You can add another model to your Blender project by importing a saved file or linking to one without embedding it

When you want to use more than one 3D model in a single Blender project, you have two main routes: importing a model (which copies it into your file) or linking to it (which references an external file without copying). Most people import when they want to edit the model as part of the current project, and link when they want to use the same model in multiple projects without duplicating the file.

The simplest path is to go to File > Import, choose the file format you need (like .obj, .fbx, or .blend), and select the model file from your computer. Blender will place it in your scene at the world origin — the center point where the grid lines meet. From there you can move it, rotate it, and scale it using the standard transform tools.

Key Takeaways

  • Import a model through File > Import when you want to add and edit another 3D object in your current project.
  • Link a model through File > Link when you want to reference an external file without copying it into your project.
  • Imported models appear at the world origin (0, 0, 0) and can be moved, rotated, and scaled like any other object in your scene.
  • File format matters — Blender reads .obj, .fbx, .glb, and .blend files, but each format may lose some data like materials or animations during import.

The difference between importing and linking a model

When you import, Blender reads the file and copies all the geometry, materials, and other data into your current project. The original file stays on your computer unchanged, but now you have a complete copy inside your .blend file. This makes the file larger, but it means you can edit the model, change its materials, or delete it without affecting the original.

When you link, Blender creates a reference to the external file instead of copying it. If you later change the original file, the linked version updates automatically in all your projects. Linking keeps your file size smaller and is useful when you have a model (like a character or building) that appears in many scenes. The trade-off is that you cannot edit a linked model directly — you have to open the original file, make changes there, and then the linked version updates.

For most beginners, importing is the right choice. It gives you full control and you do not have to worry about moving files around or broken links.

How to import a model step by step

Start with a new or existing Blender project open. Go to the top menu and click File, then hover over Import. You will see a list of file formats: Wavefront (.obj), Collada (.dae), FBX (.fbx), glTF 2.0 (.glb/.gltf), Alembic (.abc), and others. Choose the format that matches the file you want to add.

A file browser window opens. Navigate to the folder where your model file is saved, click on the file name to select it, then click the Import button in the bottom right. Blender reads the file and places the model in your scene. You may see it appear at the center of the viewport, or it may be very large or very small depending on the original file's scale.

Once imported, the model becomes a selectable object in your outliner (the panel on the right that lists all objects in your scene). You can select it by clicking on it in the viewport or in the outliner, then use the move (G), rotate (R), and scale (S) shortcuts to position and size it. If the model has materials or textures, they may or may not import depending on the file format — some formats carry material data, others do not.

What happens to materials and textures when you import

Different file formats handle materials differently. An .obj file usually imports geometry only — the shape and position of the model — without colors or textures. An .fbx file may include materials and can sometimes carry animations. A .blend file (another Blender project) imports everything: geometry, materials, textures, and animations.

If your imported model looks gray or plain, it may have lost its materials during import. You can add new materials in Blender's Shading workspace, or you can re-import the file and check whether the original file format supports materials. If you are importing from another Blender project (.blend), make sure the original project has the texture files saved in a location Blender can find — if the textures are missing, the imported model will show as gray.

How to link a model instead of importing it

Linking is useful when you have a model you want to use in multiple projects without duplicating it. Go to File > Link (not Import). The file browser opens. Navigate to the .blend file you want to link to, then double-click the folder icon next to it to open the contents of that file.

Inside a .blend file, you will see folders for Object, Material, Mesh, and other data types. Click on Object to see the objects in that file. Select the specific object you want to link (for example, a character model or a building), then click Link. The object appears in your scene as a linked instance — it looks and behaves like a normal object, but it is controlled by the original file.

If you need to edit a linked object, you cannot do it in the current project. Instead, open the original .blend file, make your changes, save it, and the linked version updates in all projects that use it. This is powerful for team projects where one person maintains the model and others use it in their scenes.

Fixing common problems when adding models

If your imported model does not appear, it may be outside the visible area of your viewport. Press the Home key or use the scroll wheel to zoom out and see the whole scene. If the model is there but invisible, check whether it is on a hidden layer or whether its material is set to not display in your current viewport shading mode.

If the model is the wrong size, select it and press S to scale, then type a number (like 0.1 to make it one-tenth the size, or 10 to make it ten times larger) and press Enter. If the model is rotated the wrong way, press R, then X, Y, or Z to rotate around that axis, type the angle in degrees, and press Enter.

If materials did not import, check the file format — .obj files rarely carry materials. You can either add new materials in Blender, or export the original model in a format that preserves materials (like .fbx or .blend) and re-import it. If you are linking and the link is broken (the file moved or was deleted), Blender will show a warning in the outliner. You can fix it by going to File > External Data > Relink and pointing to the new location of the file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import multiple models at once?

No, Blender's import dialog opens one file at a time. To add multiple models, import them one by one. If you have many models to add, consider organizing them in a single .blend file and linking to that file instead, which brings all of them in at once.

What file format should I use if I want to keep materials?

.fbx and .blend formats preserve materials better than .obj. If you are exporting from another program, choose .fbx if possible. If you are working with another Blender file, use .blend and link to it rather than importing, so materials stay connected to their texture files.

Why is my imported model huge or tiny?

Different programs use different scale units. A model made in one program might be 100 times larger or smaller when imported into Blender. Select the model, press S to scale, type a number to resize it, and press Enter. You can also check the original file's scale settings in the program where it was created.

Can I edit a linked model?

Not directly in the project where it is linked. You must open the original .blend file, make your changes there, save it, and the linked version updates automatically. If you need to edit it in the current project, you can convert the link to an import by going to Object > Make Local, but then it becomes a copy and will not update if the original changes.

What happens if I move the original file after linking?

Blender will show a broken link warning. Go to File > External Data > Relink, select the linked object, and point Blender to the new location of the file. After that, the link works again.