Revit cannot open or import an NWD. The route is: convert the .nwd to IFC4 (here, free), then in Revit use Insert → Link IFC (or Open IFC). It comes in as a coordination reference, not editable Revit families.
You have an .nwd and you work in Revit. There's no direct import — but IFC is the bridge Revit already speaks.
How to get an NWD into Revit
- Convert the NWD to IFC above — one file, free, nothing to install.
- In Revit, Insert → Link IFC and pick the converted
.ifc(or Open → IFC for its own model). - Revit builds it into a coordination model you can reference, snap to, tag and clash against.
Convert your NWD to IFC for Revit
Free, no Navisworks, no install — then link the IFC into Revit.
OPEN THE CONVERTER ▸What you get — and what you don't
The linked IFC arrives as a coordination/reference model: geometry and properties, faithfully placed. It is not re-authored native Revit geometry — walls don't become editable Revit walls, because an NWD never held that intent. That's the right shape for coordinating against a model someone sent you, not for editing it. Output detail: convert NWD to IFC.
Why not just open the NWD?
Revit has no NWD importer, and Navisworks has no IFC export (why) — so converting the NWD directly is the only path that doesn't need a Navisworks seat.
FAQ
Can Revit open an NWD file directly?
No. Revit has no Navisworks NWD importer. Convert the NWD to IFC first, then link or open the IFC in Revit.
How do I link the IFC in Revit?
Insert → Link IFC for a reference, or Open → IFC as its own model. Revit reads IFC natively — no add-in needed.
Will the elements be editable Revit families?
No — they arrive as a coordination reference (IfcBuildingElementProxy), which suits clash and coordination, not re-authoring. An NWD never carried native Revit authoring data.
Do I need Navisworks for this?
No. The conversion runs in the browser with no Autodesk software; Revit's IFC link is built in.