Revit version compatibility: which Revit opens which file
Revit opens files from its own version and older ones, never newer. A quick reference for Revit 2022 to 2027.
The rule
A Revit release opens files saved in that release or any earlier one, and upgrades them as it opens them. It never opens a file saved in a later release. The rule is the same for projects (.rvt), families (.rfa) and templates (.rte, .rft).
Quick reference
| Revit version | Opens files from | Cannot open files from |
|---|---|---|
| Revit 2027 | Revit 2027 and earlier | — |
| Revit 2026 | Revit 2026 and earlier | Revit 2027 |
| Revit 2025 | Revit 2025 and earlier | Revit 2026 and 2027 |
| Revit 2024 | Revit 2024 and earlier | Revit 2025 to 2027 |
| Revit 2023 | Revit 2023 and earlier | Revit 2024 to 2027 |
| Revit 2022 | Revit 2022 and earlier | Revit 2023 to 2027 |
Families and links follow the same rule
A project open in Revit 2024 cannot load a family or link a Revit model saved in Revit 2025 or later. Families and links have to be in the project's version or older.
How do I open a newer file in an older Revit?
To open a newer file in an older Revit, the file has to be converted first. Revit Downgrade converts files from Revit 2023 to 2027 down to any older version from Revit 2022.
Upgrading takes time
Opening an older file in a newer Revit can take minutes for a large model, because every element is upgraded. Save the upgraded file so this happens only once.