PhotoView 360 is disabled by default in SolidWorks 2025 — you need to turn it on in Add-ins

PhotoView 360 is a rendering tool built into SolidWorks that creates photorealistic images of your 3D models. It does not start automatically when you install SolidWorks 2025. To use it, you must first enable it through the Add-ins menu, then restart SolidWorks.

The process takes about two minutes and requires no additional downloads or licenses beyond your SolidWorks installation. Once enabled, PhotoView 360 appears as a tab in the task pane on the right side of your screen.

Key Takeaways

  • PhotoView 360 must be manually enabled in SolidWorks 2025 through Tools > Add-ins, not through the main menu.
  • You must restart SolidWorks after enabling the add-in for it to appear in the interface.
  • The PhotoView 360 tab will appear in the task pane on the right side once enabled and SolidWorks has restarted.
  • If PhotoView 360 does not appear after restart, verify that the checkbox next to it in Add-ins remained checked and that you fully closed and reopened SolidWorks.

Step-by-step: enabling PhotoView 360

Open SolidWorks 2025 and load any part or assembly file, or create a new one. PhotoView 360 cannot be enabled from an empty workspace.

Click the Tools menu at the top of the window. Scroll down and select Add-ins. A dialog box will open showing all available add-ins for your SolidWorks installation.

Look for PhotoView 360 in the list. It will have a checkbox next to it. If the checkbox is empty, click it once to enable PhotoView 360. The checkbox should now show a checkmark. Click OK to close the dialog.

Close SolidWorks completely — use File > Exit or close the window. Do not straightforward minimize it. Then reopen SolidWorks and load a part or assembly file again. PhotoView 360 should now appear as a tab in the task pane on the right side of your screen, usually labeled with a camera icon.

What to do if PhotoView 360 does not appear after restart

The most common reason PhotoView 360 fails to appear is that SolidWorks was not fully closed before reopening. Closing the main window is not always enough — check your system tray (bottom right of your screen on Windows) to see if a SolidWorks process is still running. If it is, right-click it and close it, then reopen SolidWorks.

If PhotoView 360 still does not appear, return to Tools > Add-ins and verify that the checkbox next to PhotoView 360 is still checked. Sometimes the setting does not save if SolidWorks crashes or closes unexpectedly. Check the box again, close SolidWorks fully, and reopen it.

If you see PhotoView 360 in the Add-ins list but it is grayed out or shows a warning icon, your SolidWorks installation may be incomplete or corrupted. Run the SolidWorks installer again and choose Repair rather than Modify to restore missing components.

Where PhotoView 360 appears in the interface

Once enabled, PhotoView 360 appears as a tab in the task pane — the panel on the right side of the SolidWorks window. The tab usually shows a camera or light bulb icon and is labeled PhotoView 360. Click this tab to open the rendering controls.

From the PhotoView 360 tab, you can add lights, change background images, adjust material properties, and render your model. The rendering process itself happens in a separate window and can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes depending on your model complexity and your computer's graphics capability.

Why PhotoView 360 is disabled by default

SolidWorks disables PhotoView 360 by default because it requires significant graphics processing power. Leaving it enabled on systems with older or integrated graphics cards can slow down normal modeling work. By making it opt-in, SolidWorks keeps the interface responsive for users who do not need rendering features.

Enabling PhotoView 360 does not change how your computer performs other tasks in SolidWorks — it only adds the rendering tools to the interface. The actual rendering process only runs when you click the render button, so enabling it does not consume resources until you actively use it.

Rendering your first image with PhotoView 360

After enabling PhotoView 360, open a part or assembly and click the PhotoView 360 tab in the task pane. You will see options to add lights, change the scene background, and adjust materials. The simplest first step is to click the Render button (usually a large button at the bottom of the PhotoView panel) to create a basic rendered image of your model using default lighting and materials.

The render window will open and show a preview of your model as it renders. Depending on your graphics card and model size, this may take 10 seconds to several minutes. Once complete, you can save the rendered image as a .png or .jpg file through File > Save in the render window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special license to use PhotoView 360?

No. PhotoView 360 is included with all SolidWorks licenses — Premium, Standard, and Professional. You only need to enable it through Add-ins. No additional purchase or set up is required.

Will enabling PhotoView 360 slow down my computer?

Enabling it does not slow down normal modeling work. The rendering process only runs when you click the render button. If you have an older graphics card, rendering may take longer, but everyday SolidWorks tasks will not be affected.

Can I disable PhotoView 360 after enabling it?

Yes. Return to Tools > Add-ins, uncheck the PhotoView 360 box, and restart SolidWorks. The tab will disappear from the task pane. You can re-enable it the same way at any time.

What if PhotoView 360 crashes when I try to render?

Update your graphics card drivers through your GPU manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). Outdated drivers are the most common cause of rendering crashes. If crashes continue after updating, try rendering a simpler model first to isolate whether the issue is with your graphics hardware or a specific file.

Can I use PhotoView 360 on a laptop?

Yes, but rendering will be slower on laptops with integrated graphics compared to desktops with dedicated graphics cards. Rendering may take 5 to 10 times longer on integrated graphics, but it will still work. Close other programs before rendering to free up system memory.