Layout shuts down every time I try to “update model reference”. I don’t even get a bugsplat notification. I have the latest 2025 SketchUp pro via the web and work on a misi laptop with intel core 17, geoforce rtx nvidia. When I restart layout I get the message below. When I do as they ask it says I will loose all the new features like ambient occlusion and I don’t want/can to loose that. Anyone have any ideas of what is wrong?
Thank you!
Hard to say without seeing your LayOut file. Might be that you can make some improvements to the SketchUp model and/or LayOut project. You could share the LayOut file so we have some hope of helping you. Wouldn’t hurt to go to the nVidia site to download and install the latest graphics drivers.
BTW, please correct your forum profile. “Web” is not appropriate since you are using LayOut and 2025 does not define an operating system. Which model of RTX graphics card are you using?
Ok the options said desktop though I I work with laptop, should I put 2025 desktop? where can I find the model info? Thank you!
I’m new to this forum where can i upload the layout file?
Yes you should. The web version runs in your web browser and doesn’t include LayOut.
Do you mean for the graphics card? Easiest would be to right click in empty space on your desktop and select nVidia Control Panel. You should be able to find the model number there.
And share the LO file. Drag the LO file into a reply. If it’s larger than 16 Mb, upload it to DropBox and share the link.
OK. RTX 4060. So put that information in your forum profile.
Ok here is the layout file
I have your file and I’ll see what I can find. Since the file contains sensitive information I would suggest you now remove it from DropBox so it’s not out there for the world to scavenge.
Ok thank you!
I did try to delete a bunch of pages in layout and save like the bathrooms in different layout file and that seemed to work, but should I get a better laptop or get a desktop so I can work with bigger files? Any suggestions welcome and recommendations!
Thank you!
So I see a few things that could cause issues for you. I went through my standard steps. First I fixed incorrect tag usage. Not as much as I usually see but all edges and faces should be untagged.
There are a bunch of excessively large texture images in the model. There’s no benefit to those large textures but they do create overhead that can bog down your graphics card.
You have your model spread out over a very large area. The visible parts look like this. From looking at the scenes in your model there appears to be a lot of unneeded content. Get rid of that unneeded conent so LayOut doesn’t have to “think” about it while rendering viewports when you update the reference. You should also move the model to the origin Having it placed at a distance like it is can created graphical issues.
You also have a number of overly detailed components in your model like the chair in the living room. A simpler version of that would help.
The couch has the same problem of too many polygons but it’s missing the back of one of the back cushions and it looks like lots of dust motes floating in the air above the couch.
You’re using AO in all of your scenes. That will add to the load on your graphics card. While you are setting up the LO project, use a style that doesn’t include Ambient Occlusion. You don’t need to see it while you are working. Once you have all the viewports set up along with dimensions and labels and such, edit the style in SketchUp to include AO and then update the reference in LO.
So reducing the load your computer has to deal with when updating the references seems to help. One thing you could try is turning off Auto render in the SketchUp Model panel and then render viewports one at a time by selecting a viewport and then clicking on the Render button. That way you can also render just the viewports that are affected by your updates. Render all of them before export.
That wouldn’t be my first suggestion. Instead I would work on making your SketchUp models more streamlined and efficient. Don’t use such overly detailed components and reduce the texture sizes so they make sense. Don’t leave all kind of unneeded furniture and appliances hanging around the model space. It looks like you bought new furniture and appliances and just dragged the old stuff out into the yard instead of hauling it away. Once you get to the point where your models are slim and trim you’ll likely find your computer doesn’t choke on them.
I’ll send you back the file after I finish with it. Look for a private message with the link to it.
This is fantastic! Thank you sooooo much!!!
I’m glad I found this string. I’ve received the same graphics card message in 2025 when using AO. I’ve been in SU since ~2003, and I’m pretty disciplined with file management. 
I have a fairly straightforward wall section detail for a sales office display. AO is important to retain. I’m running an NVIDIA RTX A4000 Laptop. Do we know if SketchUp is working on a solution to support the new graphics vs. classic? I’ve attached an image of the model/ file.
“We” don’t know anything specific but I’m sure they are working on improvements for many parts of SketchUp including the new graphics engine.
You could share your LayOut file so we can try it on other machines to see if we get the same sort of behavior you are seeing.
I don’t know if it helps but there is a newer version of the Nvidia driver than the one you seem to have.
I’d like to share something positive that I discovered. Thank you for mentioning the Nvidia driver update. I poked around in the Nvidia Control Panel and noticed an Ambient Occlusion setting that was turned off by default. (Image below) I changed it to the Performance setting, and haven’t had an issue all day. I keep an eye on it in case it’s helpful to others.
Sounds promising! I will try the same!
Thanks!!!
