Extension NavigatorFILE EXTENSION LIBRARY
日本語
Home›CAD & 3D›.blend
THE FILE FIELD GUIDE
.blend

Blender Project

CAD & 3D

BLEND is Blender’s native document, containing scenes, materials and animation. Textures/libraries may remain external; check dependencies and application version before sharing.

What it is used for
Native Blender scenes, materials and animation
What the file contains
Binary data
All sections, questions and sources

Content reviewed： · Editor：Kai

First: choose for your purpose

BLEND is a native Blender project that may contain scenes, materials and animation as well as geometry. Use a compatible Blender version, inspect external resources/scripts and work on a separately named copy.

Opening steps

Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.

Windows / Mac / Linux: open the native project

This differs from exchange-format import.

  1. Install official Blender and identify the creating version if possible.
  2. Use File > Open on a copy. Do not enable automatic script execution for an untrusted project.
  3. Inspect scenes, objects, materials and frame range, then save a separate working copy.
Missing assets: inspect external data

Not every resource is necessarily inside the BLEND.

  1. Check supplied textures, videos and caches and preserve their structure.
  2. Use Blender’s external-data tools to locate missing resources and verify the paths.
  3. When packing eligible assets, use Pack Resources and save separately; preserve non-packable media separately.
Closed or crashed: try recovery

Avoid overwriting recovery candidates.

  1. Inspect .blend1 backups and autosave candidates and copy them first.
  2. Use File > Recover for the appropriate autosave. Distinguish Last Session from crash-recovery autosaves.
  3. Inspect recovered content/timestamps and save under a new name; compare missing work with originals/resources.

Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.

Troubleshooting by symptom

  • Pink materials: inspect missing image paths and packed resources.
  • Older Blender fails: inspect save-version/feature support and the creator’s version.
  • Behavior differs elsewhere: inspect linked libraries, caches, drivers and add-ons.
  • Materials turn pink: referenced images may be missing. Locate/relink assets and compare the result.
  • An older Blender fails or behaves differently: check version compatibility and open a copy in a suitable version. Do not overwrite the source from an older edition.
  • Script execution is requested: inspect what functionality depends on it and do not authorize automatic execution for unknown files.

BLEND → GLB / FBX / OBJ

  1. Choose the objects and a format/settings supporting the required materials/motion.
  2. Reimport and compare scale, axes, textures and frame range.
  3. Open the export in a clean scene/environment and compare assets, animation and scale; retain BLEND and dependencies for editing.

Exchange formats do not retain every native feature; keep the BLEND and dependencies.

Bundle resources for transfer

Eligible textures can be packed inside BLEND using File > External Data > Pack Resources and then saving. Some external media, including videos, cannot be packed; test in another environment with the remaining companions.

Source for these steps：Blender Foundation · Packed Data

Backups, autosave and Last Session

Versioned backups, autosaves and the normally saved Last Session are different recovery sources. Copy candidates and compare actual work as well as timestamps; autosave may omit the latest operations.

Save recovered work under a new name and inspect dependencies. Keep the BLEND because GLB/OBJ exports do not preserve all editing state.

Source for these steps：Blender Foundation · Recovering Data / Blender Foundation · Blender 5.2 — Assets, Files, & Data System

Related-format differences

Related-format differences
Format / choicePurpose and preserved information
BLENDNative project; check version, external assets and scripts.
GLBRuntime viewing/distribution; not a full editing archive.
OBJPrimarily static geometry exchange with required material companions.

Handling and security

BLEND may contain Python code/drivers. Do not enable Trusted Source or auto-execution until its origin and need are verified.

Questions and answers

Does BLEND alone include all resources?

External images/libraries may also be required.

Should I enable Trusted Source?

It affects script execution; do not enable it for unknown assets.

Can OBJ restore the original?

It cannot restore all native details; keep the BLEND.

Does one BLEND deliver every asset?

Not always. Inspect packed/external resources and test with any non-packable media on the receiving side.

Does Last Session always restore the moment before a crash?

No. Last Session and autosave are distinct. Copy autosave/.blend1 candidates and compare recovered content.

Format facts: name, steward and MIME type
Formal name
Blender project file
Steward / specification
Blender Foundation / Blender contributors
MIME type
Depends on the producer or server; an extension alone does not establish a MIME type.

Primary and official sources

  • Software documentationBlender 5.2 — Assets, Files, & Data System

    Entry point to Blender file and import/export documentation.

    Blender Foundation · Link checked：
  • Software documentationScripting & Security

    Documents Python/driver execution controls in blend files.

    Blender Foundation · Link checked：
  • Software documentationBlender 5.2 — Wavefront OBJ

    Documents OBJ/MTL handling, axes, scale and materials.

    Blender Foundation · Link checked：
  • Software documentationPacked Data

    Packing eligible resources and limitations for external files.

    Blender Foundation · Link checked：
  • Software documentationRecovering Data

    Save versions, autosave and last-session recovery.

    Blender Foundation · Link checked：