Tips to open MD2 file

Can't open the MD2 file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open MD2 files as well as a list of programs that support MD2 files.

MD2 file extension

File Name Quake 2 Player Model
File Developer id Software
File Category Game Files

The MD2 file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the MD2 files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the MD2 file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 3
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is MD2 file?

The file in the MD2 format belongs to the Game Files category. It was designed by id Software. Game Files consists of 1509 similar files. Quake 2 Player Model is supported by 2 operating systems. The file will work on Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. It is recommended to use Quake 2 to handle this file. This is a program created by id Software LLC. There are also 3 alternative programs to handle the MD2 file. Blender, QuArK will apply when it is not possible to use Quake 2.

How to open MD2 file?

The main problem with Quake 2 Player Model is that the MD2 file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file MD2 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 MD2 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 Quake 2

In this case, you should first verify that the Quake 2 application is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Quake 2 into the system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file MD2 with Quake 2. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open MD2 files.

Programs to open MD2 file

Remember to download programs supporting MD2 files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of Quake 2 with MD2 files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the MD2 file still does not use the Quake 2 program, it means no 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 set the program to handle this type. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the MD2 file with the Quake 2 application.

Step 3. Update Quake 2 to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Quake 2 program with the Quake 2 Player Model 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 id Software LLC website and install the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the MD2 file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The MD2 file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to MD2 files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our MD2 file. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover MD2 files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the MD2 files changes over time. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged MD2 files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact id Software
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted MD2 files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. It is best to move MD2 to a different directory.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Just close unnecessary programs. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.