Issue:
After installing Revit 2015–2020, the project / family templates and family content libraries are missing, and the following warning message may display when starting Revit:Mesh Opening. Login or Join to download. This is a window family with a parametric mesh inside. Product Version: Revit Architecture 2018 6 downloads. Card Reader for Access Control. Login or Join to download. Fully parametric Card Reader based On HID model.
'The path you have specified for the default family template files is invalid.
To change the default file path, from the Application menu select Options, and then the File Locations tab.'
To change the default file path, from the Application menu select Options, and then the File Locations tab.'
Additionally, when attempting to load a family into a project, there is no content to load.
Causes:
The installation process failed to download the Revit family content library.
Solution:
Autodesk Revit Family Library
To workaround this issue, follow the steps in the video below or use the written instructions:
For Revit 2016–2019 versions, download and extract the content separately using the following links:
- *If the version need is not listed above, see alternative instructions further below.
Note: The downloaded content will automatically extract to the default content locations (shown further below), if extracted path needs to be changed, there is an option to change that.
After downloading and installing the Content Library, set the correct paths to the content within Revit.
- If family content (or project templates) still doesn't exist in Revit, go through the steps in the video below, or follow the written instructions below the video:
Follow these steps to set the correct paths to the content within Revit:
- Open Revit.
- Go to the Revit Options -> File Locations.
- Click the Green + sign, and enter the desired default project template. Project templates are located by default in the following folder:
C:ProgramDataAutodeskRVT ####TemplatesUS Imperial
Note: The Architectural template file is named Default.rte
- Set the defaultpath for family template files to the following:
C:ProgramDataAutodeskRVT ####Family TemplatesEnglish_I - Click the Places button.
- Set the Library Path for the Imperial Library (or just Library) to the following:
C:ProgramDataAutodeskRVT ####LibrariesUS Imperial - Set the Library Path for the Imperial Detail Library (or just Detail Library) to the following:
C:ProgramDataAutodeskRVT ####LibrariesUS ImperialDetail Items - Click OK, then click OK again.
Note: In the paths listed, replace #### with the product version, and replace RVT with the specific product (e.g. RLT for Revit LT, RAC for Revit Architecture, etc.), and replace US Imperial / English_I with the specific language.
*Alternative instructions for installing the content library (this is for situations where download using the links above is not working):
- From the Control Panel, select Uninstall a program (if in the Category view) or Programs and Features (if in the Icon view).
- Select the Autodesk Revit Content Libraries #### for the specific version.
- Note: Substitute #### with the product version.
- Choose Uninstall/Change.
- When prompted, click Uninstall and follow the prompts to finish uninstalling the Content Library.
- Run the original Revit installer (USB Media or download).
- Note: Re-download it again if the installer doesn't exist, avoid using the Install Now option in Autodesk Account. Switch to Download Now and download the installer instead. If the Download Now option does not display, switch to the Multi-language version in the drop down menu.
- If it is not already checked, check the box next to Content Library.
- Note: The installer will find that Revit is already installed and the option to install Revit will be unchecked. However, since the Content Library is not loaded this option should be checked by default, but in some cases it may not be.
- Click the drop down menu near the checkbox to control which content will be installed.
- Note: If the content is blank here as well, this indicates there is a problem with the installer, Try downloading it again (avoiding the Install Now option) and try again.
- Verify that the desired content is listed and checked, collapse the content installer options, and click Next.
- Wait for the content to download.
- Note: Depending on Internet speed, this may take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. If the content is not being downloaded, security/antivirus software may be preventing the download. If this is the case, temporarily deactivate applications or security settings ( antivirus, firewall, proxy server settings, etc.) which might block the download.
Note: If the normal uninstall option fails (above):
- Use the Autodesk Uninstall Tool to remove the libraries.
- If the uninstall tool is not able to remove the content library, try using the Windows Uninstall Tool
- If the content library is removed (no longer shows up in Programs and Features Control Panel after a refresh), continue with reinstalling the Revit content (by running the Revit installation again).