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 Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: March 21, 2025

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• Windows
|
• macOS

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This wikiHow teaches you how to open a .OBJ file (a 3D image file) in Windows or macOS. Windows comes an app that supports .OBJ, but if you’re a Mac user, you’ll need to download a viewer like MeshLab.

Programs That Support OBJ Files on Windows & Mac

On Windows, go to your .OBJ file and right-click it to open the contextual menu. Click Open with and select Paint 3D. On Mac, you'll have to download third-party software to open an .OBJ file. MeshLab is a free, open-source option. After installing MeshLab, click the Open button and select your .OBJ file.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

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. A context menu will expand.
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3. 
   3
   Click Open with. It’s at the top of the menu. Another menu will expand.
4. 
   4
   Click Paint 3D. This opens the file on your PC.

   • .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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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

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 https://www.meshlab.net.
   • Scroll down and click the macOS link to download the package file.
   • 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.
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.
4. 
   4
   Select the .OBJ file and click Open. The .OBJ file is now open on your Mac.
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