Several factors related to your computer or network can affect family downloads in the Blocks plugin. Here are some checks that may help fix the issue.
1. Click instead of drag
Click a family once with the left mouse button in the plugin to start the download. The family will then appear on your cursor, ready to be inserted into the project with another click.
Dragging the item into the project by clicking, holding, and releasing does not start the download. Try simply clicking the family instead.
2. Windows user permissions
Windows account permissions may be blocking Revit and the Blocks plugin from working properly.
Try running Revit as an administrator. This gives it the access it needs to connect to the internet and download items from the Blocks plugin.
If that doesn’t work, check your Windows account permissions or contact your company’s IT administrator.
3. Network settings and internet connection
The Blocks plugin needs an internet connection to work properly. Make sure your computer is connected to a stable network.
We recommend using stable Wi-Fi or a reliable wired connection. Check the following:
If you're using a wired connection, make sure the network cable is properly connected.
Make sure the router is plugged in.
Check that the router’s indicator lights are on and working normally.
If you still can’t download families, unplug the router, wait a few minutes, and plug it back in. Then restart your computer, reconnect to the internet, and try again.
4. Plugin update
The Blocks plugin updates automatically by default. If that update fails, you’ll need to update it manually.
Check the latest version on the Blocks plugin App Store page and compare it with the version installed on your computer in the Plugin Version article.
If your version is out of date, close Revit completely, download the latest installer from the App Store, and run the installation. The new version will automatically replace the old one.
Note: If your version is 1.0.3 or earlier, we recommend uninstalling it before installing the new version.
5. Revit update
Autodesk regularly releases updates, or builds, for each version of Revit, including important fixes and improvements.
Because the Blocks plugin runs inside Revit, keeping both up to date is essential for proper performance. You can check your Revit build using the reference image below:
Then check Autodesk’s official website for the latest build available for your version of Revit.
6. Firewall
Your firewall may be blocking Revit or the Blocks plugin from connecting to the internet, which can prevent families from downloading.
Check the firewall’s inbound and outbound rules for anything related to Autodesk, Revit, or the Blocks plugin. If you find any blocked connections, remove them and restart your computer.
Be careful when changing firewall settings, since they help protect your system. Allowing connections related to the Blocks plugin is completely safe.
7. An issue with the family itself
Sometimes the issue is with the family itself. If other families download normally, there may be something specific to that family preventing the download.
In that case, report the issue through the Blocks plugin so we can test it on our side.
I was able to download the family and it appears on my cursor, but I still can’t insert it into the project. Why?
Specific host
Some families can only be inserted into specific hosts. For example, certain light fixtures can only be placed on ceilings. If there isn’t a ceiling in your project, Revit will show a blocked symbol (🚫) next to the cursor. That means the family can’t be inserted there.
To fix this, identify the family’s host and create it in your project before trying again.
It looks like I loaded the family into the project, but it isn’t visible. Why?
If the family isn’t visible in the project, first make sure it downloaded and loaded correctly.
Press ESC and look for the family in the Architecture tab, under the Component panel. If it’s there, the download was successful.
If it still doesn’t appear, settings such as Visibility/Graphics, Hidden Items, or Project Phases may be hiding it. In that case, create a new view and check whether it appears there, since a new view usually doesn’t have those restrictions.
Visibility/Graphics (VG)
Some loaded families may be hidden by the view’s Visibility/Graphics settings in Revit. To check:
Press VG on your keyboard, or go to View → Visibility/Graphics in the Revit menu.
Make sure the category for the family you want to insert is enabled in that view.
Conclusion
Several computer and network factors can affect downloading and loading families into a project. In most cases, the solution depends on specific settings in the user’s environment.
If you need help, our support team can troubleshoot the issue with you step by step. You can contact us at [email protected] or through the chat available in the Blocks plugin and on our website, blocksrvt.com.