How to Span Displays and Use SOLIDWORKS Across Two Screens

If you work with complex parts or assemblies or need to reference multiple files at once, knowing how to span displays and use SOLIDWORKS across two screens or monitors can dramatically improve your productivity.

You can use a dual-screen setup to view different documents without constantly switching between them. In this guide, I’ll show you how to use SOLIDWORKS on two screens as separate windows. As a bonus, I’ll also show you how to drag the SOLIDWORKS PDM or 3DEXPERIENCE pane to a second monitor.

Why Use Two Screens in SOLIDWORKS?

As you work away at your design, you’ll often be working on multiple parts or assemblies at the same time. On a single monitor, this means frequent tab switching and/or resizing windows, which can slow down your workflow. Using the tile horizontally or tile vertically options will allow multiple models to be shown on the same screen, but the viewports can end up being very small.

With two screens, you could:

• View a 3D Model on one screen and a drawing on the other.
• Compare two assemblies side to side.
• Keep reference documents open while modeling.

This setup can be especially useful for large projects, design reviews, and detailing work.

How SOLIDWORKS Handles Multiple Windows

SOLIDWORKS uses a Multiple Document Interface, which means you can open several files in one session. By default, one document will be displayed, and then you can switch between them by selecting the Window dropdown at the top and the document you’d like to switch to. You can also use the Control+Tab keys to switch between documents.

SOLIDWORKS displayed across two monitors

SOLIDWORKS also provides the Span Displays option, which stretches the application across multiple monitors. Once enabled, you can tile documents to each screen for a clean and organized workspace.

How to Use SOLIDWORKS on Two Screens as Separate Windows

1. Enable Span Displays
   At the top right corner of the SOLIDWORKS window, click the Span Displays Button. The application will expand across both monitors.
   

   Turning on the SOLIDWORKS Span Displays mode

2. Open Multiple Documents
   Load the files you want to work with. This can be any combination of parts, assemblies, or drawings.
3. Tile Documents Left and Right
   As you open the documents, you can tile the document to the left or right monitor. On the top of the document, click the tile left to move it to the right monitor. Open the next document and specify which direction you want it to move.
   

   Tile Left option in the graphics window

4. Adjust Toolbars and Command Manager
   If you’d like, you can adjust toolbars to show up on specific sides. For example, keep modeling tools on the left side and detailing tools on the right.
   

   SOLIDWORKS with two open documents across displays

Moving the SOLIDWORKS PDM and 3DEXPERIENCE Panes

If you are using the SOLIDWORKS PDM or 3DEXPERIENCE add-in, it’s possible to move that to another screen as well. This can maximize the one monitor for SOLIDWORKS while being able to see additional information on the SOLIDWORKS add-in for data management. We can drag the add-in over to the second monitor to enable this functionality.

1. Open your SOLIDWORKS file with SOLIDWORKS PDM or 3DEXPERIENCE add-in enabled.
2. Left-click and hold the top of the add-in (e.g., in the SOLIDWORKS PDM section shown below) and drag the window to your second monitor.
   

   Dragging the task pane to a new window

3. Resize on the second monitor to show additional information.

SOLIDWORKS PDM and SOLIDWORKS on separate monitors

Gaining SOLIDWORKS Efficiency

Maximizing your efficiency while working in SOLIDWORKS has many advantages. Using SOLIDWORKS across two monitors is a simple and powerful way to easily compare two documents or see related files at the same time as you are working. Try this out and see if it will help you improve your design process.

To look at other areas of improvement in your SOLIDWORKS workflows, review our upcoming training courses here.