Tips to open PLY file

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

PLY file extension

File Name Polygon Model Format
File Developer Stanford University
File Category 3D Image Files

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

Operating systems
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is PLY file?

The file in the PLY format belongs to the 3D Image Files category. It was designed by Stanford University. 3D Image Files consists of 622 similar files. Polygon Model Format appears on 3 operating systems as a functional file. The file will work on Linux, Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The MeshLab application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Meshlab project. Alternatively, you can use 9 other programs. The AutoCAD, Blender, Mathematica, quick3D programs will also handle the file when the MeshLab program does not fulfill its role.

How to open PLY file?

The main problem with Polygon Model Format is that the PLY file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file PLY to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the PLY 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 MeshLab

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that MeshLab is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name MeshLab in it. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Below is a list of programs that support the file PLY.

Step 2. Create association of MeshLab with PLY files

If, despite the installed application, the PLY file does not start in the MeshLab 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 displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. 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. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the PLY file with the MeshLab program.

Step 3. Update MeshLab to the latest version

If, despite the association of the MeshLab program with the Polygon Model Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Meshlab project page and install.

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

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

The PLY file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to PLY files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
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 PLY file. However, remember that not every infected PLY file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
Older version of PLY file may not always be supported by the latest software version. 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.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular PLY file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use Stanford University help.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted PLY files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. It is best to move PLY to a different directory.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the PLY file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the PLY file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.