SOLIDWORKS File Utilities Missing?

How to Repair a Missing SOLIDWORKS File Utilities Manager in Windows 10 and Windows 11

In this article, we will guide you through the steps to repair a missing SOLIDWORKS File Utilities Manager in both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The File Utilities Manager is a crucial tool for managing SOLIDWORKS files, but it can sometimes be hidden or not appear at all.

File Utilities Manager in Windows 11

If you are using a Windows 11 computer, you might notice that the File Utilities Manager does not appear immediately when you right-click on a file. Instead, you will need to select the “Show more options” option to access a secondary menu that resembles the context menu in Windows 10.

Steps to Access File Utilities in Windows 11:

1. Right-Click the File: Right-click on the SOLIDWORKS file you want to manage.
2. Show More Options: Select “Show more options” from the context menu.
   
3. Access File Utilities: The SOLIDWORKS File Utilities should now appear in the secondary menu.

If the File Utilities Manager still does not appear after following these steps, or if you are using Windows 10 and the option is missing, the next step is to check if the File Utilities option is selected within the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

Checking and Repairing SOLIDWORKS File Utilities Installation

Steps to Modify SOLIDWORKS Installation:

1. Open Control Panel: Navigate to Control Panel.
   • If you are using View by: Small or Large Icons, select Programs and Features.
   • If you are using View by: Categories, go to Programs > Programs and Features.
2. Modify SOLIDWORKS Installation: Find SOLIDWORKS 20XX in the list, right-click on it, and select Modify/Change.
3. Modify This Installation: In the Installation Manager, choose Modify this Installation and proceed until you reach the Product Selection page.
4. Check File Utilities Option: Ensure that the SOLIDWORKS File Utilities option is selected. If it is not, select it and proceed with the modification.

Reinstalling File Utilities:

If the SOLIDWORKS File Utilities option is already selected but still missing in File Explorer, follow these steps:

1. Uncheck File Utilities: Go back to the Product Selection page and uncheck the SOLIDWORKS File Utilities option.
2. Modify Installation: Follow through to modify the installation.
   
3. Recheck File Utilities: Return to the Product Selection page, recheck the SOLIDWORKS File Utilities option, and proceed with the modification.
4. Restart Your Computer: After making these changes, restart your computer to ensure the modifications take effect.

Administrative Image Installation:

If your SOLIDWORKS installation was created using an Administrative Image, the above steps may not be applicable. In this case, contact your administrator or the person who created the Admin image to redeploy it. The steps to modify the Administrative Image to remove and readd the File Utilities would be present in the Administrative Image Options.

If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out support@seacadtech.com.