How to Show Hidden Lines in SOLIDWORKS Drawings

Contents

Hidden lines in a SOLIDWORKS drawing show edges that are behind the visible faces of a part or assembly. They are useful when an internal feature, hole, slot, or rear edge needs to be understood without creating a section view.

The simplest way to show hidden lines is to change the drawing view display style to Hidden Lines Visible. Use it when the hidden geometry improves the drawing, and avoid it when the view becomes too crowded to read.

SOLIDWORKS drawing view before showing hidden lines — Start by selecting the drawing view that needs hidden edges.

Show hidden lines for a drawing view

Open the SOLIDWORKS drawing.
Click the drawing view you want to change.
In the view toolbar or PropertyManager, choose the display style options.
Select Hidden Lines Visible.
Rebuild the drawing if the view does not update immediately.

Changing drawing view display style in SOLIDWORKS — Hidden Lines Visible displays rear and internal edges as dashed lines.

Show hidden lines for selected components

In assembly drawings, you may not want hidden lines for every component. Select the drawing view, expand its components in the FeatureManager tree, and adjust display settings for the specific component where the hidden geometry matters. This keeps the view readable while still showing important internal edges.

Hidden lines shown for a SOLIDWORKS drawing view — Use selective display settings when a full hidden-line view is too busy.

When to use hidden lines

Use hidden lines for simple internal holes, slots, or rear edges.
Use a section view when many hidden edges overlap.
Use a detail view when the hidden feature is small.
Use broken-out sections when only a local internal feature matters.

If the view becomes hard to read, switch back to Hidden Lines Removed and create a section view instead. A clean drawing is better than a technically complete but confusing view.

SOLIDWORKS hidden-line drawing view — Hidden lines should clarify the drawing, not bury the reader in dashed edges.

Set default display style options

If new drawing views keep appearing with the wrong edge style, check the drawing document options. SOLIDWORKS display style settings are available under drawing options, and templates can carry those defaults into new drawings.

For production drawings, keep your template consistent so similar views use similar edge treatment. This makes drawing packages easier to review.

SOLIDWORKS drawing display style options — Drawing templates can influence the default display style of new views.

Troubleshooting hidden lines

Hidden lines do not appear: confirm the drawing view is selected and the display style is Hidden Lines Visible.
The view is too cluttered: use a section view or show hidden lines only for selected components.
Lines look wrong in PDF: export and inspect the PDF, then review line font and display settings.
Only one component needs hidden lines: use component-level display controls in the drawing view.