Modernise legacy 3D Studio files into an open, well-supported format you can edit. This converter runs entirely in your browser: the file is processed on your own device and never uploaded.
Why convert 3DS to GLTF?
Modernise legacy 3D Studio files into an open, well-supported format you can edit.
How it works
Drop your .3ds file above and download the .gltf. 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 GLTF
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.
glTF (GL Transmission Format): glTF is the Khronos Group’s open standard for delivering 3D models, often called “the JPEG of 3D”. A .gltf file is JSON that describes meshes and physically based (PBR) materials, with binary data and textures alongside or embedded. Used by: three.js, Babylon.js, Blender, Sketchfab, and developers who want a readable, editable model file.
Quality notes
Meshes, hierarchy and material colours convert. Textures referenced by 8.3 filenames need to be available. glTF output is a .gltf file plus a .bin file with the geometry, so the download is a ZIP containing both — keep them together.
Common use cases
Converting an old asset archive for today’s engines; inspecting legacy models as JSON.
Frequently asked questions
Why do old 3DS textures fail?＋
They reference separate images with short 8.3 names that are often missing.
Will Unity or Godot import the result?＋
Godot imports glTF directly; Unity does with the glTFast package.
Is it private?＋
Yes.
Is it free?＋
Yes.