A: No. Legitimate student serials expire 12-24 months after issuance. The "9020" type, if real, would also have an expiration date.
If you're still having trouble finding your serial number or need assistance with activation, I recommend contacting SolidWorks customer support directly. They can provide specific guidance based on your situation.
Understanding the SOLIDWORKS Student Serial Number "9020" If you are a student or educator diving into 3D design, you have likely encountered the requirement for a serial number starting with . This specific prefix is the hallmark of the SOLIDWORKS Student Edition
(now often referred to as Student Premium or the Student Engineering Kit/SEK). Unlike standard commercial licenses, the 9020 series is designed for standalone, home-use installations that allow students to work on their personal machines without needing a constant connection to a university's network license server. 1. What Does a "9020" Number Mean? The "9020" prefix identifies your license as a standalone educational license GoEngineer Standalone Nature
: While school computer labs often use "9710" licenses (network licenses), the 9020 number is for individual student laptops or desktops. Expiration
: These licenses are typically valid for one academic year or semester, depending on your institution's subscription. Watermarking
: Any file created or exported using a 9020 license will include a permanent watermark indicating it was created in an educational version, which prevents it from being used for commercial purposes. 2. How to Obtain Your 9020 Serial Number
There are three primary ways to get a legitimate 9020 serial number: Through Your University
: This is the most common method. Schools with active SOLIDWORKS subscriptions can provide a "Home Use" license to eligible students. You should contact your department head or IT help desk to request your unique code. Direct Purchase : Students can purchase the SOLIDWORKS Student Edition directly from authorized resellers or the SOLIDWORKS Education Store
. After purchase, the 9020 number is sent via a confirmation email. Military Veterans
: Qualified veterans may be eligible for a discounted Student Edition license, which also uses the 9020 prefix. 3. Step-by-Step: Using Your 9020 Number to Install
Once you have your number, follow these steps to download and activate the software: SOLIDWORKS® Student Edition
serial number prefix in SOLIDWORKS specifically designates Standalone Student Licenses
, often referred to as the Student Engineering Kit (SEK) or Student Premium. Unlike network-based institutional licenses (which typically begin with 9710), these are intended for individual students to install on their personal devices for educational use. Key Characteristics of "9020" Licenses
Designed for student home use, allowing access to the software without being connected to a school's network license server. Functionality:
Includes the full SOLIDWORKS Desktop suite (CAD, Simulation, Visualize, etc.) but adds a
to all created or exported documents indicating they are for non-commercial use. Expiration:
These are fixed-term licenses that typically expire at the end of a semester or academic year. SolidWorks How to Obtain and Use the Serial Number SOLIDWORKS® Student Edition
Trying to activate software with a serial number found on the internet (even if it starts with the legitimate 9020 prefix) often leads to frustration.
If you have landed on this page searching for a "SolidWorks student serial number 9020," you are likely a student, a hobbyist, or a young engineer trying to access the industry-leading CAD software without paying thousands of dollars. You may have seen forum posts, YouTube comments, or old blog articles mentioning this specific numeric code.
This article will explain exactly what the "9020" prefix means, why it is unlikely to work today, the legal and security risks of searching for cracked serials, and—most importantly—how to get legitimate free or low-cost access to SolidWorks as a student.
If you are a currently enrolled student, you likely have access to a legitimate license through your school. Here are the three ways to get your valid serial number:
If you need SolidWorks for a short project, go directly to the official SolidWorks website and download a 30-day free trial. You do not need a serial number at all – only an email address. After 30 days, you can request a new trial with a different email, but this violates the terms of service. Better to use one of the student options above.
Most engineering and design schools are part of the SolidWorks Academic Certification Program. If your school has a lab license, you can:
How to get it: Ask your CAD instructor or IT department for a "student home-use license serial number." They will provide an official code (which will not be 9020 – it will be unique to your school).
Dassault Systèmes now offers a cloud-connected version called 3DEXPERIENCE SolidWorks for Makers. This is not free, but it is incredibly cheap: $99 USD per year (approximately $9.99/month). For that price, you get:
This is the modern, safe alternative to searching for old codes like 9020.