New in Altium Designer

This page details the improvements included in the initial release of Altium Designer 25, as well as those added in subsequent updates. Along with delivering a range of improvements that develop and mature the existing technologies, each update also incorporates a large number of fixes and enhancements across the software based on feedback raised by customers through the AltiumLive Community's BugCrunch system, helping you continue to create cutting-edge electronics technology.

When using a Standalone or Private Server license, you may need to reactivate/refresh that license to be able to access and use new features and functionality.

Alternatively, a license file (ALF) can be activated by a Group Administrator or License Administrator through the Company Dashboard. Switch out your current license for this newly-activated one.

It is advised to restart Altium Designer after reactivating/refreshing any licensing.

You can choose to continue with your current version, update your current version, or install Altium Designer 25 alongside your current version to access the latest features. Your current version can be updated from within the software in the Extensions and Updates view. If you prefer to install Altium Designer 25 alongside your current version, visit the Altium Downloads page to download the installer, then choose New installation on the Installation Mode page of the installer.

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Altium Designer 25.3

Released: 17 February 2025 – Version 25.3.3 (build 18) HotFix

Release Notes for Altium Designer 

PCB Design Improvements

Support for QR and Data Matrix Codes (Open Beta)

QR and Data Matrix codes can now be generated and placed in a PCB design. To do this, select BarCode in the Font Type region of the Properties panel when a text object is selected, then choose QR Code or Data Matrix in the Type region.

Javascript ID: PCB_QRCode_DataMatrix_AD25

An example of a QR code

An example of a Data Matrix code

Enter the overall width of the code in the Full Width field (available when By Full Width is selected as the Size Mode), the size of the margin on the left and right edges in the Horizontal Margin field, and the size of the margin on the top and bottom edges in the Vertical Margin field. When By Pixel Width is selected as the Size Mode, you can also enter the pixel size in the Pixel Width field (this option helps ensure the image can be reproduced). Configure the text in the design space by using the Font Name drop-down and the Show Text option (enable or disable). When the Inverted option is enabled, the code is inverted, and a border is added on all four sides. Special strings are also supported.

Note that a standard barcode is now a Linear subtype of the BarCode font type.

This feature is in Open Beta and available when the PCB.QRCodes option is enabled in the Advanced Settings dialog.

For more information, refer to the Including Barcode & Logos page.

Support for Mid-layer Components in ODB++ v8.1 Outputs

Export of board data to ODB++ v8.1 format now includes components that have been placed on a mid layer. This is provided by adding the placement layer attribute to component layer data in exported ODB++ files.

Javascript ID: ODB_InternalLayerComponents_AD25_3

Some components are placed on a mid layer of a PCB.

When this PCB is exported to the ODB++ v8.1 format, these components are presented in the exported data, with the corresponding placement layer attribute.

For more information, refer to the Preparing Fabrication Data page.

PCB CoDesign Improvements

Ability to Select Multiple Entries in PCB CoDesign Panel

To review changes more efficiently when using the PCB CoDesign functionality, it is now possible to select not only individual modification and conflict entries within the PCB CoDesign panel but also multiple entries within the same or different categories. Use Shift+Click and/or Ctrl+Click techniques to select entries and highlight them in the PCB editor design space.

Javascript ID: PCBCoDesign_MultipleEntriesSelection_AD25_3

All modification entries in the Components category and some modification entries in the Copper category have been selected.

A conflict entry in the Polygon Pours category and all conflict entries in the Copper category have been selected.

For more information, refer to the PCB CoDesign page.

Constraint Manager Improvement

Highlighting Invalid Width Constraints

Width constraints of nets and net classes are now validated in the top grid of the Constraint Manager's Physical view and are highlighted using red text if values are found to be invalid (for example, if the constraint's Min Width is greater than the Preferred Width).

For more information, refer to the Defining Design Requirements Using the Constraint Manager page.

Harness Design Improvements

Ability to Select Default Sheet Size for Wiring Diagrams and Layout Drawings

In this release, a new General page has been added to the Harness Design category of the Preferences dialog. As part of the settings provided by this page, you can specify the Default Blank Sheet Size that will be applied to a newly created wiring diagram or layout drawing document. If required, the sheet size can then be changed at the local document level using the Page Options settings of the Properties panel when no object is selected in the document.

For more information, refer to the Harness Design Preferences page.

Standardize Units in Harness Documents

Desired units for use with element lengths can be specified in the wiring diagram (*.WirDoc) and layout drawing (*.LdrDoc). Supported units (mm, cm, m, in, ft) can be specified at both the preferences and document level.

Javascript ID: Harness_LengthUnits_AD25_3

Use the new Harness Design – General page of the Preferences dialog to specify the default Length Units of newly created wiring diagram and layout drawing documents.

Use the Properties panel when no object is selected in a wiring diagram document to specify the Length Units for this document. Strip Length and Pull Off Length values of socket cavities will be displayed using the selected units.

Use the Properties panel when no object is selected in a layout drawing document to specify the Length Units for this document. Bundle Length and bundle object Length Value and Offset Length values will be displayed using the selected units.

The list of units for use in a harness manufacturing drawing (*.HarDwf) have also been standardized. Supported units are the same as above (with the addition of mils). In addition, Length Units can be specified for a BOM table, wiring list, and connection table (overriding units specified at the document level).

Javascript ID: Harness_MD_LengthUnits_AD25_3

Use the Properties panel when no object is selected in a manufacturing drawing document to specify the default units for this document.

Use the Properties panel when a BOM table is selected to specify the Length Units used for length values in this table, as well as their Value Precision.

Use the Properties panel when a wiring list is selected to specify the Length Units used for length values in this table, as well as their Value Precision.

Use the Properties panel when a connection table is selected to specify the Length Units used for length values in this table, as well as their Value Precision.

For more information, refer to the Harness Design page.

Display 'No Connect' Objects in Connection Table

In a connection table within a harness manufacturing document (*.HarDwf), it is now possible to display only 'no connect' objects. To do this, choose the No Connect option from the Display drop-down in the Properties region of the Properties panel when a connection table is selected.

For more information, refer to the Creating a Manufacturing Drawing page.

Data Management Improvements

Checking Component Child Item Revision States

When changing the lifecycle state of a component, the software now checks that its child item revisions (template and referenced models) are in an applicable state to do so. Otherwise, the state transition status will indicate that a child item revision is in an inapplicable state, and a warning dialog will ask you for a confirmation when you try to proceed with the transition.

In this example, a component's symbol revision is in an inapplicable lifecycle state (Obsolete), and this is flagged when trying to change the component's lifecycle state and when validating the transition.
In this example, a component's symbol revision is in an inapplicable lifecycle state (Obsolete), and this is flagged when trying to change the component's lifecycle state and when validating the transition.

For more information, refer to the Managing Item Revision Lifecycle page.

Ability to Rank Part Choices in Batch Component Editing

With the Component editor in Batch Component Editing mode, you now have the ability to quickly set ranking for part choices automatically for components being defined/edited.

  • Select one or more component definition entries, then right-click the selection and choose the Set Part Choice Ranks Automatically command from the right-click menu to set ranking for part choices of selected components.

  • Select the Tools » Set Part Choice Ranks Automatically command from the main menus to set ranking for part choices of all components.

Part choices are sorted in the component definitions grid and the preview region of the editor according to the ranks set. Any part choices already ranked keep their existing order.

For more information, refer to the Batch Component Editing page.

Disabled Commit and Release Actions for Enterprise Server Workspace SVN Projects

As part of preparation for ending SVN support in the Altium On-Prem Enterprise Server, it is no longer possible to commit and release projects that use SVN for version control in a connected Enterprise Server Workspace. You will instead now be presented with a dialog asking you to migrate your project from an SVN repository to the Enterprise Server's built-in Git repository.

Also, a dialog that warns you that SVN is no longer supported appears when opening a project that uses SVN in a connected Enterprise Server Workspace ().

For more information, refer to the Making an Existing Project Available in the Workspace page.

Features Made Fully Public in Altium Designer 25.3

The following features are now officially Public with this release:

Altium Designer 25.2

Released: 14 January 2025 – Version 25.2.1 (build 25)

Release Notes for Altium Designer

Altium Designer 25.1

Released: 12 December 2024 – Version 25.1.2 (build 22)

Release Notes for Altium Designer

Altium Designer 25.0

Released: 12 November 2024 – Version 25.0.2 (build 28)

Release Notes for Altium Designer

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Note

The features available depend on your Altium product access level. Compare features included in the various levels of Altium Designer Software Subscription and functionality delivered through applications provided by the Altium 365 platform.

If you don’t see a discussed feature in your software, contact Altium Sales to find out more.

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