Opening an OBJ File

The OBJ file type is primarily associated with 3ds MAX.

OBJ	File extension: OBJ
	File type:	standard 3D object data file

What is an OBJ file?

OBJ files mostly belong to 3ds MAX by Autodesk. OBJ is a geometry definition file format developed by Wavefront Technologies. It's an open file format that allowed it to become widely adopted by 3D graphics application vendors.
File structure: The file format itself is a simple data format that represents 3D geometry - namely, the position of each vertex, the UV position of each texture coordinate vertex, vertex normals, and the faces that make each polygon defined as a list of vertices and texture vertices. Vertices are stored in a counter-clockwise order by default. When opened, the file will appear as lines of information written in ASCII.

Related files: Commonly used along with OBJ files are two more file formats:

MTL, short for "Material Template Library", is a file that describes surface shading properties of objects within one or more OBJ files
STL, one of whose backronyms is "Standard Triangle Language", is a file that describes only the surface geometry of a 3D object without any representation of color, texture, or other common CAD model attributes.

How to open an OBJ file

You need a suitable software like 3ds MAX to open an OBJ file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your OBJ file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a OBJ file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online OBJ File Viewer

Choose your .obj file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How to convert an OBJ file to JPG, PDF, HTML, DOC, ...

You can convert OBJ files using our online OBJ file viewer (powered by Convert.Guru):

To do this, click the button "Choose your .obj file to view" on this page.
After your file is opened in browser,
click "Save as..." in the menu.
Then click the file format (e.g. PDF, JPG, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert OBJ files:

3ds MAX by Autodesk
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. OBJ files are often referred to as 3ds MAX data files because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
3D Builder (standard 3D object data file) by Microsoft
Microsoft 3D Builder is a Windows 3D graphics design tool developed for creating, viewing, editing, and 3D object printing. OBJ file is a simple and text-based standard 3D image format file that contains three-dimensional object data like 3D coordinates, texture maps, polygonal faces, and other object information. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Users Guide, 3D Builder wiki
Blender (standard 3D object data file) by Blender
Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows operating systems, and designed for creating animations, visual effects, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, virtual reality, and computer games. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Tutorials, Support, Blender on Wikipedia
Bryce (standard 3D object data file) by DAZ 3D
Bryce is a 3D modeling, rendering, and animation software solution specialized in fractal landscapes, produced by DAZ 3D. This name comes from Bryce Canyon - whose landscape was used for the first simulations. This software was developed for creating realistic computer images of mountain ranges and shores by working with fractal geometry. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Documentation Center, Help Center, Bryce on Wikipedia
CADRazor (standard 3D object data file) by TITAN Algorithms
CADRazor is a general purpose graphics manipulation tool which is built upon the OpenGL API. It provides the ability to visualize complex 3D objects, providing display control, shading and transparency. CADRazor also has a FlyBoy mode to traverse inside your models. This software tool is old and discontinued. This file format is classified as Data.
LightWave 3D (standard 3D object data file) by NewTek
NewTek LightWave 3D is a 3D computer graphics software package designed for modeling, animation, dynamics, particle effects, and rendering. This graphics software solution has found its use in the film industry, television, visual effects, computer games development, product design, architecture, pre-visualizations, advertising, etc. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Getting Started, Manual, Support, LightWave 3D on Wikipedia
Maya (standard 3D object data file) by Autodesk
Autodesk Maya software is 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software deployed in film and television, game development, design visualization, and education. It is designed to work under Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Documentation, Uder Guide, Autodesk Maya on Wikipedia
MeshLab (standard 3D object data file) by ISTI - CNR
MeshLab is a general-purpose open-source system of tools developed for the processing and editing of unstructured 3D triangular meshes and provides their editing, cleaning, healing, inspecting, rendering, and converting. It is mostly deployed in the more technical fields of 3D development. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Tutorial, Support, MeshLab on Wikipedia
Photoshop (standard 3D object data file) by Adobe
Photoshop is a raster graphics editor software developed and published by Adobe for Windows and macOS platforms. Photoshop uses multiple layers for raster image editing and it supports several color models like RGB, CMYK, CIELAB, spot color, and duotone. It has limited possibilities when editing text and vector graphics, and also 3D graphics and videos. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Users Guide, Support, Adobe Photoshop on Wikipedia
Relocatable Object Module (object file) by Intel
The Relocatable Object Module is an object file format used primarily for software that runs on old Intel 80x86 microprocessors. Intel released version 4.0 in 1981 under the name Object Module Format and is known to DOS users as an OBJ file. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Relocatable Object Module on Wikipedia
The Advanced Visualizer (geometry definition file) by Wavefront
Advanced Visualizer was a 3D graphics software package product of Wavefront famous for its use in the production of Oscar-winning movies like The Abyss, Terminator 2, and Jurassic Park. OBJ is a geometry definition file developed for Advanced Visualizer animation package. This file format was open and has been adopted by other 3D graphics application vendors. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Advanced Visualizer on Wikipedia, Wavefront OBJ file on Wikipedia, Wavefront Technologies on Wikipedia
UVMapper (standard 3D object data file) by Stephen L Cox
UVMapper is a stand-alone texture mapping utility developed for creating and modifying UV coordinates for n-sided polygonal 3D models. It offers planar, box, cylindrical, spherical, and polar mapping modes in a real-time, interactive mapping environment. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Tutorial, UV mapping on Wikipedia
Visual Studio (source code/script file) by Microsoft
Visual Studio is an integrated development environment, produced by Microsoft, intended for Windows and macOS, designed for developing computer programs, websites, web applications, web services, and mobile applications. The OBJ file is used for object files, which are compiled in binary format but not linked. It is a source code/script file used to generate libraries and executables. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Documentation, Support, Visual Studio on Wikipedia

OBJ file format details:

Every file has a defined file format, i.e. how the data is arranged in the file. The file format can be deduced from the file extension and the signature. If the file extension does not match the file format, double-clicking on the file will cause an error upon opening. Exact knowledge of the format is therefore important in order to solve problems occurring in files. Below is our analysis of the OBJ files:

The OBJ extension is very commonly found and covers different formats for different programs. The two most common formats are as follows:

60% of all OBJ files are Wavefront Object files. The contents of these files are easily readable with a text editor. A typical file size is 1 MB. The file type was created 10 years ago, but is still used today. Certain words are almost always found in the files, such as mtllib, File, object, Wavefront and Blender. Such OBJ files store data about mesh, model, uploads, conv, textured, female, mario, body, head and 3D model.
5% of all OBJ files have the same signature mtllib . These files are text files, so they contain words and text. The files are 28 KB to 65 MB in size, with a median of 6 MB. The following keywords are characteristic: mtllib and usemtl. scene_mesh_textured.obj is a typical file name. These files are attributed to scene.

All other OBJ files (35%) have different formats, frequently e.g. Oberon-M Object, Intel 80386 Common Object File Format object / library, CADRazor 3d model, Java, ELF and JFIF. Sometimes used for project, document, scene, contour, mustang, export, ground, tinker, bunny, floor, house, casa, cube, high, para, pose, scan, tile or your. You can get all the details of your OBJ file by dragging it onto this page or by clicking the button "Choose your .obj file to view" above.

Technical Data for OBJ File Extension

File classification:

Data

Related files:

mtl, glb, 3d, fbx, o, max, stl, mesh, blend, zip, png, 3ds, objgeneratorservlet, gltf, ply, sic, 3mf, dae, opj, wpn, shp

Mime type:

model/obj, application/octet-stream, text/plain

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: objfile, FileType: Intermediate file

ProgramID: objfile, FileType: Object File

ProgramID: objfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\formZ\formZ RadioZity MP v4.1.0\formZ RadioZity.exe

ProgramID: objfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\formZ\formZ RadioZity v4.1.0\formZ RadioZity.exe

Show all 4 listings To Top

an obj standard 3D object data file is a special file format by Autodesk and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with OBJ files

Associate the OBJ file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open standard 3d object data files. Because only the current version supports the latest OBJ file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Autodesk manufacturer website after an available 3ds MAX update.
To make sure that your OBJ file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .OBJ file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.