SolidWorks on Mac: Run It With Parallels in 2026 (M1 - M5)

How to Run SolidWorks on a Mac With Parallels Desktop

SolidWorks is the dominant mechanical CAD software for small and midsize manufacturers, product designers, and mechanical engineers. It’s Windows-only. Dassault Systèmes, the company that makes it, has been saying “no Mac version” for years and shows no signs of changing that position.

For engineers who use Mac, the options have been limited: use a dedicated Windows workstation for SolidWorks work, use Boot Camp (now gone on Apple silicon), or run it in a virtual machine.

Parallels Desktop is the virtual machine answer, and on modern Apple silicon Macs, it’s a better answer than it used to be.

Does SolidWorks Actually Work in Parallels?

Yes - with some caveats that are worth knowing upfront.

SolidWorks itself works in Parallels. You can open assemblies, run simulations, use PhotoView 360, create drawings. The core functionality is all there.

What works well:

• Part modeling and assembly design
• Drawing creation and detailing
• SolidWorks Simulation (basic FEA)
• PDM Vault connectivity
• Import/export (STEP, IGES, STL, DXF)

What requires a more capable setup:

• Large assemblies (500+ parts) - needs 16 GB+ RAM allocated to the VM
• Photoview 360 and rendering - CPU-bound, slower than a dedicated GPU workstation
• SolidWorks Visualize - possible but needs maximum GPU memory settings in Parallels

What to be realistic about: SolidWorks in Parallels on an M4 MacBook Pro is comparable to a midrange Windows laptop. It’s not a replacement for a high-end Windows CAD workstation with a dedicated NVIDIA Quadro GPU. For daily design and engineering work, it’s more than capable. For production rendering on a deadline, a dedicated Windows machine is still faster.

System Requirements

Mac: M1 or newer strongly recommended. Intel Macs work but performance is noticeably lower for SolidWorks. RAM: 16 GB minimum on the Mac (allocate 8 GB to the VM). 32 GB recommended. 64 GB for heavy assemblies. GPU Memory in Parallels: Set to 2 GB in Parallels > Configure > Hardware > Graphics. Storage: Windows (25 GB) + SolidWorks (10 GB) + models = budget 60 GB minimum.

Installation

Install Parallels Desktop 26 and set up Windows 11 through the automatic installer. Then, before installing SolidWorks, configure the VM:

• Memory: 8 - 16 GB (half your Mac’s RAM)
• CPUs: Half your Mac’s cores
• Video Memory: 2 GB
• 3D Acceleration: Enabled (DirectX 11)

Log into your SolidWorks account inside Windows, download the SolidWorks installer, and run it. The SolidWorks installation wizard works normally inside the VM.

After installation, go into SolidWorks Options > Performance and set the graphics mode to “Software OpenGL” if you experience viewport issues, or test with hardware-accelerated first.

PDM and Collaboration

SolidWorks PDM (Product Data Management) works in Parallels. The PDM client installs inside Windows and connects to your PDM vault over the network. Your Mac and the Windows VM share the same network connection, so vault access works seamlessly.

For DriveWorks, Solidworks Electrical, and third-party SolidWorks add-ins: most install and run normally. Some add-ins that require specific hardware (dongle-based licensing, for instance) may need USB passthrough configured in Parallels’ USB settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SolidWorks work on Mac? Not natively. SolidWorks runs only on Windows. It can be run on Mac via Parallels Desktop, which provides a Windows environment on your Mac.

Does Dassault Systèmes support SolidWorks in Parallels? Not officially - Dassault lists supported hardware configurations that don’t include virtual machines. However, many SolidWorks users run it in Parallels successfully. For support purposes, issues that reproduce on a physical Windows PC will be investigated; issues specific to the VM environment may not be.

Can SolidWorks run on an M1, M2, M3, or M4 Mac? Yes, via Parallels. Parallels on Apple silicon runs Windows 11 ARM. SolidWorks for Windows runs in this environment. Performance is good on M3 and excellent on M4.

How much RAM does SolidWorks need in Parallels? Allocate at least 8 GB to the VM. For assemblies with 100+ parts, 12 - 16 GB. For very large assemblies (500+ parts), 16 - 24 GB allocated to the VM (which requires 32 - 48 GB total RAM on your Mac).

Can I run SolidWorks Simulation in Parallels? Yes. Basic FEA (Static, Frequency, Thermal) runs in Parallels. It’s slower than a dedicated workstation, but fully functional.

Can I use a SolidWorks USB dongle with Parallels? USB passthrough in Parallels allows the Windows VM to access USB devices connected to your Mac. Most USB dongles work. In Parallels settings, go to Hardware > USB & Bluetooth and add your dongle to the devices shared with Windows.