Tips to open 3DS file

Can't open the 3DS file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open 3DS files as well as a list of programs that support 3DS files.

3DS file extension

File Name 3D Studio Scene
File Developer Autodesk
File Category 3D Image Files

The 3DS file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the 3DS files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the 3DS file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 8
  • 7
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is 3DS file?

A .3DS file is a file that contains three-dimensional graphics. It is a format associated with Autodesk 3D studio software. The file contains a graphic design. The file itself consists of data blocks described by an identifier and the block length. Each block can contain different data, such as grid record, lighting information, and observer alignment. It is a fairly popular format and is still used today, even though newer versions of the software use .MAX files.

How to open 3DS file?

The main problem with 3D Studio Scene is that the 3DS file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file 3DS to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the 3DS file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install TurboCAD

The first step is to check if the computer has the TurboCAD program installed. This can be achieved by typing TurboCAD into the operating system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file 3DS with TurboCAD. Below is a list of programs that support the file 3DS.

Step 2. Create association of TurboCAD with 3DS files

If, despite the installed application, the 3DS file does not start in the TurboCAD application, you must create a file association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the TurboCAD application as the default for handling the 3DS file.

Step 3. Update TurboCAD to the latest version

If, despite the association of the TurboCAD program with the 3D Studio Scene file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the IMSI/Design, LLC. website and install the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the 3DS file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. Usually this applies to 3DS files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our 3DS file. Sometimes virus-infected 3DS files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the 3DS files changes over time. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular 3DS file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use Autodesk help.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file 3DS except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the 3DS file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Closing other programs should help. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. However, some background programs may block the 3DS file while scanning. If nothing helps, please reset the device.