SOLIDWORKS PDM 2026 introduces Automatic Synchronization of Vault Views and the ability to transfer file ownership/access between users and machines, completely changing the way stranded files are recovered if the user or machine in question is no longer available. This is particularly impactful if the files have outstanding unsaved local edits, which can now be preserved. Check out our latest PDM 2-Minute Tech Tip for all the details on how it works.
File being transferred between two users with the Transfer Ownership command
Prior releases relied on the Undo Checkout function, which discarded local edits meaning that any progress was lost if the file wasn’t checked in by the original user on the original machine. Now, modified checked-out files are automatically synchronized to the archive server, so file ownership can be transferred between users/machines as needed to check those changes in without losing work.
This can also come in handy if you happen to forget to check files before moving workstations, for example working hybrid between home and the office. With the new Transfer Ownership function, you can transfer ownership to yourself (now on a different machine), open the file, and check in the synchronized edits, avoiding rework, lost design changes, or connection workarounds.
This can all happen without approval from the user/machine on the other end, assuming the correct permissions are enabled. Transfer Ownership is controlled by two specific options which can be enabled/disabled depending on your requirements:
Required permissions to enable Transfer Ownership
For many users, automatic synchronization and more specifically the Transfer Ownership command can reduce downtime and prevents rework or data loss in critical situations, but this is just one of many enhancements offered with SOLIDWORKS 2026 – For more information on what’s new for sketches, features, parts, assemblies, drawings, and more, be sure to visit our What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2026 series.
