What is the REALITY file format?
A .reality file is an augmented reality scene built for Apple's RealityKit framework. Apple introduced the format with Reality Composer in 2019 to package AR content that plays back across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro. Under the hood it is a ZIP-based archive that bundles 3D models, textures, materials, spatial audio, physics, animations, anchors, and interactive behaviors into one file.
The 3D payload comes from Apple's USD pipeline, so a .reality scene carries the same geometry a matching .usdz file would, plus RealityKit interactivity such as triggers and actions. Most people meet one of these files when they tap an AR object on a web page or in Messages, which hands it to AR Quick Look.
Security & safety
RISK: MEDIUMA .reality file can contain scripts of interactive behaviors and is opened by system components like AR Quick Look, so treat files from unknown sources with the same caution as any downloaded 3D content. The file itself is data rather than an executable, and Apple sandboxes AR Quick Look. There is no widespread malware associated with the format, but a malformed archive could in theory try to exploit a parser bug, so keep iOS, iPadOS, and macOS updated.
Format details
in a nutshellFULL NAMEReality (RealityKit AR Scene File)aka Reality file, RealityKit scene file
DEVELOPERApplesince 2019
CATEGORY3D Image Files
MIME TYPEmodel/vnd.reality
TYPEBinary, zip-based archive container
This extension is also used by…
- Reality (Pret-a-3D plugin for LuxRender) - Reality is a rendering plugin for Daz Studio and Poser by Pret-a-3D that exports scenes to LuxRender; it was released as open source under the BSD 3-Clause License in 2019. It is a separate product from Apple's format and does not use a .reality scene extension in the same way.
- Generic 'reality' project or config files - Some unrelated apps and games use a .reality suffix for internal scene or configuration data. These are niche and not associated with a single dominant tool.
MAGIC BYTES · FILE SIGNATURE
OFFSET
00010203
HEX
504B0304
ASCII
PK··
A .reality file is a ZIP-based archive, so it begins with the standard ZIP local-file-header signature PK\x03\x04. There is no signature unique to the Reality format itself; the payload inside is USD/USDZ-derived content plus Reality-specific data.
Programs that open REALITY files
macOS3 apps
Xcode with Reality Composer
Free Open a .reality file (or its .rcproject source) inside Xcode's Reality Composer editor to inspect and edit the scene; note Reality Composer for Mac shipped through Xcode 14.3.1.
Reality Composer Pro
Free Author 3D content and build .reality output for visionOS, iOS, and macOS projects on your Mac.
AR Quick Look via Finder/Preview
Built-in Select a .reality file in Finder and press Space to preview the scene with Quick Look.
iOS2 apps
AR Quick Look (Safari, Messages, Files)
Built-in Tap a .reality file in Files, Safari, or Messages to preview the AR scene full-screen and place it in your surroundings.
Reality Composer for iOS
Free Open and edit .reality scenes on iPhone or iPad, adjusting objects, behaviors, and anchors before exporting.
Ipados2 apps
AR Quick Look (Safari, Messages, Files)
Built-in Tap the .reality file to launch AR Quick Look and view the scene in augmented reality.
Reality Composer for iPadOS
Free Build and edit .reality scenes on iPad, then export or share them for AR Quick Look.
Visionos1 app
Reality Composer Pro / RealityView apps
Built-in Load .reality content in a visionOS app through RealityView for spatial playback on Apple Vision Pro. Technical details
deep spec| Encoding | Binary archive (ZIP-based) |
| Byte order | Little-endian (ZIP container fields) |
| Container | ZIP archive holding USD/USDZ scene data plus RealityKit behaviors and metadata |
| Compression | DEFLATE / stored, per ZIP entry |
| Encryption | None by default |
| Typical size | Hundreds of KB to tens of MB depending on meshes, textures, and audio |
| Structure | Compressed archive that bundles 3D models (USD/USDZ), textures, materials, spatial audio, physics properties, animations, anchors, and interactive behaviors authored in Reality Composer or Reality Composer Pro. Content is loaded at runtime by RealityKit or previewed through AR Quick Look. |
| Integrity | CRC-32 per entry (inherited from the ZIP container) |
| Platforms | iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, tvOS |
| Notes | The .reality format is closely tied to Apple's USD/USDZ pipeline; a scene saved as .reality carries the same 3D payload as a comparable .usdz file but adds RealityKit interactivity such as triggers, actions, and behaviors. It is Apple-proprietary and is not natively readable on Windows or Android. Reality Composer for macOS shipped with Xcode 11 through 14.3.1; authoring later moved to Reality Composer Pro. |
| Released | 2019 |
| Latest version | Produced by Reality Composer and Reality Composer Pro |
| Specification | developer.apple.com |
REALITY conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about REALITY files.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a .reality file on my iPhone?
Tap the file in the Files app, Safari, or Messages. iOS 12 and later opens it automatically in AR Quick Look, where you can view the 3D scene and place it in your real surroundings using the camera.
Can I open a .reality file on Windows or Android?
Not natively. The format is proprietary to Apple's RealityKit and there is no official viewer for Windows or Android. The practical option is to get the creator to export the scene as
.usdz or .glb, which have broader support.What is the difference between a .reality file and a .usdz file?
Both are ZIP-based archives that carry the same USD-derived 3D content. A
.usdz file is meant for portable AR viewing, while a .reality file adds RealityKit interactivity such as triggers, actions, and behaviors authored in Reality Composer.Which app creates .reality files?
Reality Composer (bundled with Xcode 11 through 14.3.1 and available as a free iOS/iPadOS app) and Reality Composer Pro create and export
.reality files. Xcode can also build one automatically from a .rcproject during a project build.Why won't my .reality file open in a 3D modeling program?
Most modeling tools do not read Apple's Reality format directly. Convert the scene to
.usdz first, then import that into Blender or another USD-aware application to work with the geometry.Is it safe to open a .reality file someone sent me?
AR Quick Look runs the scene in a sandbox, so a plain preview is low risk. Still, because these files can carry interactive behaviors, only open ones from sources you trust and keep your Apple software updated.
References
1Apple Developer - RealityKit documentationdeveloper.apple.com
2Apple Developer - AR Quick Lookdeveloper.apple.com
