What’s New in Altium Designer
Explore new features, enhancements, and important changes introduced in the latest version of
Altium Designer, or see what we’re working on now for upcoming releases.
HARNESS DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS
Additional Harness Design Capabilities
This release has added several improvements for both the harness wiring diagram and the Harness layout drawing. Some new capabilities include: parameters for twist and shield objects, crimping, additional 3D views, multiple connections from a single point and more…
PCB IMPROVEMENTS
New PCB Capabilities for Gerber and View Configuration
New PCB features allow you to load a stored view configuration file from the View Configuration Panel. Also, it is now possible to change the name for the Gerber Board Profile layer when using the new, unified Gerber/Gerber X2 dialog.
DATA MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS
Update to Collaboration and Reporting
To better convey a message to other project stakeholders, you now have the capability to copy and paste pictures into your comments. Also, exporting a project history report can now be easily done through the Reports menu.
SIMULATION IMPROVEMENTS
New Extension For Power Integrity Analysis
Quickly assess the integrity of your power distribution network without the need for any specialized training with Power Analyzer by Keysight.
PRODUCT DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS
New Harness Design Capabilities
Harness Design functionality allows you to create a full wiring harness design, from the individual pin-to-pin connections right through to manufacturing documentation.
PRODUCT DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS
Multi-board support In MCAD CoDesigner
You are now able to transfer and sync your muli-board designs with your mechanical team using the MCAD CoDesigner.

PCB Improvements
Enhanced Gerber Setup Interface
Efficiency, simplicity and convenience are all delivered with the new UI for Gerber setup. Everything you need to prepare for Gerber generation is now at your fingertips in an intuitive setting.
SPICE SIMULATION IMPROVEMENTS
Additional Digital Models & Variant Support
Expanding the functionality available to you in the simulation arena, this release adds further support for PSPICE digital gates, timing and I/O models. Support for variants is also now available.
PCB Improvements
Custom Pad Shapes with Rounded/Chamfered Corners
Shape your pads the way you need in a matter of clicks. Extending the versatility of pad shapes, you can now customize the rounding of selected corners of pads that use either the Rounded Rectangle shape or the new Chamfered Rectangle shape.
PCB Improvements
Additional Net Information for Tuning Objects
Detailed net information about tuning objects has been added in this release. Information about the maximum current and active resistance of accordion, sawtooth, and trombone objects is now available. More detail means it is less likely mistake will be made!
Schematic Capture Improvements
Quickly View Multi-function Pin Names
A large number of microcircuits have multi-functional pins. Working with them in Altium Designer has become even easier. This release introduces the ability to display the alternative pin names with just one click.
Data Management Improvements
Improved Manufacturer Part Search UI
The Manufacturer Part Search panel has long been a source of components for many users. Improvements have been made in this release that make it easier to use components in their libraries. This allows you to spend more time on development than on the process!
Data management improvements
BOM Commenting
Support for commenting has arrived in the BOM arena with this release. All stakeholders can actively discuss the BOM with ease and convenience, as enjoyed already with schematic and PCB documents.
Data Management Improvements
Alternative PCB Layouts in a Reuse Block
Reuse Blocks are enhanced further in this release. You can now define multiple, alternate PCB layouts for use with a single block. When placing a block, quickly switch layouts to suit your physical and performance needs.
Schematic Capture Improvements
Improved Variant Management
Variant management is taken to the next level with this release. Time spent creating and editing variants is greatly reduced. Now you can design with large numbers of variants with streamlined ease and efficiency.
Schematic Capture Improvements
Mark Multiple Components as Fitted/Not Fitted
With this release it becomes even easier to work with multi-variant design projects. Now you can select multiple components for the active variant and mark them as Fitted/Not Fitted in a single action.
PCB Improvements
Custom Pad Shapes
Modern components often contain pads that are complex in shape. This release of Altium Designer gives you the ability to create custom pad shapes quickly and easily, with management similar to that of standard pads.
Data Management Improvements
Design Reuse Functionality
Take the enhanced functionality of Reuse Blocks for a spin in this release, with the ability to place a block (or schematic snippet) as a sheet symbol. Your proven circuitry is placed on an auto-generated child sheet.
SPICE Simulation Improvements
Auto-assign Simulation Models for Components without Models
This latest version of Altium Designer makes schematic simulation even easier. System intelligence automatically recognizes SPICE models and assigns them to components from available sources.
Output Improvements
Control of Paste Mask Output for Variants
Output data needs to be as accurate as possible. For multi-variant designs you can now ensure that the paste mask is only displayed where it is really needed.
PCB Improvments
Ability to Change Tuning Object Layer Properties
Design of high-speed PCBs becomes easier with this latest release. Now, when you need to quickly move tuning elements to a different layer, you can do so from the Properties panel with a single click.
PCB Improvements
Quick Browsing of Parameters for a Board
Parametric information for your board is now conveniently available from the Properties panel. A single, convenient location with which to browse system, calculated and user-defined parameters, and place as needed in the form of special strings.
Schematic Capture Improvements
Active Links in Text
You can now specify active links to components and nets within a text frame object on a schematic. This handy navigation aid makes it much easier not only to read the document, but also to work with it.
Schematic Capture Improvements
Multifunctional pins
You will often see that modern ICs consist of multi-functional pins. In this latest version of Altium Designer it has become far easier and much more convenient to work with such components.
Schematic Capture Improvements
Custom Diff Pair Suffixes
Even more possibilities for creating differential pairs. Now you can use any postfixes to designate positive and negative net of a differential pair.
PCB Improvements
PCB Health Check Monitor
The condition of the PCB is under your control. A new intelligent feature that gives you confidence that your PCB is okay and complies with design rules.
Schematic Capture Improvements
Display of Alternate Component Parameters
Many schematic solutions are created as multivariant. With the new release, the schematic of multivariant project have become even more detailed and informative.
MultiBoard Improvements
Components from Altium 365
Working with multiboards has become easier and more convenient. Now you have more component sources at your disposal.
Data Мanagement Improvements
New Design Reuse Functionality
A reuse bloks help reduce development time and avoid errors. The new Design Reuse Panel and new functionality expands the possibilities for reuse blocks and snippets.
High-Speed Design Improvements
Relative Length Tuning
Designing high-speed PCB just got easier. The Length Tuning tools is now even more functionality. Complex tasks can now be solved even faster.
PCB Design Improvements
Enhanced UI for Via Stack Editing
The via editing mode is now even more convenient. Information about the via, editing its parameters and connections to polygons are now all in a new and simple, but familiar form.
Data Мanagement Improvements
Generic Components
The way from idea to real devices has become shorter. The new feature will reduce the time it takes to design a schematic.