Old .3ds models from the 1990s and 2000s are unreadable by most modern viewers. GLB gives them a second life on the web. This converter runs entirely in your browser: the file is processed on your own device and never uploaded.
Why convert 3DS to GLB?
Old .3ds models from the 1990s and 2000s are unreadable by most modern viewers. GLB gives them a second life on the web.
How it works
Drop your .3ds file above and download the .glb. The conversion engine (Assimp, compiled to WebAssembly) runs inside the page, so it works the same on Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS without installing anything.
3DS vs GLB
3DS (3D Studio): 3DS is the binary format of the original DOS 3D Studio. It is limited — 65,536 vertices per mesh and 8.3 texture filenames — but huge numbers of older models still exist only as .3ds. Used by: Legacy model archives and old 3ds Max projects.
GLB (binary glTF): GLB is glTF packed into one binary file: scene description, geometry and textures together. That single self-contained file is why the web and AR use it. Used by: <model-viewer>, three.js, Android Scene Viewer, Shopify 3D product models, Blender and game engines.
Quality notes
Meshes, the object hierarchy and material colours convert. 3DS texture filenames are limited to 8.3 characters and point to external images; if those are missing, the model keeps its colours without textures.
Common use cases
Rescuing a legacy model library; displaying retro assets on a website; bringing old 3D Studio work into Blender.
Frequently asked questions
Can modern tools open 3DS?＋
Some can, many cannot. GLB is supported almost everywhere.
Why are textures missing?＋
3DS files reference separate image files. Without them only material colours remain.
Is it safe for private models?＋
Yes — the conversion happens on your device only.
Is there a vertex limit?＋
3DS itself caps meshes at 65,536 vertices; GLB has no such limit.