10 SOLIDWORKS Keyboard Shortcuts for Every User

SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcuts make it highly customizable and they can be used to make a user more effective and time efficient. However, trying to get them all set up for use and to be able to remember them all can be a lengthy process. Here, we have SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcuts for you that are quick and easy to learn!

These 10 keyboard shortcuts will painlessly bring an immediate improvement in user efficiency.

• The “Q” Key

Hit the “Q” key and all the hidden planes show-up. You can see their locations and select the one required (maybe for your next sketch).

If you are selecting the plane for your next sketch. Don’t move your mouse once you have selected the plane. A pop-up menu will appear, that will allow you to start the sketch.

• The “F” Key

Hit the “F” key for Zoom-To-Fit (zooms In or zooms OUT to fit).

• The “A” Key

Hit the “A” key (and move the mouse) when sketching to change from a line to an arc or from an arc to a line.

• The “D” Key

Hit the “D” key and the  OK / CANCEL  pop-up shows up right by your mouse/selection arrow.

• The “S” Key

Hit the “S” key and one of the four Short-Cut menus shows up (varies depending on what you are doing)

If you are Sketching, sketch tools show up.

If you are working in Modeling Space, feature tools show up.

If you are working on a Drawing, drawing tools show up.

If you are working in an Assembly, assembly tools show up.

Please Note:

All four of the Short-Cut menus have a Command Search Bar, so no matter where you are working in SolidWorks; sketching, creating features, creating a drawing or creating an assembly; you have quick access to search for a Command, right next to your Mouse/Selection arrow.

>>SOLIDWORKS Feature Tree Shortcut Keys

• The “Control” Key

Hold down the “Control” key, while selecting entities, allows the selecting of more than one, without a selection box. Being able to select more than one Entity at a time, off the screen, will facilitate the creation of Sketch Geometric Relationships and Assembly Component Relationships more efficiently.

• “Control” “Tab”

Hold down the “Control” key, while tapping the “Tab” key; A pop-up menu will appear showing a pictorial representation of the files currently open and allowing the selection of a part to make it active.

• “Control” “B”

Hold down the “Control” key and hit the “B” key to Force a Rebuild/Regenerate of the current model when it is out-of-date due to changes to the model.

• “Control” “Z”

Hold down the “Control” key, and hit the “Z” key to Un-Do the last command

(hitting the Control Z multiple times will undo multiple performed steps).

After hitting Control Z twice.

• The “Delete” Key

Hit the “Delete” key and whatever you have selected will begin the deletion process.

Using SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcuts can help improve your efficiency and save time. To learn more about SOLIDWORKS, view our SOLIDWORKS training courses here.