How-to
How to check which Revit version a file was saved in
Before you open, link or send a Revit file, it pays to know which release saved it. Four ways to find out, and what to do with the answer.
To check which Revit version a file was saved in, select it in Revit's Open dialog without opening it: the preview area shows the release that last saved it. There are three other ways too, including a free online check, and each suits a different moment.
Why check the version before you open a file?
Opening a file is not a neutral act in Revit. If the file is older than your release, Revit upgrades it, and once you save, people on the older release can no longer open it. If the file is newer than your release, it will not open at all.
Double-clicking makes this easy to get wrong. According to Autodesk, double-clicking a file starts the most recently installed release, which then offers to upgrade an older model. Checking first tells you which release to start, and whether the file needs converting before anyone can use it.
Which method should you use?
| Method | What you need | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Revit's Open dialog | Any installed release of Revit | The release that last saved the file |
| Upgrade or error message | Revit, and opening the file | The release it is upgrading from, or that it is newer than yours |
| RVT Convert version checker | A web browser | Release, build, worksharing status and the preview image, for one file or a whole folder |
| Revit API | Revit plus an add-in or script | The release, readable in bulk by code |
Method 1: Revit's Open dialog
- In Revit, choose Open.
- Browse to the file and click it once. Do not click Open.
- Read the release shown in the preview area of the dialog.
Autodesk's help describes exactly this: in the Open dialog, select a file to see the release that was last used to save it. It is the quickest check when Revit is already running, and nothing is upgraded because nothing is opened.
Method 2: the upgrade or error message
If you do open the file, Revit tells you one of two things:
- An older file shows the Model Upgrade message, naming the release it is upgrading from and to. You can still click Cancel Upgrade to leave the file untouched.
- A newer file shows an error saying it was saved in a later version of Revit and cannot be retrieved in this version.
It answers the question, but only after you have committed to opening the file. Use it as a fallback, not a first check.
Method 3: an online check
Drop the file into the free Revit version checker. It shows the release, the exact build, whether the file is a workshared central model, which releases can open it, and the preview image stored in the file. Drop a whole folder and it lists every Revit file in it, which you can download as a CSV. If a file is from a newer release, you can save it as Revit 2023 with the converter.
It works for projects, families, project templates and family templates, and even a model of several hundred megabytes is identified in a moment. It is handy when you are away from your workstation, or when a project manager needs to know which release to ask a consultant for.
Method 4: for developers, the Revit API
If you need to check many files, the Revit API provides a class called BasicFileInfo. Its Extract method reads a file's information without opening the model, and its Format property gives the release year. Autodesk's developer blog notes that it needs a running Revit session with an add-in or script loaded, so it suits batch audits of a server or archive rather than a quick one-off check.
What should you do with the answer?
| The file was saved in | What to do |
|---|---|
| Your release | Open it as normal. |
| An older release | Decide whether to upgrade. If others on that release still need it, work on a copy. |
| A newer release | Use the newer release, ask the sender for a copy in yours, or convert it to Revit 2023. Our guide to opening a newer Revit file in an older version compares the options. |
| Workshared central model | Open it with Detach from Central so you do not interfere with the team's central file. |
Frequently asked questions
Can I see a Revit file's version in Windows File Explorer?
Not reliably. Use Revit's Open dialog, or the online check described above.
What is the build number?
Alongside the release year, Revit records the build that saved the file, which identifies the exact update. If two people on the same release see different behaviour with one file, comparing builds is a good first step. Our Revit build numbers list shows which update each build belongs to.
Does checking the version change the file?
No. Selecting a file in the Open dialog, or checking it online, leaves it exactly as it was. Only opening and saving it in a newer release changes it.
Key takeaways
- Select a file in Revit's Open dialog to see which release saved it, without opening it.
- Double-clicking opens the newest installed release and offers an upgrade, so check first.
- Drop a file, or a whole folder, into the free RVT Convert version checker to see release, build and worksharing status.
- For bulk checks, developers can use the Revit API's BasicFileInfo.