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Revit Coordination Guide6 min read

Revit linked model phase mapping: why link elements show in the wrong phase and how to fix it

How Revit decides which phase of a linked model to show in a host view, how to map phases when names do not match, and how to override phase display for a single link.

By(Architect & Revit API Developer)
Updated: October 2026Revit 2023 - 2027
Quick answer

How it works: by default a link is displayed by host view. The host view’s phase and phase filter are applied to the linked elements after Revit translates each link phase into a host phase through the link’s phase mapping.

To fix wrong phases: select the link, open Edit Type and click the button next to Phase Mapping. Map every link phase to the matching host phase. If one view needs different phase display, use Visibility/Graphics > Revit Links > Display Settings > Custom and set Phase and Phase Filter there.

01Display Logic

The host view phase is applied to the link

With the default By Host View display, a link has no phase settings of its own in your views. A plan set to the Existing phase with a Show Previous + Demo filter shows the link through that same phase and filter, after mapping. This is why the same link looks different in your existing and new construction plans.

Fix

Check the Phase and Phase Filter properties of the host view first. If they are right for your own model but wrong for the link, fix the phase mapping of the link type or override the display for that link in this view.

Quick Check

Temporarily set the view phase filter to Show All. If the missing linked elements appear, the issue is phase related.

02Phase Mapping

Link phase names do not match host phase names

Consultants often use their own phase names, such as As Built, Stage 1 or Proposed. Revit matches phases by name, so phases that do not match end up mapped to whatever host phase Revit picks, and link elements appear earlier or later than intended.

Fix

Select the link instance, click Edit Type, and click Edit next to Phase Mapping. For every phase listed for the linked model, choose the host phase it represents. Phase mapping is a type property, so it applies to all instances of that link.

Quick Check

Open the Phase Mapping dialog after every new consultant model. A phase they added since the last issue appears as a new row.

03Per-View Override

One view needs a different phase for one link

Sometimes a single view must show a linked model in a different phase than the host view, for example an existing survey link under a new construction plan. Changing the host view phase would change your own elements too.

Fix

Open Visibility/Graphics, go to the Revit Links tab, click the Display Settings button of the link and choose Custom on the Basics tab. Set the Phase and Phase Filter for the link only. Alternatively choose By Linked View and pick a view in the linked model that already has the right phase settings.

Quick Check

Display Settings shows By Host View, By Linked View or Custom. If it says Custom, someone already overrode this link in this view or template.

04Demolished Elements

Demolished elements from the link still appear

Elements demolished in the link are shown or hidden according to the phase filter in effect for the link. A filter that shows demolished elements, such as Show Previous + Demo, keeps them visible with demolition graphics, and a wrong mapping can make a demolished element look like it still exists.

Fix

Use a phase filter that hides demolished elements, such as Show Complete, for coordination views, either in the host view or in the Custom link display settings. Then confirm the demolition phase of the linked element maps to the right host phase.

Quick Check

Select the linked element with Tab and check Phase Created and Phase Demolished in the Properties palette.

05View Templates

A view template overrides your changes

If the host view uses a view template that controls Phase Filter or the RVT Links visibility settings, changes made directly in the view are not available or are reverted by the template.

Fix

Check the View Template property of the view. Edit the template itself, or remove the controlled parameter from the template if this view should differ from the rest of the set.

Quick Check

If the phase settings are greyed out in the view properties, a template is controlling them.

Phase problems often surface right after a consultant issues a new model. The guide to comparing two Revit models shows how to see exactly what changed in a linked file, and shared coordinates drift covers the other classic link problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is phase mapping for a linked model in Revit?

Select the link instance, click Edit Type, and find the Phase Mapping parameter. Click its Edit button to map each phase of the linked model to a phase of the host model.

Why does my linked model look different in the existing and new plans?

With By Host View display, the phase and phase filter of each host view are applied to the link through phase mapping. Different host phases or filters show different linked elements.

Can I set a different phase for a link in just one view?

Yes. In Visibility/Graphics, Revit Links tab, open Display Settings for the link, choose Custom and set Phase and Phase Filter on the Basics tab. The setting applies to that view only, or to the view template if one controls it.

Does phase mapping change the linked model?

No. Phase mapping only controls how the host model interprets the link phases. The linked file and its phases stay unchanged.

Related WhatsChanged guides

See what changed in a linked model before it reaches your drawings

Karo.WhatsChanged compares two revisions of a linked Revit model on your workstation and lists added, deleted, moved and modified elements, with no cloud upload.

Explore Karo.WhatsChanged (14-Day Free Trial)Read the Model Compare Guide