Microsoft pulled 3D Viewer from the Store in July 2026. Free replacements that open GLB, OBJ, FBX and STEP on Windows 11, with nothing to install.
Microsoft 3D Viewer is a handy desktop tool for opening GLB, OBJ, FBX and 3MF files on Windows. But it has hard limits for professional work: no STEP support, no shareable links, no web embed, and it runs on Windows only. It is also on its way out — Microsoft deprecated 3D Viewer in February 2026 and is removing it from the Microsoft Store on 1 July 2026. If you have outgrown it, or never found it on your Windows 11 machine, here are the best free alternatives in 2026.
That STEP gap matters: STEP (ISO 10303) has been the neutral CAD exchange standard since its first publication in 1994, and its modern AP242 protocol is what most mechanical teams export for multi-CAD review. A viewer that can't open STEP simply can't sit in an engineering workflow.
Microsoft 3D Viewer was never preinstalled by default on Windows 11, and it had already been dropped from clean Windows 10 installs. It is now a legacy app: Microsoft's deprecated-features list confirms it was deprecated in February 2026 and leaves the Microsoft Store on 1 July 2026. Existing installs keep working, but there will be no further development — and Microsoft itself now points users to the browser-based Babylon.js Sandbox for viewing 3D content. For anything beyond a quick local preview, a web viewer is the durable choice.
OmniView 3D is the best free Microsoft 3D Viewer alternative for professional sharing. Upload GLB, OBJ, FBX, STL, STEP or IGES and get a shareable, private-by-default link in 60 seconds. It works on any device, any operating system, any browser, with no install for the person you send it to. Models are private until you choose to share them, and every share link can be revoked. See the free STEP file viewer for the CAD workflow. Free Starter tier, no credit card.
3dviewer.net is the fastest option for a quick preview in the browser. No account, drag-and-drop, supports most formats including STEP. Limitation: no private shareable links and no B2B features. See our 3dviewer.net alternatives comparison.
CAD Assistant is a free desktop app from Open CASCADE that opens STEP, BRep, OBJ, PLY and STL. A strong CAD viewer for engineers who need offline access and geometric precision. Available on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. Limitation: no link sharing.
Babylon.js Sandbox is the free web viewer Microsoft now recommends in place of 3D Viewer. Drag a GLB or glTF file into the browser and it renders instantly, with no account. It is aimed at previewing real-time 3D assets rather than engineering CAD: no STEP/IGES, and no private sharing links.
| Tool | Opens STEP | Shareable link | Cross-platform | Web embed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OmniView 3D | Yes | Yes (private, revocable) | Any browser | Yes (iFrame) |
| 3dviewer.net | Yes | No | Any browser | No |
| CAD Assistant | Yes | No | Desktop + mobile | No |
| Babylon.js Sandbox | No | No | Any browser | No |
| Microsoft 3D Viewer | No | No | Windows only | No |
For a quick local look at a GLB or OBJ, 3dviewer.net, CAD Assistant or Babylon.js Sandbox are fine. The moment you need to open STEP and send a model to a client or supplier, a sharing-first web viewer wins — see our roundup of the best online 3D viewers for 2026.
Yes. Microsoft deprecated 3D Viewer in February 2026 and is removing it from the Microsoft Store on 1 July 2026. Copies already installed will keep working, but the app receives no further development and can no longer be downloaded after that date.
Microsoft 3D Viewer was never preinstalled by default on Windows 11, so many users never had it. It is treated as a legacy app and, since it is leaving the Microsoft Store on 1 July 2026, a browser-based alternative is the safer long-term choice.
GLB, glTF, OBJ, FBX, 3MF, PLY and STL, among a few others. It does NOT support STEP, STP, IGES or DXF. For STEP-based engineering files you need OmniView 3D, 3dviewer.net or Autodesk Viewer.
For viewing 3D content, Microsoft points users to the web-based Babylon.js Sandbox. It previews GLB and glTF in the browser but does not open engineering CAD formats such as STEP, and it has no private sharing links — so for CAD sharing a tool like OmniView 3D is a better fit.
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In your browser, no account: the file stays on your computer. A free account then gives you a share link your client opens with no software.
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