Free SKP version checker
Check which SketchUp version saved a file
Drop in a .skp file to see the SketchUp version that saved it and whether your SketchUp can open it. The check happens on your computer, so nothing is uploaded.
How to check a SketchUp file's version
- Drop the .skp file into the checker above, or click it to pick the file.
- Read the version that saved it, for example "Saved in SketchUp 2026".
- Choose the SketchUp you have to see whether it can open the file, and how to fix it if it can't.
How SketchUp file versions work
A newer SketchUp always opens files from older versions. The other direction depends on your version. SketchUp 2021 changed the file format so that 2021 and later can open files saved by newer releases: you get a notice that the file was created with a newer version, and features added since your version are left out.
SketchUp 2020 and older can't do that. Someone on SketchUp 2026 can open your SketchUp 2017 model, but once they save it and send it back, your SketchUp 2017 refuses it with a message that the file was created with a newer version. That's the case where you need a copy saved in an older format.
The file name doesn't tell you much. A model called "house-2017.skp" might have been opened and saved again in a newer SketchUp since, and then it carries the newer version. What counts is the version number stored at the very start of the file, which is what this checker reads.
SketchUp file version numbers by release
Since SketchUp 2013 each release is named after its year, and the file stores the last two digits as the major version. Older releases, like SketchUp 8, use a single number.
| Version in the file | Saved in | Opens in |
|---|---|---|
| 26.x | SketchUp 2026 | SketchUp 2021 and newer |
| 25.x | SketchUp 2025 | SketchUp 2021 and newer |
| 24.x | SketchUp 2024 | SketchUp 2021 and newer |
| 23.x | SketchUp 2023 | SketchUp 2021 and newer |
| 22.x | SketchUp 2022 | SketchUp 2021 and newer |
| 21.x | SketchUp 2021 | SketchUp 2021 and newer |
| 20.x | SketchUp 2020 | SketchUp 2020 and newer |
| 19.x | SketchUp 2019 | SketchUp 2019 and newer |
| 18.x | SketchUp 2018 | SketchUp 2018 and newer |
| 17.x | SketchUp 2017 | SketchUp 2017 and newer |
| 16.x | SketchUp 2016 | SketchUp 2016 and newer |
| 15.x | SketchUp 2015 | SketchUp 2015 and newer |
| 14.x | SketchUp 2014 | SketchUp 2014 and newer |
| 13.x | SketchUp 2013 | SketchUp 2013 and newer |
| 8.x and lower | SketchUp 8 and earlier | That version and newer |
What to do if the file is too new for your SketchUp
On SketchUp 2021 or newer, try opening it first. On SketchUp 2020 or older, you have three ways to get a file you can open:
- Ask the sender to save a copy for your version. In SketchUp 2023 and earlier, File > Save As lets them pick an older version. It's free and keeps everything, so it's the best fix when they can do it. SketchUp 2024 removed that choice from the Save As menu.
- Save it down yourself, if you also have access to the newer SketchUp on another computer.
- Get a copy saved in your version online to any version from SketchUp 2017 to 2025, without installing anything. Your first file is free, then it's pay per file (see pricing). Geometry, components, materials, tags and dimensions come across; scenes, custom styles and text labels don't yet, and we list anything left out.
Version checker questions
Is my file uploaded?
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No. The checker reads the first few hundred bytes of the file inside your browser, where the version is stored, and never sends the file anywhere. It works on large models instantly because it doesn't read the rest.
How do I check what version a SketchUp file is?
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Drop the file into the checker above. Every .skp file starts with a short header that names the SketchUp version that saved it, such as {26.2.0} for SketchUp 2026. The checker reads that number, so it's accurate even when the file name says otherwise, and you don't need SketchUp installed.
Why does SketchUp say the model was created with a newer version?
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The file was saved in a newer SketchUp than yours. SketchUp 2021 and newer show this notice but still open the file, leaving out features they don't know. SketchUp 2020 and older can't open it at all; converting it to your version fixes that.
Do I need SketchUp installed to check a file?
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No. The checker runs in any modern browser on Mac, Windows, Linux or a Chromebook. It only reads the file's header, so you don't need SketchUp or an account.
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