To update a family that's already in Pirros — such as fixing geometry, adding types, or updating parameters — use the Edit Family workflow. This creates a new version under the same Pirros ID, preserving the family's history and preventing duplicates.
How Family Updates Work
Every family in Pirros carries a hidden Pirros ID. When you update a family, Pirros reads this ID to recognize the file as the same family and adds a new version to its history — instead of creating a separate, duplicate family.
The most reliable way to keep that ID intact is to start from a file that came from Pirros. Download the current family, make your edits to that exact file, and upload it back — or make your edits inside a Revit model that's synced with Pirros.
Do not drag-and-drop an updated RFA file onto the Families page. Drag-and-drop is for new families. If you drop an updated version of an existing family, Pirros creates a duplicate because the new file doesn't have the Pirros ID embedded.
Best practice: download → edit → re-upload. Editing the same file you downloaded from Pirros (or editing within a synced Revit model) keeps the Pirros ID intact, so your changes always land as a clean new version on the original family.
Prerequisite: You need the Admin role with Manage Typical Families or Edit Families permissions.
How to Update a Family
Navigate to the Families page and find the family you want to update
Click into the family's full page
Click Edit Family
Drag and drop the updated .rfa file into the upload area
Pirros matches the upload to the existing family record using the Pirros ID
The family's version history is updated with the new upload
Updating Families from a Revit Model
If your families live inside a Revit model rather than as standalone RFA files:
Open the Revit model in Revit with the Pirros plugin
Make your edits to the family within the model
Use Upload → Sync in the Pirros plugin
Pirros detects the changed families and updates them in the library
Because the families in a synced model are already linked to Pirros, this path keeps the Pirros ID intact automatically.
Updating a Family You Edited Outside Pirros
If you made your changes in a separate file that did not originate from Pirros — for example, a family you edited directly in your own office library — that file won't carry the Pirros ID. Uploading it can create a duplicate instead of updating the original.
To update the family cleanly, work from a Pirros-linked file:
Download the current family from Pirros (or open it inside a synced Revit model)
Re-apply your changes to that file
Update the family using the Edit Family workflow or plugin sync described above
Updating a Family's Thumbnail
To replace the default thumbnail with a custom image:
Open the family's full page in Pirros
Click the thumbnail area
Upload a new image (JPEG or PNG)
Custom thumbnails are preserved across future updates — Pirros won't overwrite them when the family file is updated.
Restoring a Previous Version
Every update creates a new version, and previous versions are never deleted. If an update didn't land the way you intended, you can restore an earlier version at any time:
Open the family's full page in Pirros
Go to the family's version history
Select the previous version you want to restore
Because nothing is ever lost, it's always safe to attempt an update — you can roll back to a previous version if you need to.
What Happens Next
After updating, the new version is immediately available to all users. The previous version is preserved in the family's version history. Members who previously downloaded this family do not automatically receive the update — they will see the updated version the next time they search for or download it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I update multiple families at once?
A: If your families are in a Revit model, syncing the model updates all changed families in one operation. For standalone RFA files, each family must be updated individually through the Edit Family workflow.
Q: I uploaded an updated family but it created a duplicate instead of updating the original. What happened?
A: The file you uploaded most likely didn't carry the Pirros ID, which happens when the file didn't originate from Pirros. Download the current family from Pirros, re-apply your changes to that file, and upload it again. You can then remove the duplicate, or restore the original from its version history.
Q: I edited the family in a separate file. Do I have to redo my work in the Pirros version?
A: No. Reach out to Pirros Support with your updated file and we can help you apply it to the existing family without losing your changes.
Q: Are previous versions ever deleted when I update?
A: No. Every update adds a new version, and all previous versions remain in the family's version history. You can restore any of them at any time.
Q: Why does my system family (wall, floor) show a bad thumbnail?
A: System families often generate poor default 3D thumbnails due to Revit limitations. Upload a custom thumbnail image to replace it — this won't affect the family file itself.