Revit is really slow when working remote and NOT connected to the server

[marcus]

I frequently work from home and my VPN is erratic so I copy files to my local hard drive and work from there.  However, Revit seems to spend a lot of time looking for things on the server (even when I'm using no server assets) and waits for windows 11 to time out before it moves on (generally around a minute or so each time).  Is there anyway to tell revit to ignore the missing server and move on?  I've seen some solutions that involve "unmapping" the server drive and then remapping it later.  That's not really a viable solution.  This seemed to show up around version 2022 or 2023. This is costing me between 1/2 hr and an hour every day not to mention the irritation factor.

I hope there's some wizard out there that knows how I can fix this.  Thanks in advance.

[hmunsell]

As long as the drive letter is there Revit will keep trying to use it. I do this in my office to test things, copy local and detach drive. Then to get it back, reboot or rerun the logging script. 

Since your copying it locally (or even moving it), the file your working in thinks its a Local of the file you copied/moved it from.  It is always going to look for its home file.  Depending on your working environment, after you copy/move it to your local PC, Detach from Central. I usually prefer to do that on open... pick the Detach from Central check box at the bottom of the open window.

Even detached though, if there are any links on the server it may still try to interact with them.

[marcus]

Thanks for your response. I forgot to mention that these are NOT shared files so there are no central/local models. I typically just copy the file to my HD, work on it, and put it back. I'm thinking that maybe it's looking for "recent" files (some of which may have been on the server) and can't find them and waits for windows to time out and return an error. Maybe there's a way to change how long it takes windows to generate the error, I don't know how you would do that tho'.

[RSomppi]

You could try using relative pathing for the links and keep a copy of them locally. Revit may find them with a partial path that doesn't require going back to the drive letter. I've done that in the past for another program but the vast majority of my projects have been central models since I started using Revit and I haven't tried it out.

[ToanDN]

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@marcus wrote:
Thanks for your response. I forgot to mention that these are NOT shared files so there are no central/local models. I typically just copy the file to my HD, work on it, and put it back. I'm thinking that maybe it's looking for "recent" files (some of which may have been on the server) and can't find them and waits for windows to time out and return an error. Maybe there's a way to change how long it takes windows to generate the error, I don't know how you would do that tho'.

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Move all links to the same folder as the main file, or in a subfolder of the main file's folder, then change Path type to Relative.  When you copy the files from the server to your drive, keep the same folder structure then Relative Paths will work seamlessly.

[TripleM-Dev.net]

Hi @marcus,

Is this the delay on revit startup or when you work in the model?

The startup delay (timeout) does come (i think) from the Recent list, it searches for the recent files to show info about it. Could help to remove the recent list in the Revit.Ini (never tried it because it's just a 30sec-1min on startup only)

- Michel

[marcus]

Sadly, it's not just at startup, that I could live with. It happens any time Revit tries to access anything to do with any files. For example, if you're working in a project and click on the File tab to start a new family for instance, there will be a long delay before you even get the dropdown menu.

FYI when I'm hooked up to the network via cable and have access to the server none of these delays happen. Everything is nice and fast. There is some delay when I'm using the VPN but that's to be expected. I'd stay with the VPN, but it drops out from time to time which according to my IT guy may be my ISP.

[marcus]

The file that I'm working on right now has no external links so I don't know that using relative pathing would apply here.

Thanks.

[marcus]

The file that I'm working on today doesn't have any links, so I don't think relative pathing would apply.

Thanks

[RSomppi]

You probably have multiple tweaks in settings to get to something acceptable. Try setting up the links so you can use relative pathing to see if that helps. The file menu delay could be related to recent files and it can be fixed. 

Sorry, disregard strike through due to new relevant information being posted.

[RSomppi]

First make sure Revit is fully updated and temp folders emptied.

[hmunsell]

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@marcus wrote:
...For example, if you're working in a project and click on the File tab to start a new family for instance, there will be a long delay before you even get the dropdown menu.

FYI when I'm hooked up to the network via cable and have access to the server none of these delays happen. Everything is nice and fast. 

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try remapping your default file locations to point to the default folders on your C drive. I'm using 2025, but they should be similar to this...

Project Templates:

• C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT 2025\Templates\English-Imperial\Default-Multi-discipline.rte
• C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT 2025\Templates\English\Default-Multi-Discipline_Metric.rte

System Analysis:

• C:\Program Files\NREL\OpenStudio CLI For Revit 2025\workflows\Annual Building Energy Simulation.osw
• C:\Program Files\NREL\OpenStudio CLI For Revit 2025\workflows\HVAC Systems Loads and Sizing.osw

[Simon_Weel]

What if you download the Revit file and then kill the VPN connection?

[TripleM-Dev.net]

See this, could still be viable in other revit versions:

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/File-button-is-slo... 

[marcus]

When the VPN goes away, the server goes away and that's when this situation starts. It's pinging the server for some reason and then waits for Windows to time out. (as near as I can figure)

[marcus]

This is a fairly new installation of Revit 25 and I never change the mapping of the default folders. All of that stuff is on my C drive.