration where possible.

5. Enable Useful Sketch Relations

Automatic Relations

6. Configure Performance

Especially for large assemblies.

7. Customize Shortcuts

Assign commands you use frequently.

Conclusion

Changing the right SOLIDWORKS settings immediately after installation can make your workflow faster, more reliable, and easier to manage.

GoEngineer Performance Tuning Guide: Step-by-step instructions on adjusting System Options, Document Properties, and hardware settings for maximum speed.

The most important areas to configure are:

Document Units

→ System Options

→ Graphics & Display

→ Sketch Settings

→ File Locations & Templates

→ Backup & Recovery

→ Performance

→ Mouse & Keyboard Shortcuts

For most mechanical-design users, the best starting setup is MMGS + automatic sketch relations + reliable Auto-Recovery/backup + customized templates + appropriate graphics/performance settings + personalized shortcuts.