To set up Pirros for your firm, follow these steps in order. By the end, your team will have a searchable AI Project Hub ready to use.
Step 1: Log In
Look for an invite email from [email protected]. Follow the instructions to sign in at app.pirros.com.
The Pirros login page at app.pirros.com. Enter the email and password from your invite to sign in.
Step 2: Install the Plugin
NOTE: The below steps are shown demonstrating the Pirros in Revit workflow. Where the classic plugin works differently, the step also covers the classic plugin.
Navigate to app.pirros.com/plugin and download the installer.
The plugin download page showing the installer and supported Revit versions. Click Download, then run the installer. Close Revit before installing.
After installation, a Pirros tab appears in the Revit ribbon:
The Revit ribbon with the Pirros tab visible. If you don't see it, restart Revit.
One installer covers Revit 2020–2027. Revit 2020–2023 always run the classic plugin; Revit 2024–2027 run Pirros in Revit once it's enabled for your firm (until then, the classic plugin).
Which plugin do you have? Look at the Pirros tab in the Revit ribbon. A single Pirros button that opens a docked panel with Browse, Updates, Sync and Settings tabs means you have Pirros in Revit. Separate Sync, Download, Settings, Pirros and Live Link buttons mean you have the classic plugin. Don't go by the version number alone: on Revit 2020–2023 the classic plugin can show a 4.x version number.
Pirros in Revit | Classic plugin |
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Step 3: Log Into the Plugin
Click Pirros to open the side panel.
Login with the same credentials from Step 1 above.
The plugin login dialog. Enter your Pirros email and password. You won't need to log in again for approximately 6 months.
Classic plugin: on the Pirros tab, click Settings → Login. A sign-in window opens; sign in with the same credentials from Step 1.
When it works, Revit shows Successfully Logged In, and from then on the classic plugin signs you in automatically each time Revit starts.
The classic plugin's Pirros button opens the Pirros website in your browser; it doesn't open a panel.
Step 4: Upload Your First Models
Navigate to Details → + Add Details on the Pirros website.
The Details page with the + Add Details button in the top right. Click it to start uploading Revit models — drag and drop from your desktop, or connect to ACC/BIM 360.
For the full upload workflow, see Uploading Projects and Source Files.
Step 5: Search for Details
Click Details in the side navigation and type a keyword to search.
Typical Details vs All Details:
Typical Details — your firm's vetted, approved standards. These appear first in search.
All Details — everything, including project-specific details from uploaded models.
The Typical Details badge on a detail card, indicating it has been vetted and approved as a firm standard.
Step 6: Download Details into Revit
NOTE: For full step-by-step instructions for both plugin versions, see Get Details and Families into Your Revit Project (Pirros in Revit and Classic Plugin)
Select Details on the Pirros website and click Insert. (If Pirros doesn't see Revit connected with an open document, the button says Stage for Download instead.)
A Detail preview with the Insert Detail button. Click it to queue the detail for your Revit plugin. See Download Details from Pirros for the full workflow.
What happens in Revit depends on your plugin:
Pirros in Revit: with Live Link on (the default, on the panel's Settings tab), the panel imports the detail into the active model automatically.
Otherwise, open the panel's Browse tab, click Stashes, and click + Download in the Staged for download banner.
You can also work entirely in the panel: search on the Browse tab, then drag a result into your model or click its + Insert button.Classic plugin: with Live Link connected, the Download Items window opens automatically; otherwise click Download → Download on the Pirros ribbon tab.
Review the items and click Confirm.
Step 7: Create or Link Your Revit Project
Each Revit model has to be linked to a Pirros Project before you download into it or sync it. You can select an existing Project, or create a new one with a Project Name and Project Number. Entering a new name and number creates a new Project in Pirros; selecting a Project that already exists links this model to that Project. If the Project Number you enter already exists in the workspace, Pirros links the model to that existing Project instead of creating a new one.
To link a model to your Typical Details, pick Typical, which is pinned at the top of the Project list in both versions. For more, see Link Your Revit Project to Pirros (Pirros in Revit and Classic Plugin).
Pirros in Revit: open the panel's Settings tab. Under Project, pick a Project from the list and click Link, or click New Project, enter the Project Name and Project Number, click Create, then click Link. If you insert into a model that isn't linked yet, the panel asks you to link it first (Link a project to download) and then carries on with the download.
The Project Settings dialog in the Revit plugin. A new Project name and number creates a new Project in Pirros; existing ones link this model to that Project.
Classic plugin: on the Pirros ribbon tab, click Settings → Project Settings.
Pick a Project in the Project list and click Link, or click + New Project, enter the Project Name and Project Number, click Create, then click Link.
If you download or sync in a model that isn't linked yet, the classic plugin opens Project Settings first and then continues.
Step 8: Explore the Projects Page
Click Projects in the side navigation to see all uploaded and linked Projects.
The Projects page shows Active Projects (linked but no details downloaded yet) and Completed Projects (with uploaded details). Use Project Filters on the right to narrow the list.
Step 9: Create Firm Stashes
Build grab-and-go Detail sets for common Project types so your team can start new Projects with a curated set of Details.
The Stashes page showing Firm Stashes. Create Stashes for Project types your firm handles frequently — like "Healthcare Starter" or "Residential Foundation Set." See Create Firm Stashes for the full workflow.
What Happens Next
After completing these steps, your firm's Library is live! As you upload more Projects, the searchable content grows. Next steps to consider:
Set up Project Filters to help your team narrow searches — see Create Project Filters
Apply Tags to organize Details by Category — see Tags and Metadata Management
Configure Roles and Permissions for your team — see Roles and Permissions in Pirros
Invite your team members — see Create Workspaces
Review Best Practices for Setting Up Your Detail Library for strategic guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many Projects should I upload to start?
A: Start with 5-10 recent Projects that represent your firm's typical work. This gives your team enough content to search through on day one. Add more over time.
Q: Do I need to organize Details before uploading?
A: No. Upload entire Revit models and Pirros extracts and indexes every Detail automatically. Organization (tags, filters, typical promotion) can happen after upload.
Q: How do I invite my team?
A: Go to Settings → Users → Invite Users. Create an invite group, select the Workspace and Role, enter email addresses, and click Send Invites. See Create Workspaces for details.
Q: What's the difference between an Admin and a Member?
A: Admins can upload content, manage Users, configure Settings, and access Analytics. Members can search, download, create Stashes, and flag Details. See Roles and Permissions in Pirros for the full breakdown.