Performance issues when navigating a model in Navisworks

Autodesk Support

Mar 6, 2025

Products and versions covered

Issue:

When navigating in a model in Navisworks the performance is slow and the navigation is not appropriate.

Causes:

Large models, hardware configurations, constraints, software not being on the latest update, and system settings can affect Navisworks performance.

Solution:

Following are some basic adjustments that can be implemented to optimize performance in Navisworks:

Check the system requirements

As a first step, make sure that the workstation meets the system requirements for Navisworks.

  • Most modeling computers operate with 4 GB of RAM.
  • However, the /3GB switch can be enabled to free resources and use more memory for various system processes.
  • Enabling the /3GB switch is not complex and information is widely available on its use and how it can be set.
  • Use computer with 64 GB RAM for large models (a few GB models)

Workstation health and configuration

Optimize workstation configuration for working with Navisworks. Make sure to:

  • Update the BIOS.
  • Make sure that the system uses the strongest available graphics hardware available in the computer for working with Navisworks.
  • Update all hardware drivers - especially but not only the graphics card driver.

Hardware Acceleration - Graphics Cards and Drivers

Try turning off Hardware Acceleration to see whether performance improves. Follow these steps: 

  1. Open Navisworks.
  2. Click Tools menu > Global Options > Interface > Display.
  3. Clear the Hardware Acceleration option.

Navisworks - Options Editor - Display

  1. Exit Navisworks.
  2. Restart Navisworks.
  • If performance improves, the issue is probably due to the graphics card drivers.
  • Graphics card drivers are often overlooked as an upgrade area.
  • Some card manufacturers update their drivers every few months, improving performance and maximizing the card's capabilities.
  • Sometimes, drivers may become corrupted, causing performance issues.
  • This can occur even on new computers or computers with newly installed drivers.

Check with the manufacturer for the graphics card to see if new drivers are available

  • If they are, install them and then turn Hardware Acceleration back on (click Tools menu > Global Options > Interface > Display).
  • If no new drivers are available, or newer drivers do not resolve the issue, leave Hardware Acceleration turned off.

Settings in Autodesk Navisworks

  • Explore the settings in Autodesk Navisworks > Application Menu > Options > Display.  Adjust the settings to test different display variables.

Navisworks - Options Editor - Effects

  • Eventually, Import the XML from a user where the performance for the same model works fine.

Network Environment

  • If files are accessed from a central server location, bandwidth may cause performance issues. 
  • This is not common.
  • However, if you experience slow performance, try copying the files from the server to the computer in use to see if this improves performance.

Check the size of the bounding box

  • To View Scene Statistics:

    1. Click the Home tab and slide out the Project panel.

    2. Click Scene Statistics.

    3. If the bounding box is very large, review the appended files in their authoring software to review for elements far from the origin.

Close NWC/NWD files on "load"

  • When "Close NWC/NWD files on load" is on (checked), the load time is expected to increase. Normally (i.e. without the option checked), NW doesn't load all of the NWD file to start with. It only loads what it needs, and then loads data from the file later on as required. But this means NW has a lock on the file so no other processes can access it.
  • When you check this option, NW must first load the entire file (and it might write out data to a temporary file as well). It is this extra loading that takes the time. But the advantage is that once loaded, NW can release its lock on the original file.

Navisworks - Options Editor - Performance

Products:

Navisworks Freedom; Navisworks Manage; Navisworks Simulate;

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