How to Change the SOLIDWORKS Language
How to Change the SOLIDWORKS Language
Many companies share their workload all over the world with needs to install SOLIDWORKS and create models using various languages. For multilingual users who may need or want to have SOLIDWORKS open in a different language without changing their entire Windows system, there are just a few steps to switch the SOLIDWORKS installed language only.
For the example in this article, we will be switching the SOLIDWORKS language from English to Spanish while installed on a Windows system set to English without changing anything in the Windows environment. All other programs will remain in English while SOLIDWORKS launches in Spanish.
Check for Installed Languages
As mentioned, for this example, the currently installed SOLIDWORKS language only includes English. The default location folder is C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang
Modify the Installation
Modify the SOLIDWORKS installation to include the desired language, in this case, Spanish.
Review this guide for detailed instructions for modifying the SOLIDWORKS installation
- Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
- Right-click SOLIDWORKS <version> and select Change.
- In the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager, click Next until the Product Selection screen.
- Select the additional language(s) and click Next.
Confirm Download
Click OK to accept the notification that you have selected products which require additional download.
Note: If you performed a full media download, this screen may not appear.
Review, Accept and Modify
Review the Products to Add to confirm the new language will be installed. On the Summary screen, accept the terms in the lower left corner and then click Download and Modify in the lower right corner.
Open Language Folder
Once the modification is complete, the new language folder(s) will be available.
Rename Current Language Folder
Note: Make sure all instances of SOLIDWORKS are CLOSED before proceeding.
Rename the english folder to english_Backup (CAUTION! DO NOT DELETE THE FOLDER!)
Rename the New Language Folder
Rename spanish folder to english (which now contains the Spanish files)
This will “trick” SOLIDWORKS into opening with Spanish language data. When SOLIDWORKS launches, it will reference the newly renamed English folder, which contains the Spanish language files.
Launch SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS now launches in Spanish. All menus, commands, options, and new features will display in Spanish.
Features retain whichever language they were created in. In this example, the original file was created in English, so the original features are in English even when opened in Spanish.
Features created while SOLIDWORKS is open in Spanish will be named and retain the name in Spanish when opened in English or any other language.
Note: SOLIDWORKS does not currently have a translation/conversion tool. This includes annotations as well. So, if you need to share a drawing in a multilanguage environment, best practice is to include annotations in both languages manually.
Display Menus in English
SOLIDWORKS does include options to display menus and feature names in English when SOLIDWORKS is installed on a foreign language Windows system.
Within SOLIDWORKS on the foreign language machine, select Help > System Options > General
Use English language menus
- Sets the menu language to English when you specify another language during installation, and you set the regional options in the Windows Control Panel to that language. Exit and restart SOLIDWORKS for this change to take effect.
Use English language feature and file names
- Displays feature names in the FeatureManager design tree and automatically creates file names in English. Existing feature and file names in a foreign language do not update when you select this option.
- Available when you run SOLIDWORKS on a foreign language operating system and you installed SOLIDWORKS for that foreign language.
Technical Support
If you have any questions or experience unexpected behavior, feel free to reach out to MLC CAD Systems technical support.
We hope you found this article clear and helpful. If you have feedback or want to request for more information, let us know!