How to open a .ply file
Quick, free ways to open PLY on any system.
A .ply file is a Polygon File Format. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads PLY yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .ply file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .ply. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with MeshLab or Blender.
- On Mac, use MeshLab or Blender.
- On Linux, try MeshLab or Blender.
- Still stuck? Convert the .ply to obj, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .ply files
Windows
- MeshLab
- Blender
- CloudCompare
macOS
- MeshLab
- Blender
- Preview
Linux
- MeshLab
- Blender
- CloudCompare
!
Before you open it: Safe. PLY is 3D geometry data read by modelling software.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .ply file?
Almost always because no installed app understands PLY. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open a .ply file?
Use MeshLab or Blender, both free, or CloudCompare for point clouds. They can convert it to OBJ, STL or glTF.
What is a PLY file used for?
Storing 3D meshes and point clouds, especially output from 3D scanners and photogrammetry, often with per-vertex colour.