Dear Valued Bentley User,

Bentley's product teams are working to streamline our commercial offerings to improve our user experience and help you advance your work. Bentley has, therefore, made the decision to end support for SYNCHRO Pro offering effective October 15, 2025. However, we understand that many of you may still have projects that require construction 4D planning capabilities. Therefore, we've outlined two options below to ensure you can continue leveraging 4D construction planning. 

• Migrate to SYNCHRO 4D Pro. We recommend migrating to SYNCHRO 4D Pro. This product includes the capabilities of SYNCHRO Pro plus cloud storage for project data via SYNCHRO Control, enabling you to create 4D content and collaborate, review models and 4D schedules using a web browser, and perform model-based progress updates with the SYNCHRO Field mobile app. SYNCHRO 4D subscription also includes SYNCHRO Control, SYNCHRO Field and SYNCHRO Modeler at no extra cost.

 

• Next steps for Virtuosity users: As the end date of your existing contract approaches, we encourage you to visit the Virtuosity site to purchase SYNCHRO 4D. Please note that your existing contract won't be renewed.

 

• Next steps for users on consumption model, visas, and SELECT: As the end date of your existing contract approaches, please contact your Account Manager at Bentley Systems to ask for a SYNCHRO 4D new order form.

 

• Keep using SYNCHRO Pro. Although SYNCHRO Pro product reaches the end of support on October 15, 2025, you can still use the current software version you're entitled to under your existing contract at no additional cost, but you will be unable to purchase any new licenses for SYNCHRO Pro.

 

Special Note for E365 subscribers

E365 subscribers can begin using SYNCHRO 4D Pro at any time and will be charged based on your usage of these new products according to the cost associated with it in Bentley's price book. No changes are required to your existing contract.

 

If you have any questions regarding this deprecation announcement, please contact Bentley Support.

Sincerely,

Bentley Systems

 

 

FAQ - Upgrading from SYNCHRO Pro to 4D Pro

 

1.      Why are there two SYNCHRO Pro products? What is the difference between SYNCHRO Pro and SYNCHRO 4D Pro?

SYNCHRO 4D Pro has the same user interface and workflows as SYNCHRO Pro. However, SYNCHRO 4D Pro provides an integrated cloud solution for more collaborative and affordable 4D planning, scheduling, and visualization.

In addition to all of SYNCHRO Pro's existing functionalities, SYNCHRO 4D Pro allows you to create 4D models and store project data in SYNCHRO Control, your construction project's home in the cloud. This means that you can author your 4D construction model through SYNCHRO 4D Pro, review the model and 4D sequence playback using just a web browser (no install required), and perform model-based progress updates through a mobile app. Additionally, SYNCHRO 4D Pro also includes Iray at no extra cost.

Note: SYNCHRO 4D Pro requires a SYNCHRO 4D Visa.

Under the hood of the 4D model in SYNCHRO Control is Bentley's iModel/ iTwin technology, the revolutionized SYNCHRO Workgroup Project, and Link API logic. SYNCHRO Workgroup Project and Link are now fully integrated as part of SYNCHRO Control cloud technology, so they no longer require additional licensing and costs. Access to SYNCHRO Control (for one user) and the ability to cloud-host projects for collaboration is included with a 4D Pro seat. As a 4D Pro user, you can set up multiple cloud-hosted projects without a per-project cost for collaboration (as there previously was for SWP).

Meanwhile, SYNCHRO Pro continues as the 4D market-leading desktop application for standalone and file-based 4D planning, scheduling, and visualization. Additionally, you can add Iray to SYNCHRO Pro 4D at no additional cost.

 

Product and Version	Are standalone files supported?	Is there a Cloud option?	Does it include Iray?	Does it support iModel?
SYNCHRO Pro v6.2	Yes (.sp)	Yes, but at an additional cost (SYNCHRO Workgroup Project, approximately $3000 per project)	No, but you can add Iray for an additional cost	No
SYNCHRO Pro v6.3	Yes (.sp)	No	No, but you can add Iray for an additional cost	No
SYNCHRO 4D Pro 6.4, 6.5 and later	Yes (.sp)	Yes, SYNCHRO Control is included at no extra cost	Yes	Yes

 

2.      What are the benefits of upgrading to SYNCHRO 4D Pro and hosting a 4D model in the cloud with SYNCHRO Control?

Hosting in SYNCHRO Control gives you access to your 4D construction project and work plan on web and mobile

• SYCNHRO Control gives you real-time access to your project in a secure cloud environment
• Single sign-on for web, mobile and desktop through Bentley Connect Licensing
• Easily manage users, roles, and permissions for better collaboration and faster project setup
• Share 4D models on the web for collaborators to view without having to download software
• Track your project's progress and access forms, documents, and photos through the web on desktop or mobile devices

You'll gain access to a suite of products in the SYNCHRO Portfolio that were not previously available

• With SYNCHRO 4D Pro, you'll now have access to SYNCHRO Field, SYNCHRO Control, and SYNCHRO Modeler at no additional cost

We've reduced the costs associated with using SYNCHRO

• With the ability to review a 4D model online in Control (where you previously had to install SYNCHRO OpenViewer), you can eliminate the need for BIM laptops for users who only need to view the model, reducing your expenditure by $3,000 per BIM laptop

See also: SYNCHRO 4D 2020.1 Release Announcement

 

3.      How do I upgrade from Pro to 4D Pro?

• For Virtuosity users: As the end date of your existing contract approaches, we encourage you to visit the Virtuosity site to purchase SYNCHRO 4D Pro. Please note that your existing contract will not be renewed.
• For users on a consumption model, Visas, and SELECT:. As the end date of your existing contract approaches, please contact your Account Manager at Bentley Systems to ask for a SYNCHRO 4D new order form. If you don't have an Account Manager, please contact Bentley Support: https://www.bentley.com/support/.

To download SYNCHRO 4D Pro go to Bentley Software Downloads, then download and install SYNCHRO 4D Pro.

 

4.      Can I install both products, 4D Pro and Pro, on my computer and use both products on the same project (with or without Iray)?

We do not recommend installing both Pro and 4D Pro on the same device. SYNCHRO 4D Pro includes the integration with Control 4D Cloud Project and Iray in addition to all of SYNCHRO Pro's functionalities. Therefore, there is really no need to have both 4D Pro and Pro v6.3 installed on the same machine.

In the rare case that you need to use both products, it is likely because you need to support one SYNCHRO Workgroup Project (v6.2) using SYNCHRO Pro v6.2 or prior, and another Control project using SYNCHRO 4D Pro v6.3. However, in this case, you will be installing two products with different versions on the same computer now that this is possible. It is our recommendation NOT to install two products with different versions, as this was never possible in the past as SYNCHRO Pro or SYNCHRO 4D Pro were and are not forward compatible. (An .sp file saved in a more recent version of the software cannot be opened in an older version.)

Avoid installing both products on the same computer no matter what version these two products are. If you must install 4D Pro and Pro on the same computer, please contact Bentley Support before doing so: https://www.bentley.com/support/.

 

5.         How do I migrate an existing Pro project into 4D Pro?   

.sp files from Pro can be opened in 4D Pro. Make a copy of your .sp from Pro, open it in 4D Pro, and the system will upgrade the file to the new version. After upgrading, the .sp file will no longer be able to be opened in Pro.

 

6.      How do I bring model data into SYNCHRO 4D Pro v6.3?

If you are using 4D Pro with a Control project (Control 4D Cloud Project), there are two methods for bringing in the 3D Models: The first method is the traditional method (import 3D, IFC, .spx, etc.) that SYNCHRO Pro users are familiar with. The second method is to use iTwin Connections in the cloud or via the iTwin Synchronizer app to bridge all 3D models into a centralized iModel.

 

Method 1: Traditional 3D imports in 4D Pro

First, set up an iModel within a Control project and enable 4D Scheduling service. Using 4D Pro, open a Control project. File> Import> 3D to import CAD files, or other 3D import methods such as IFC or .spx within 4D Pro. Any imported 3D models will be directly saved in the iModel within Control 4D Cloud project, along with the imported schedule data.

 

Method 2: Create iModel by using Bentley iModel bridges through desktop or web

If you are familiar with Bentley iModel bridge workflow, or are interested in using the iModel technology, you can use one of the workflows below to bridge into iModel. After the iModel is created in a Control project with 4D Scheduling service enabled:

• Use iTwin Synchronizer (desktop app) to Synchronize models into iModel
• Use Instant-on iModel cloud bridges (through web)

No matter which method you decide to use for your project, all subsequent synchronization of models will need to follow the initial setup. For example, if Method 1 is used, all subsequent imports and synchronization will need to be performed within 4D Pro using the traditional 3D imports in 4D Pro's UI. If Method 2 is used, all subsequent imports and synchronizations need to be performed using the iTwin Synchronizer or Instant-on iModel bridges.

 

To bring Schedule data in, whether it is cloud-hosted or not, you will need to go to File> Import> Schedule within the application.

For more detailed information, see Choosing between SYNCHRO 4D Pro importers and iModel Connections to add 3D models

 

7.      Can I still playback 4D models in Control (web) if I cannot upgrade my project to 4D Pro v6.3 soon?

We understand that you may want to view your 4D model through a Control project using your browser, even though you may not be ready to upgrade your current project to 4D Pro just yet.

You can try 4D model playback for free by uploading an .sp file to a Control demo project with three simple steps:

• Register a demo project by visiting https://construction.bentley.com. Note: Demo projects are for trial purposes only and will be deleted after 30 days
• Go to Administrator> Import iModel, and create a new iModel by uploading your .sp file. Do NOT enable "Setup iModel for Scheduling Service"
• Enjoy playing with your 4D model in a web browser after the upload of .sp is completed and provisioning is finished

For more, see Reviewing the 4D Project in SYNCHRO Control for more details on 4D playback.