How to open a .dae file
Quick, free ways to open COLLADA on any system.
A .dae file is a COLLADA Digital Asset Exchange. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads COLLADA yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .dae file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .dae. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Blender or SketchUp.
- On Mac, use Blender or Preview.
- On Linux, try Blender or MeshLab.
- Still stuck? Convert the .dae to gltf, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .dae files
Windows
- Blender
- SketchUp
- Windows 3D Viewer
macOS
- Blender
- Preview
- SketchUp
Linux
- Blender
- MeshLab
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Before you open it: Safe. COLLADA is 3D data in XML, read by modelling software.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .dae file?
Almost always because no installed app understands COLLADA. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open a .dae file?
Import it into Blender or SketchUp, or view it in the Windows 3D Viewer or macOS Preview. Being XML, it also opens in a text editor.
What is the difference between COLLADA and glTF?
Both exchange 3D scenes. COLLADA is older, verbose XML; glTF is a compact modern format built for real-time and the web, and is now preferred.