What is a .3mf file?
A .3mf file is a 3MF document. Its registered MIME type is model/3mf, which places it in the 3D model family of formats.
3MF stands for 3D Manufacturing Format.
Technically it is a specialised form of application/zip (the .zip format), so tools that understand that format can often read at least part of it.
3MF is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.
3MF file format details
| Extension | .3mf |
|---|---|
| Format | 3MF document |
| MIME type | model/3mf, application/vnd.ms-3mfdocument |
| Category | 3D model |
| Text or binary | Binary |
| Based on | application/zip |
| File signature | None fixed |
| Registered with IANA | Yes |
| Other extensions | None |
How to open 3MF files
| Windows | 3MF files (3MF document) are made by specific software. The reliable way to open one is with the program that created it; a generic viewer will only show raw data. |
|---|---|
| Mac | The same applies on a Mac: look for a Mac version of the program that makes 3MF files. |
| iPhone and iPad | Phones rarely open this type of file directly. The viewer above can show what is inside it without installing anything. |
| Android | The same applies on Android. The viewer above shows the first bytes of the file so you can confirm what it is. |
Can you convert a .3mf file?
TapToConvert does not convert 3MF files. The usual route is to open the file in the program that made it and use its Export or Save as option.
3MF file FAQ
What is a .3mf file?
A .3mf file is a 3MF document, with the MIME type model/3mf.
How do I open a .3mf file?
With the program that created it. The viewer on this page shows what is inside without installing anything.
Is a .3mf file safe to open?
3MF files hold data rather than programs, but any file from an unknown source can be crafted to exploit the software that opens it. Keep that software up to date. The viewer on this page only reads the bytes and never runs anything.
What is the MIME type of .3mf?
model/3mf, and it is also seen as application/vnd.ms-3mfdocument. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.
Is 3MF a text or binary format?
Binary. Its contents are not readable as text.
File type facts come from the IANA media type registry, the mime-db project and the freedesktop.org shared MIME database.