# How to open a USD, USDA or USDC file

Source: https://0xr.space/m/how/open-a-usd-usda-or-usdc-file  
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 .usd, .usda or .usdc with the files it uses, or the folder or ZIP holding them. Text and binary (crate) layers are read in the browser, with sublayers, references and payloads to other picked layers, and each variant set uses the file's own selection or its first variant. Materials come from UsdPreviewSurface and MaterialX image nodes, with GeomSubsets and displayColor, and metersPerUnit and a Z up axis are applied, so the model stands at its real size.

Only meshes are drawn: USD's built-in shapes such as Sphere and Cube, points and curves are not. Animation and skinning come in as one still pose. A reference to a file that was not picked, a URL or an absolute path is dropped; if nothing is left to draw, the app says the external USD reference is not supported. Textures must be PNG, JPEG or WebP.

## Steps

1. Keep the root layer with the layers and textures it references, in their folders; zip them to move them to a headset.
2. Open 0xr.space, press Open and choose the root layer with the rest, or the folder or the ZIP.
3. Open Info to check the size and the parts.
4. Press View in your space on a Quest or an ARCore phone.

## Questions

### What does External USD reference is not supported mean?

The file points at another file that was not among those picked, or at a URL or an absolute path. Pick the whole folder, or package it as a USDZ.

### Can I choose a variant?

Not in the app. The selection authored in the file is used, or the first variant of each set.

### Does it play USD animation?

No. Animated and skinned models open in one still pose.

### 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.

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