The easiest free Revit viewer is Autodesk Viewer. It opens an RVT file in your web browser on a PC, a Mac, an iPad or a phone, and you do not need Revit. This guide shows how to upload a file, use the tools, share a link, and what the viewer cannot do. The steps are checked against Autodesk Viewer’s help.
Quick answer
To open an RVT file online, go to viewer.autodesk.com and sign in with a free Autodesk account. Click Upload new file, drop in the RVT file (made in Revit 2015 or later), click No more files, and wait for the email that says your design view is ready. Then open it from Design Views.
It is a viewer, not an editor. You can orbit, measure, cut sections and share a link, but you cannot change the model.
What Is a Revit Viewer?
A Revit viewer lets you open and look at a Revit model without owning Revit. You can browse views, orbit the 3D model and read element data, but you cannot edit the model. Some viewers also measure, cut sections and add comments.
Autodesk’s free choice for people without Revit is Autodesk Viewer, which runs in the browser. It is also the answer to “Autodesk Revit viewer” and “RVT viewer Autodesk”. It is not the only option, so here are the free ways to view an RVT file and when each one fits.
| Option | Needs Revit installed? | Opens an RVT file? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autodesk Viewer | No | Yes, from Revit 2015 or later | Anyone with an RVT file. Works in a phone or tablet browser. |
| Shared Views | The sender does, the reader does not | The sender publishes views from Revit | Sending a few views to a client. The link expires after 30 days by default. |
| Revit Viewer mode | Yes | Yes | Reviewing a model when Revit has no active licence. You cannot save. |
| Navisworks Freedom | No | No, it opens NWD and DWF files | Teams that already use Navisworks and can export an NWD. |
| Third-party BIM viewers (Revizto, usBIM and others) | No | Yes, check each tool | Teams that need issue tracking. Check each tool’s limits and how it stores your file. |
Which Revit Viewer Should You Use?
- You have an RVT file and no Revit: use Autodesk Viewer.
- You work in Revit and want to send a client a few views: use Shared Views, or upload the file to Autodesk Viewer and share the link.
- Revit is installed but the licence ran out: Viewer mode lets you review the model, but not save it.
- Your team coordinates models in Navisworks: Navisworks Freedom, with an NWD file.
- You need issue tracking and team markups: a third-party BIM viewer may fit better than the free browser tool.
The rest of this guide is about Autodesk Viewer, because it is free, needs no install and works in the browser on a PC, a Mac, a tablet or a phone.
How to Open an RVT File Online With Autodesk Viewer
Use this web-based Autodesk Viewer to open RVT project files without installing any software. It also opens many other 2D and 3D formats, such as DWG, DWF and STEP.
Upload an RVT File to Autodesk Viewer
Open viewer.autodesk.com and sign in. You need an Autodesk account to upload files, and a free account is enough.
- Go to the “Owned by me” tab > click Upload new file.
- Drag the RVT file to the left side, or click Select file to browse your local files.
- Click No more files.
- Wait for processing. You can close the page. Autodesk sends you an email when the design view is ready, and the time depends on the file size.
On the right side of the “Upload File” area, you can upload a single model file by clicking Select File, or a folder containing multiple files by selecting Upload Folder.
Upload a Project That Uses More Than One File
Several files can become one central model that you view in Autodesk Viewer. Select the group of files, drag them, and drop them together on the “Does Project_File.format use more than one file?” screen.
✨ Tip: Files take longer to upload and navigate if they are too large. For better performance, use several small files under one Autodesk Viewer project.
Autodesk Viewer Tools: Browse, Measure, Section and Explode
Once the model opens, two sets of tools do most of the work: the toolbar at the top, and the navigation tools at the bottom.
Toolbar Tools
From left to right:
- Views to browse imported views.
- Model Browser to navigate into model elements.
- Properties are read-only data of elements.
- Settings to change the appearance and environment image.
- Comments share text attached to a screenshot.
- Print to export a PDF or simply to print.
- Screenshot for a downloadable image of the screen.
- Share creates a link. By default it expires after 30 days.
Navigation Tools
- Home returns to the assigned home view.
- Fit view.
- Orbit view.
- Pan view.
- Zoom view.
- First Person for the walkthrough mode.
- Measure for dimensions, angles and calibration.
- Section to cut an X, Y, Z or box type section.
- Explode moves all elements proportionally outwards.
- Markup to create sticky notes (viewable by everyone with the link).
Keyboard Shortcuts
The navigation keys appear after you click the First Person tool. Here is a snapshot of the shortcut keys in case that window disappears without warning.
A Simple Way to Review a Model With a Client
These tools work well together for a design review. Here is a good order:
- Upload the RVT file and open it. Use Home and Fit to start from a clean view.
- Use Orbit and First Person to walk through the main spaces.
- Use Section to cut the model open where the client wants to see inside.
- Use Measure to check a dimension that someone questions.
- Leave questions with Markup and Comments. Remember that everyone with the link can see them.
- Click Share, send the link, and note the date it expires.
Revit Viewer on iPad, iPhone and Android
Autodesk Viewer runs in the mobile browser, so there is no app to install. Use it to look at a model on site or to show a client a project on a tablet.
View a Model You Already Uploaded
- Open viewer.autodesk.com in the browser and sign in to Autodesk.
- Open the Design Views menu > tap Owned by me.
- Tap the uploaded RVT file to view the model.
Upload an RVT File From an iPad or Phone
- Open the Design Views menu > select Owned by me.
- Tap Upload.
- Tap File > find the RVT file in your local files and open it.
- Tap No more files.
Large models can be slow on a phone. For a big project, upload from a computer and use the phone only to view it.
How to Share a Revit Model With Autodesk Viewer
There are two ways: share a link from Autodesk Viewer, or publish views straight from Revit. In both cases your recipients do not need Revit.
Share a Link
Click Share in the toolbar to get a link. Anyone with the link can open the design, so share it only with people who should see the model. By default the link expires after 30 days.
The link opens the model in Autodesk Viewer. It does not hand the recipient your original RVT file. They can use the viewer’s online tools, such as orbit, measure and section.
To share a model offline, see how to create and share 3D PDFs and animations.
Share Multiple Views From Revit
This route starts inside Revit, so you need Revit to publish. Your readers open the result in Autodesk Viewer, and they do not need Revit.
- Go to the Collaborate tab > Manage Models panel.
- Click Publishing Settings.
- Select the views that you want to share online.
- Click Save & Close.
- Go to the File tab > click Save.
- In the Shared Views window, click New Shared View.
- Name the new shared view > click Share.
A shared view expires by default after 30 days. The Shared Views window has options to extend the date or delete the view before then.
What Autodesk Viewer Cannot Do
- It cannot edit the model. Properties are read-only. To change the design, you need Revit.
- It needs an Autodesk account to upload. Creating the account is free.
- It opens RVT files from Revit 2015 or later. That is the range on Autodesk’s supported file types page.
- Large models are slow. They take longer to upload and navigate. Split a big project into smaller files.
- Share links expire. By default after 30 days, so renew a link before a long review.
- Your file goes to Autodesk’s cloud. Uploading sends the model to Autodesk to be processed. Check your company or client rules before you upload a confidential project.
Revit Viewer Mode: When Revit Has No Licence
Revit has a view-only state of its own, called Viewer mode. It starts when Revit is installed but has an expired licence or none assigned. You can open a model and look through it, but you cannot save it, export a changed project or print after making changes.
It is useful if your subscription lapsed and you still need to check a model. If you do not have Revit installed at all, use Autodesk Viewer instead.
Autodesk Viewer Not Working? What to Check
- The file does not open. Check the Revit version. Autodesk lists RVT files from Revit 2015 or later. Also wait for the email, because processing can take a while for a large file.
- The upload fails or is very slow. Try a smaller file, or split the project into several files, as in the tip above.
- The file may be damaged. Try to open it in Revit first. If Revit also fails, see how to recover Revit files.
- There is no Upload button. Sign in first. You need an Autodesk account to upload.
- A shared link stopped working. It probably expired. Create a new share, or extend the shared view in Revit.
Revit Viewer FAQs
Can I open an RVT file without Revit?
Yes. Upload the RVT file to Autodesk Viewer at viewer.autodesk.com. It opens in your browser, and you do not need to install Revit.
Is there a free online Revit viewer?
Yes. Autodesk Viewer is a free online viewer from Autodesk. Sign in with a free Autodesk account, upload the file, and open it from Design Views.
Do I need an Autodesk account for Autodesk Viewer?
To upload your own file, yes. Autodesk’s help says you need an Autodesk account to start using the viewer. Creating the account is free.
Which Revit versions does Autodesk Viewer open?
RVT files from Revit 2015 or later, according to Autodesk’s supported file types page.
Can I view a Revit model on an iPad or a phone?
Yes. Open viewer.autodesk.com in the browser of your iPad, iPhone or Android device, sign in, and open the file from Design Views. You can also upload a file from the device.
Can I edit a Revit file in Autodesk Viewer?
No. It is a viewer. You can browse, orbit, measure, cut sections, explode the model and add markups, but the model and its properties are read-only.
How long does a shared Revit view link last?
By default a shared view expires after 30 days. In Revit’s Shared Views window you can extend the date or delete the shared view.
Can I view an RVT file on a Mac?
Yes. Autodesk Viewer runs in a web browser, so it works on a Mac in the same way as on a PC. Revit itself only runs on Windows, and the viewer does not need it.
What is Revit Viewer mode?
Viewer mode is the view-only state Revit uses when it has an expired or unassigned licence. You can open and review a model, but you cannot save it or print changes. It is not the same as Autodesk Viewer, which runs in a browser.
Mohamed Fakhry has helped thousands of architects and designers find their next project with step-by-step guidance on his blog, mashyo.com. About Mohamed
His journey began during his university years when he recognized the need for information-rich 3D models to accelerate learning and improve production processes. Now, Mohamed shares his expertise through Revit tutorials that are accessible to all.
