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MAX OBJ
File conversion

Convert MAX to OBJ

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jun 24, 2026
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Is it possible to convert MAX to OBJ?
Yes - MAX converts to OBJ.

3ds Max's built-in OBJ exporter is the only direct path; no standalone tool reads .max because the format is proprietary. The export produces a .obj file and a companion .mtl file for basic materials.

2 programs
Also to OBJ: USD · LWO · LIB

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert MAX to OBJ?

OBJ is a widely supported open format for static 3D geometry, accepted by Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D, game engines, and most 3D printing slicers. If you only need geometry, OBJ is a reliable handoff format; if animation or richer material data must survive the transfer, .fbx preserves more.

How to convert MAX to OBJ

3ds Max (3D Studio Max) EASIEST

Open the .max scene with File > Open, go to File > Export, choose OBJ - Wavefront Object (*.OBJ), and configure Flip ZY-Axis and Export Materials options before clicking Export.

PolyTrans|CAD+DCC APP

PolyTrans can read .max files and output .obj as part of a professional 3D translation workflow.

Programs that convert MAX

PolyTrans|CAD+DCC
3ds Max (3D Studio Max)

About these formats

.MAX 3ds Max Scene File (Autodesk 3ds Max)

A .max file is a native scene file for Autodesk 3ds Max, storing a complete 3D project - geometry, materials, lights, cameras, and animation. Only 3ds Max itself (Windows, paid) opens it…

Open .MAX details →
.OBJ Wavefront OBJ (3D geometry)

An OBJ file is a 3D model in the Wavefront OBJ format - a plain-text list of vertices, faces, and surface normals. Open it free with Blender, the Microsoft 3D Viewer on Windows, or…

Open .OBJ details →

Quality & what to watch

  • OBJ only exports geometry and basic materials via .mtl - animation, modifier stacks, lights, cameras, and render settings are not included.
  • Texture files referenced in the .mtl are not embedded - keep them in the same folder as the .obj or update the paths in the .mtl.
  • A .max scene is a full project file; all objects export into one .obj by default - use File > Export Selected to isolate specific objects.

Frequently asked questions

Should I export to OBJ or FBX from 3ds Max?
Use FBX if the target application needs materials, animation, or cameras intact; use OBJ when the receiving app handles it better or you only need clean geometry.
What does the Flip ZY-Axis option do?
It swaps the Y and Z axes on export to match applications that use a different up-axis convention than 3ds Max.
Can I open a .max file in an older version of 3ds Max?
No - .max files are not backward-compatible across versions; ask the file's creator to use Save As with an older format if needed.