# GLB to USDZ Converter

> To convert GLB to USDZ, load the glTF scene with its PBR materials and write it as a zipped USD package. Kenerate's free converter does it in your browser, no Mac needed, and the .usdz opens in AR Quick Look on iPhone and iPad. Textures and materials carry over; animation does not. Nothing is uploaded.

URL: https://kenerateai.com/glb-to-usdz
Publisher: Kenerate AI (https://kenerateai.com)
Last updated: 2026-10-01

## Key facts
- Price: Free, no account
- Converts: GLB (glTF 2.0 binary, Draco / Meshopt OK) → USDZ
- Kept: Meshes, PBR materials, textures
- Not kept: Animation
- Opens in: AR Quick Look (iOS / iPadOS), macOS Quick Look, Reality Composer
- Privacy: Converted locally — no upload
- AR in one tap: Send the USDZ by Messages or AirDrop, or link it on a web page — iPhone and iPad open it in AR Quick Look.
- Materials survive: Base colour, metal-roughness and normal maps are carried into the USDZ's materials.
- No Mac required: Apple's own converters run on macOS. This one runs in any browser.
- AI models to AR: GLBs from text-to-3D and image-to-3D engines convert directly.
- Unpack: The GLB scene is read and compressed meshes decoded.
- Materials: PBR materials and textures are mapped to USD preview materials.
- Package: Geometry and textures are written into a USDZ archive.
- Download: The .usdz is saved to your device, ready for AR.
- GLB (glTF 2.0 Binary): Single-file scene with PBR materials; by Khronos Group, 2017 (glTF 2.0). Holds: Meshes and PBR materials, Textures in the same file, Animation and skins. Lacks: Units beyond metres, CAD precision. Best for: Web, AR and real-time apps — the “JPEG of 3D”. Opens in: Browsers (three.js, model-viewer), Blender, Unity, Unreal, Godot.
- USDZ (Universal Scene Description (zipped)): Zipped USD package; by Pixar / Apple, 2018 (USDZ). Holds: Meshes and PBR materials, Textures in the package. Lacks: Broad support outside Apple and DCC tools. Best for: AR Quick Look on iPhone and iPad. Opens in: iOS / iPadOS / macOS Quick Look, Reality Composer, Blender.
- Backed by — GLB vs USDZ: Khronos Group (open standard) | Pixar's USD, packaged by Apple
- AR on iPhone / iPad — GLB vs USDZ: Via apps or web viewers | Built in (AR Quick Look)
- AR on Android — GLB vs USDZ: Scene Viewer and web viewers | Limited
- PBR materials — GLB vs USDZ: Yes | Yes
- Best for — GLB vs USDZ: Web and cross-platform | Apple devices

## Steps
1. Open the GLB — Drop your .glb onto the box above, or try the sample astronaut.
2. Preview — Check it with its textures.
3. Pick USDZ — USDZ is selected.
4. Download and share — Download, then AirDrop or message it to an iPhone and tap to view in AR.

## In depth

### What USDZ is
USD (Universal Scene Description) is Pixar's open scene format; USDZ is a zip package of a USD scene and its textures that Apple introduced in 2018 for AR [6]. iOS and iPadOS open it directly in AR Quick Look [9].

### GLB for everyone, USDZ for Apple
A common setup is to publish both: GLB for Android and the web [4], USDZ for iPhone [9]. Google's model-viewer web component, for example, can use a GLB and hand iOS users a USDZ.

References:
[1] Wikipedia — STL (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)
[2] Wikipedia — Wavefront .obj file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_.obj_file
[3] Wikipedia — FBX: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBX
[4] Khronos Group — glTF: https://www.khronos.org/gltf/
[5] 3MF Consortium — 3MF specification: https://3mf.io/specification/
[6] Wikipedia — Universal Scene Description (USD / USDZ): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Scene_Description
[7] Wikipedia — PLY (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLY_(file_format)
[8] Khronos Group — glTF 2.0 specification: https://registry.khronos.org/glTF/specs/2.0/glTF-2.0.html
[9] Apple — AR Quick Look: https://developer.apple.com/augmented-reality/quick-look/
[10] three.js — documentation: https://threejs.org/docs/
[11] Prusa Knowledge Base — Modeling with 3D printing in mind: https://help.prusa3d.com/article/modeling-with-3d-printing-in-mind_164135
[12] Prusa Blog — lithophanes and filament transparency: https://blog.prusa3d.com/lets-play-with-filament-transparency-how-to-make-amazing-lifelike-color-photos-with-just-a-simple-color-change_104338/
[13] Polymers (2024) 16(20):2862 — FFF parameters and translucency of PLA: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16202862
[14] Wikipedia — Lithophane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithophane
[15] W3C — CSS Values and Units Level 3 (absolute lengths): https://www.w3.org/TR/css-values-3/
[16] Adobe Substance 3D — OpenGL vs DirectX normal maps: https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/substance-3d/bakers/common-questions/what-is-the-difference-between-the-opengl-and-directx-normal-format
[17] Blender Manual — Normal Map node: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/shader_nodes/displacement/normal_map.html
[18] Wikipedia — Normal mapping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
[19] SIL Open Font License: https://openfontlicense.org/

## FAQ
Q: Is GLB to USDZ conversion free?
A: Yes — free, no account, no Mac.

Q: How do I view a USDZ in AR?
A: On an iPhone or iPad, tap the file in Safari, Messages, Mail or Files. AR Quick Look opens; tap AR to place it.

Q: Do textures carry over?
A: Yes. PBR textures from the GLB are written into the USDZ.

Q: Does animation work?
A: No — the USDZ is exported static.

Q: Is the model the right size in AR?
A: AR Quick Look uses the file's real-world scale. glTF is in metres, so a model authored at real size appears at real size.

Q: Is my file uploaded?
A: No. It's converted on your device.

## Related pages
- AI 3D Model Generator: https://kenerateai.com/ai-3d-model-generator
- Image to 3D: https://kenerateai.com/image-to-3d-converter
- AI STL Generator: https://kenerateai.com/ai-3d-printing-model-generator
- Text to 3D: https://kenerateai.com/text-to-3d-generator

## Sources
- Wikipedia — STL (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)
- Wikipedia — Wavefront .obj file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_.obj_file
- Wikipedia — FBX: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBX
- Khronos Group — glTF: https://www.khronos.org/gltf/
- 3MF Consortium — 3MF specification: https://3mf.io/specification/
- Wikipedia — Universal Scene Description (USD / USDZ): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Scene_Description
- Wikipedia — PLY (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLY_(file_format)
- Khronos Group — glTF 2.0 specification: https://registry.khronos.org/glTF/specs/2.0/glTF-2.0.html
- Apple — AR Quick Look: https://developer.apple.com/augmented-reality/quick-look/
- three.js — documentation: https://threejs.org/docs/
- Prusa Knowledge Base — Modeling with 3D printing in mind: https://help.prusa3d.com/article/modeling-with-3d-printing-in-mind_164135
- Prusa Blog — lithophanes and filament transparency: https://blog.prusa3d.com/lets-play-with-filament-transparency-how-to-make-amazing-lifelike-color-photos-with-just-a-simple-color-change_104338/
- Polymers (2024) 16(20):2862 — FFF parameters and translucency of PLA: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16202862
- Wikipedia — Lithophane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithophane
- W3C — CSS Values and Units Level 3 (absolute lengths): https://www.w3.org/TR/css-values-3/
- Adobe Substance 3D — OpenGL vs DirectX normal maps: https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/substance-3d/bakers/common-questions/what-is-the-difference-between-the-opengl-and-directx-normal-format
- Blender Manual — Normal Map node: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/shader_nodes/displacement/normal_map.html
- Wikipedia — Normal mapping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
- SIL Open Font License: https://openfontlicense.org/