Your model – anywhere.
The SketchUp Viewer is a powerful, free tool that extends your SketchUp workflow beyond the desktop. Whether you’re presenting designs, collaborating with clients, or reviewing models on-site, the Viewer allows you to explore your work in immersive and practical ways.
Work doesn't happen at a desk anymore. With SketchUp Viewer, your models go wherever you do — open, explore, and present .skp files from any device, anywhere.
Whether you're walking through a construction site or presenting in a boardroom, you always have your models ready.
On the construction site
Walk through live builds with your model in hand — no laptop required.
In the boardroom
Present polished 3D models directly from your tablet during client meetings.
Anywhere in between
Your designs travel with you — always ready, always accessible.
View your SketchUp models anywhere – on site, in meetings, or on the move.
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What is SketchUp Viewer and what’s it for?
SketchUp Viewer is a free way to open and review .skp files, with no editing tools in sight, so your model is always seen exactly as it was meant to be. It’s a handy option for a quick review. But if you’re the one creating those models, a subscription gives you LayOut for client-ready presentation sets and full Trimble Connect, so what your clients are viewing is always the current, professional version of your work. Check out our subscriptions here.
Is SketchUp Viewer for Desktop still available? What about the web?
Desktop Viewer was retired in April 2025, and the standalone Android Viewer followed in August 2025. These days, SketchUp for Web is the way to go, running the latest version right in your browser, no download required. Just keep in mind it’s the real (streamlined) modelling app rather than a locked view-only mode, so there’s a small chance of nudging something by accident. A subscription gets your team the full desktop app plus the dedicated iOS Viewer app, purpose-built to keep client files protected from accidental edits.
If Desktop and Android Viewer are gone, how do I view my models now?
Your best options are the iOS Viewer app or SketchUp for Web. There’s also Trimble Connect for managing and sharing files in the cloud, but the free tier caps out at 10GB, which fills up fast once you’re juggling a few active projects. A subscription includes unlimited Trimble Connect, so you’re never stuck deleting old files to make room for new ones.
If I let my subscription lapse, do I lose access to my files?
No, you’ll still have access and can view your files using SketchUp Free in your browser. But that’s viewer-level access, not the full modelling and collaboration toolkit you’re used to. Most people who let a subscription lapse are back within a few months once they need to actually edit something again.
How do I navigate a model in the Viewer?
One finger to orbit, two fingers to pan, and pinch to zoom. Same gestures whether you’re on the free iOS Viewer or the full subscription app, so there’s zero learning curve if you upgrade later.
Can I take measurements in SketchUp Viewer?
Yes, with the Tape Measure tool, great for a quick spot-check. But it’s manual, one measurement at a time. A subscription unlocks LayOut‘s full dimensioning and annotation tools, so instead of tapping around a model you get proper scaled drawings your whole team can build from.
Can I control layer visibility in the Viewer?
Yes. The Layers panel lets you toggle visibility for any layers already built into the model. Viewer only lets you see those layers though; creating and organising them in the first place needs the full SketchUp app.
Does the Viewer support animations and scenes?
Yes, and it respects each scene’s “Include in Animation” setting from the original file. Building those animated walkthroughs happens in the full SketchUp application, so a subscription is what lets you actually create the experience your clients are viewing.
Where are my saved files, and can I lose them?
Locally saved files sit in your device’s SketchUp folder, and deleting the app deletes them too, worth knowing before you go clearing storage. Files saved to Trimble Connect are much safer, and that’s included free with every subscription tier, giving you automatic cloud backup instead of one fragile local copy.
Do I need a paid subscription to use Viewer, and does it include VR tools?
Viewer itself is free, but VR is a subscription perk through the mobile app. For architects and designers, an immersive VR walkthrough is often the single most persuasive thing you can put in front of a client, and it’s one of the most common reasons people upgrade from Free to Pro.
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