Brianna Grimm, AIA

Let’s talk about Troubleshooting

Revit – Slow Opening Times
edition!
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

If you or someone on your team

reports a Revit model being slow
to open (5+ minutes)…

Here are 4 questions to ask & why:

 Brianna Grimm, AIA

ONE

Is it a workshared Revit model? If

so, are you accessing it via a VPN?

VPN = Virtual Private Network

Source: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Revit-options-for-Remote-Access.html
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

VPNs are not supported for Revit

worksharing and can cause data
corruption & long sync times when
syncing with the central model

Note: Try BIM Collaborate Pro instead

Source: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Revit-options-for-Remote-Access.html
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

TWO

Are you using worksets? Try

opening the Revit model with
Specify…

Source: https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-5C30D8BF-D1D0-4E3B-BE3E-C55E098846F8
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

Worksets can be used to improve

performance by separating the
Revit model into manageable parts
that can be turned off upon open

Note: Try placing linked models are their own workset

Source: https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-C4E941F0-C469-4D7F-B441-849606D9A52D
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

Tip: When opening a Revit model,

drop down the carrot and see
which model name is listed when it
slows down

Note: This lets you know if the host or a link is the problem
Source: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/BIM-360-files-slow-to-open-in-Revit.html
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

THREE

Where do your linked Revit models

live? External Resources or Desktop
Connector?

or or

Source: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Difference-between-linking-options-for-Revit-models-from-BIM-360.html
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

Revit models should be linked

through External Resources,
everything else can be linked
through Desktop Connector

Source: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Difference-between-linking-options-for-Revit-models-from-BIM-360.html
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

FOUR

Are you using Revit add-ins? Have

they been updated recently?

Note: Make sure both Revit and the add-ins are up-to-date
Source: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Checking-if-add-ins-are-causing-unexpected-behavior-in-Revit.html
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

Try disabling Revit add-ins, and if

the model opens quickly then re-
enable them one-by-one to find
the problem

Note: Autodesk cannot troubleshoot issues with 3rd party add-ins

Source: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Checking-if-add-ins-are-causing-unexpected-behavior-in-Revit.html
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

*BONUS*

If your Revit model is saved on the

Cloud and you are the only one
with slow open times, the cache
may need to be cleared

Cache = A method of storing data so that future requests for that

data (i.e. opening) can be retrieved faster
Source: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Clear-a-corrupt-damaged-C4R-model-from-the-system.html
 Brianna Grimm, AIA

And that is a bit about

Troubleshooting Revit models
with Slow Opening times
 Brianna Grimm, AIA
#worksmarter

Got Questions?

Feel free to leave them in the

comments or message me directly.
I love helping people!