# How to open a 3DS file online

Source: https://0xr.space/m/how/open-a-3ds-file-online  
Published 2026-10-10, updated 2026-10-10, by ZeroXR, the maker of Model Explorer (https://0xr.space/).

Open 0xr.space, press Open and choose the .3ds with its texture images, or a ZIP of both. Its meshes are read in the browser, turned from Z up to upright, and drawn with each material's diffuse colour, transparency and texture; the material's shininess sets how glossy it looks. Texture names are matched whatever their case, as old 8.3 names need. It works on a computer, an Android phone and Meta Quest.

A 3DS file has no unit and its numbers are read as metres, so a model drawn in millimetres or inches needs scaling by hand. The keyframe section is not read, so animation is not played. Textures must be PNG, JPEG or WebP; a TGA or BMP texture the file names is not loaded.

## Steps

1. Gather the .3ds and the images it uses into one folder, or a ZIP.
2. Open 0xr.space, press Open and choose the .3ds and its images, or the ZIP.
3. If a texture is missing, the app names it; add it, or open the model without it.
4. Check the size in Info, scale it if needed, then press View in your space.

## Questions

### Why is my 3DS model the wrong size?

The format stores no unit, and the numbers are read as metres. Scale it by hand to the size you expect.

### Does it play 3DS animation?

No. Only the meshes and materials are read. For animation, export a GLB.

### Why are my textures missing?

They were not picked with the file, or they are TGA or BMP. Convert them to PNG or JPEG and re-export the 3DS, or export a GLB instead.

### Is my file uploaded?

No. It is read on the device, and nothing is sent to a server unless you create a share link yourself.

## Related guides

- [How to open a Draco or meshopt compressed GLB](https://0xr.space/m/how/open-a-draco-or-meshopt-compressed-glb)
- [Which glTF extensions Model Explorer supports](https://0xr.space/m/how/which-gltf-extensions-model-explorer-supports)
- [How to open a 3D model inside a ZIP, RAR or 7z archive](https://0xr.space/m/how/open-3d-model-in-zip-rar-7z)
- [How to open an Alembic .abc file without Maya or Houdini](https://0xr.space/m/how/open-alembic-abc-file-in-browser)
- [How to open a Gravity Sketch export on Meta Quest](https://0xr.space/m/how/open-gravity-sketch-export-on-quest)
- [How to open a ShapesXR export on Meta Quest](https://0xr.space/m/how/open-shapesxr-export-on-quest)