A Quick Guide to Opening OBJ Files on a PC or Mac

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What programs to use to open a 3D .OBJ file

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: February 16, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Windows
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• macOS
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• Online Viewers
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• FAQ
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• Video

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This wikiHow teaches you how to open a .OBJ file (a 3D image file) in Windows or macOS. Windows comes with an app that supports .OBJ, but if you’re a Mac user, you’ll need to download a viewer like MeshLab. We’ll also explain how to open OBJ files on the web or in Linux, plus answer your most common questions.

Programs That Support OBJ Files on Windows & Mac

• On Windows, you can open an OBJ file in Paint 3D. Right-click the OBJ file, select Open with, and select Paint 3D.
• On Mac, download MeshLab, a free, open-source program you can use to open an OBJ file. After installing, click the Open button and select the OBJ file.
• You can also use online viewers to open OBJ files on any operating system, including Linux.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Windows

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1. 
   1
   Open the folder that contains the .OBJ file. An easy way to do this is to press ⊞ Win+E to open File Explorer, then browse to the folder where it’s saved.
2. 
   2
   Right-click the file and select Open with. It’s at the top of the menu. Another menu will expand.
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3. 
   3
   Click Paint 3D. This opens the file on your PC.

   • Alternatively, you can open the .OBJ file from within Paint 3D. Create a new canvas or open a canvas where you’d like to insert the object. Click Menu > Insert and browse for the .OBJ file. Select the file, then click Open at the bottom of the File Explorer window to insert it.
   • .OBJ files are also supported by Adobe Photoshop and Mixed Reality Viewer. If you have and prefer one of those apps, select it instead.
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Section 2 of 4:

macOS

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1. 
   1
   Download and install MeshLab for macOS. Meshlab is a free, open source app for viewing and editing .OBJ files. Here’s how to get it:

   • Navigate to www.meshlab.net.
   • Scroll down to the Download section or click the Download tab at the top of the page.
   • Click the macOS link to download the package file.
     • If you have a Mac with an Apple Silicon/M-series chip, select the macOS ARM64 option. If your Mac has an Intel processor, download the macOS x86_64 file.
     • Not sure what kind of processor your Mac has? Click
       
       Apple menu > About This Mac. Your processor type will be listed next to the Chip or Processor header.
   • Double-click the package file (ends with .dmg).
   • Drag the MeshLab icon to the Applications folder.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation.
   • Delete the .dmg file when you’re finished.
2. 
   2
   Open MeshLab. It’s the eyeball icon in the Applications folder. The first time you try to open it, you might see a warning that MeshLab is a file downloaded from the internet. Confirm that you want to open it.

   • If you can’t open the app, you might need to go to Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security and make sure App Store & Known Developers is selected next to “Allow applications from.”
3. 
   3
   Click the Open/Import icon. It’s the open yellow folder with a curved arrow at the top-left corner of the app. The file browser will appear.

   • You might be prompted to allow MeshLab to access files in various locations on your Mac. Click Allow.
4. 
   4
   Select the .OBJ file and click Open. The .OBJ file is now open on your Mac.
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Section 3 of 4:

Online Viewers

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1. 1
   Navigate to a .OBJ viewer website in your browser. This solution works on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. To get started, visit a 3D object viewer website, such as:

   • 3dviewer.net
   • www.meshy.ai/3d-tools/online-viewer/obj
   • viewer.autodesk.com/ (free, but you’ll need to create an account)
2. 2
   Upload your .OBJ file. All these websites work a little differently, but the basic principle is the same. Look for an Upload button or a place to drag and drop the file you want to view.

   • On some sites, you might need to first specify the type of file you want to view.
3. 3
   View the file in your browser. It might take a few minutes for the file to finish uploading. Once it’s done, you should be able to see it on the file viewer website.
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Section 4 of 4:

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. 1
   What is a .OBJ file? .OBJ files are geometry definition files that contain 3D geometry data. This is an open file type that is supported by numerous 3D modeling apps and platforms. This file type was originally developed by Wavefront Technologies, a pioneering computer graphics developer founded in 1984.
2. 2
   How can I open .OBJ files in Linux? Download a simple app like MeshLab or Mesh Viewer, both of which are free and Linux compatible. You can also use online viewers like 3Dviewer.net.
3. 3
   How do I import .OBJ files into Blender? Click the File menu and select Import > Wavefront (.obj). Browse for the .OBJ file, select it, and click Import OBJ.
4. 4
   What other programs support .OBJ files? You can open and manipulate .OBJ files in a wide variety of apps, including Maya, Adobe Substance 3D, Blender, and Bambu Studio.
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