SolidWorks Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List + Free PDF Cheat Sheet (2026)

The most-used SolidWorks keyboard shortcuts are Ctrl + S (save), Ctrl + N (new file), Ctrl + B (rebuild), F (zoom to fit), G (magnifying glass), and S (open the Shortcut Bar). SolidWorks runs only on Windows, so all shortcuts use Windows keyboard layouts there are no native Mac shortcuts. You can also create your own custom shortcuts under Tools → Customize → Keyboard. The full categorized list and a free PDF cheat sheet are below.

Key Takeaways

• SolidWorks has 70+ default keyboard shortcuts, organized here by File, Edit, Sketch, View, and Assembly tasks.
• Press S anytime to open the context-sensitive Shortcut Bar it changes based on whether you’re in a part, assembly, drawing, or sketch.
• Ctrl + B rebuilds the model; Ctrl + Q forces a full rebuild.
• F zooms to fit; G opens the Magnifying Glass.
• Shortcuts work the same across SolidWorks 2019 through 2026.
• A free, printable PDF cheat sheet is available below.

SolidWorks, developed by Dassault Systèmes, is one of the most widely used 3D CAD programs for solid modeling, simulation, and design. Like any professional CAD tool, it rewards speed and the fastest way to work is with keyboard shortcuts. Instead of hunting through the CommandManager for a tool, a single keypress launches it. This guide lists every essential SolidWorks shortcut by category, explains the powerful S-key and Mouse Gestures, and shows you how to create your own custom shortcuts.

File & General Shortcuts

Shortcut Bar & Search Shortcuts

Sketch & Modeling Shortcuts

View & Navigation Shortcuts

Selection Filter & Display Shortcuts

Assembly & Window Shortcuts

Are There SolidWorks Shortcuts for Mac?

No, SolidWorks has no native macOS version. It is Windows-only software, developed by Dassault Systèmes to run on the Windows platform. The only ways to run SolidWorks on a Mac are:

• Boot Camp (Intel-based Macs only) – boot directly into Windows.
• Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion – run Windows in a virtual machine alongside macOS.
• Cloud streaming – SolidWorks offers a browser-based trial via Amazon AppStream that remotely controls a Windows machine.

In every case you are running Windows, so you use the same Windows shortcuts listed above. The one practical difference: on a Mac keyboard, Parallels and Boot Camp map the ⌘ Command key to Ctrl, so Ctrl + S becomes ⌘ + S, Ctrl + Z becomes ⌘ + Z, and so on. A few Windows-specific keys (like a dedicated forward-Delete or some function keys) may need remapping in your virtualization software’s keyboard settings.

The “S” Key: Your Most Useful SolidWorks Shortcut

If you learn only one SolidWorks shortcut, make it the S key. Pressing S opens the Shortcut Bar a small, floating toolbar that appears right at your cursor, so you never have to travel to the CommandManager at the top of the screen.

What makes the S key powerful is that it’s context-sensitive. The commands it shows change automatically depending on what you’re doing:

• In a part, it shows modeling tools like Extrude, Revolve, and Fillet.
• In an assembly, it shows Mate, Insert Component, and related tools.
• In a drawing, it shows annotation and view tools.
• In a sketch, it shows Line, Circle, Trim, and other sketch entities.

You can fully customize each of these four Shortcut Bars to hold the commands you use most making the S key effectively a personalized command center. Pair it with the D key, which brings the Confirmation Corner and selection Breadcrumbs to your pointer, and you can work for long stretches without moving your mouse to the toolbars at all.

SolidWorks Mouse Gestures

Beyond keyboard shortcuts, SolidWorks offers Mouse Gestures one of the fastest ways to launch commands. A mouse gesture is a single right-click-and-drag motion: as you drag, a circular wheel of commands appears, and releasing the mouse over a command runs it.

You can assign 2, 4, 8, or up to 12 commands to the gesture wheel, and like the Shortcut Bar, the wheel is context-sensitive different commands appear in parts, assemblies, drawings, and sketches.

To set up Mouse Gestures:

1. Go to Tools → Customize.
2. Select the Mouse Gestures tab.
3. Enable Mouse Gestures and choose how many commands you want (2–12).
4. Drag any command from the list onto a position on the gesture wheel.
5. Click OK to save.

Many experienced users combine Mouse Gestures (for view and navigation commands) with the S-key Shortcut Bar (for modeling commands) to cover almost everything without keyboard shortcuts at all.

How to Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in SolidWorks

SolidWorks lets you assign your own shortcuts to almost any command. To create a custom shortcut:

1. Open any document, then go to Tools → Customize.
2. Select the Keyboard tab.
3. In the Show dropdown, choose “Commands with Keyboard Shortcuts” to filter the list (optional, but easier to navigate).
4. Find the command you want and click in its Shortcut(s) cell.
5. Press the key or key combination you want to assign. If it’s already in use, SolidWorks warns you and lets you overwrite it.
6. Click OK to save.

How to Reset SolidWorks Shortcuts to Default

If your custom shortcuts aren’t working out, you can restore the factory defaults:

1. Go to Tools → Customize.
2. Select the Keyboard tab.
3. Click Reset to Defaults.
4. Click OK to confirm.

All keyboard shortcuts will return to their original SolidWorks settings.

SolidWorks Shortcuts FAQ

What is the shortcut to rebuild in SolidWorks?

Press Ctrl + B to rebuild the model. To force a complete rebuild of all features, press Ctrl + Q.

What does Ctrl + Q do in SolidWorks?

Ctrl + Q forces a full rebuild, regenerating every feature in the model including ones a normal Ctrl + B rebuild may skip. In an assembly, it forces a regeneration to the top level.

What is the S key in SolidWorks?

The S key opens the Shortcut Bar, a context-sensitive floating toolbar that appears at your cursor. It shows different commands depending on whether you’re in a part, assembly, drawing, or sketch, and can be fully customized.

How do I zoom to fit in SolidWorks?

Press F to zoom the entire model to fit your screen. To zoom into a specific area, press G to open the Magnifying Glass instead.

Are there SolidWorks keyboard shortcuts for Mac?

No. SolidWorks is Windows-only software, so it has no native Mac shortcuts. If you run it on a Mac via Boot Camp, Parallels, or cloud streaming, you use the Windows shortcuts with the ⌘ Command key mapped to Ctrl.

Do these shortcuts work in SolidWorks 2019, 2025, and 2026?

Yes. The default keyboard shortcuts listed here are consistent across SolidWorks 2019 through 2026. Newer versions may add commands, but the core shortcuts remain the same.

How do I create a custom shortcut in SolidWorks?

Go to Tools → Customize → Keyboard, find the command you want, click its Shortcut cell, and press your chosen key combination. Click OK to save.

Is there a SolidWorks shortcut cheat sheet PDF?

Yes, you can download a free, printable PDF cheat sheet of these shortcuts using the download link above.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to memorize all 70+ SolidWorks shortcuts at once. Start with the handful you’ll use every day Ctrl + S to save, Ctrl + B to rebuild, F to zoom to fit, and above all S to open the Shortcut Bar. Once those feel automatic, layer in Mouse Gestures and a few custom shortcuts for the commands you reach for most. Within a week or two, you’ll move through parts, assemblies, and drawings noticeably faster with far less mouse travel and menu-hunting.

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