Autodesk: Navisworks Freedom - Settings to Improve Performance and Checking for Updates

Issue

Navisworks Freedom is operating slow or is crashing. This article has multiple topics. Each topic covers a different things you can do to improve performance within Navisworks Freedom. Either one or a combination of these topics can potentially improve your experience with Navisworks Freedom.

Environment

Autodesk Navisworks Freedom.

Resolution

Topic 1: Updating Navisworks

1. Close Navisworks Freedom, and Open Autodesk Access. 
2. Check to see if you have any available updates for Navisworks. If you use other Autodesk apps, it may be beneficial to update those here as well. If an update is shown, click "Update" 
3. Done! You can now open Navisworks Freedom and see if any improvements were made. 

Topic 2: Update Display Drivers

1. Go to Device Manager 
2. Find "Display Adapters" and expand the column. Find the correct graphics driver for your computer, right click it and update driver, then click search automatically.
   • If you have multiple options and are not sure which is the correct driver, feel free to call the MIS Service Desk (503) 552-5500.
   • 
3. You may or may not have updates available. If not, that is OK. Move onto the next topic.
   • If you had an update, try Navisworks again. A computer restart may be necessary.

Topic 3: Clear Temp Folder

1. Open File Explorer
2. In the URL bar in File explorer, type "%temp%" (without quotations) and hit enter. 
3. Select all the files and delete them. These files are temporary stored files that can slow down the computer over time. While deleting them, you may receive a prompt that says you are unable to delete a file because it is currently in use. This is OK and you can skip the message. 
4. This topic is complete. Try Navisworks Freedom and see if there was any improvement.

Topic 5: Setting Graphics to High Performance for Navisworks Freedom.

1. In the Windows search bar, go to "Settings" 
2. Then go to "System"
3. Under "Display", go to the bottom and search for "Graphics Settings"
4. Before we continue, we will need to find the location of the Navisworks Freedom exe (application loader).
   1. Go to the Windows search bar on the lower left and type "Navisworks Freedom". Once it populates from the search results, on the right hand side of the menu click "Open file location"
   2. This may take you to a File Explorer window showing Desktop or the installation path for Navisworks in Program files. Either is OK. You will then need to highlight the URL link path. 
   3. Now that you have the link path copied, go back to the Graphics Settings window and click "Browse". Once File explorer opens, paste the URL you copied for the path of Navisworks Freedom and hit the Enter key. This will take you to the same location where we will select the Navisworks Freedom Icon followed by the "Add" button.
      • *** If you were taken to the Program files location earlier when we opened file location, you will need to select the Roamer.exe file. Reference picture below. 
   4. After clicking add, you should see Navisworks Freedom shown on the screen. Now click "Options". 
   5. In the popup menu, make sure High Performance is selected for your preferred Graphics Card. If you have any questions about this, contact the MIS Service Desk for assistance. 
   6. This topic is now complete. Try Navisworks Freedom and see if there is any improvement. 

Topic 6: Hardware Acceleration

1. In Navisworks, click the button on the top left of the screen, followed by "Options". 
2. When in Options, expand the "Interface" and "Display" areas. Under display, you will see a category for "Graphics System", revealing "Hardware Acceleration" and "WPF Hardware Acceleration". Enable these and try Navisworks Freedom again for any improvements. 

Topic 7: Increase Frames Per Second (FPS)

This setting will improve the rate at which the program navigates, but it may cause dissapearing of the model while moving. All data should be recovered when you stop moving. 

1. Go to the Home Tab and click File Options, followed by Speed. The default number is set to 6, but you can increase this number. Try going to 12 first, and see how it performs before proceeding.
2. Done. Repeat step 1 to adjust the speed again.

You have completed this article. Hopefully the performance has improved within Navisworks. If you have any questions or concerns, as always, feel free to call the MIS Service Desk and we will be happy to help. (503) 552-5500 or emis-servicedesk@ecpowerslife.com