What you need before you start

Importing a modded Minecraft world into Blender requires three things: the world files themselves, Mineways (a free converter), and Blender installed on your computer. Mineways reads your Minecraft save folder, converts the blocks and terrain into a 3D model, and exports it as a file Blender can open. This process works with modded worlds, but the mods themselves do not carry over — you get the terrain, structures, and block shapes, but custom mod blocks often appear as their closest vanilla equivalents or as placeholder cubes.

The world files live in your Minecraft launcher's saves folder. On Windows, that is usually C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft\saves. On Mac, it is ~/Library/process Support/minecraft/saves. On Linux, it is ~/.minecraft/saves. Each world folder contains the region files Mineways needs to read.

Key Takeaways

  • Mineways is a free tool that converts Minecraft world files into 3D models that Blender can import and edit.
  • Modded worlds convert successfully, but custom mod blocks usually show as vanilla blocks or straightforward shapes because Blender does not have the mod textures or models built in.
  • You export from Mineways as an OBJ or MTL file, then open that file in Blender using File > Import.
  • Large worlds create very large files that can slow Blender down, so exporting only the region you need is faster than exporting the entire map.
  • Textures import as image files alongside your model, so keep them in the same folder or Blender will show your world in gray.

read and set up Mineways

Go to www.realtimerendering.com/erich/minecraft/public/mineways/ and read the version for your operating system. Windows users get a ZIP file; Mac and Linux users get a compiled binary. Extract the ZIP on Windows and run the executable. On Mac, you may need to allow it in System Preferences under Security & Privacy the first time you launch it.

When Mineways opens, it will ask you to locate your Minecraft saves folder. Point it to the folder path for your operating system (the paths listed above). Mineways will then show you a list of all your worlds. Select the modded world you want to convert. The program will load a map view of your world, and you can zoom and pan to see the terrain.

Select the area you want to export

Exporting an entire large world creates a file hundreds of megabytes or larger, which Blender struggles to open and edit. Instead, use Mineways' selection tools to export only the region you need. Click and drag on the map to draw a rectangle around the area you want. The selection box shows you exactly what will be included.

If you are working on a specific build or structure, zoom in on that area and make your selection tight around it. If you want a landscape shot or a wide view, select a larger region but still avoid the entire map. A selection of a few hundred blocks in each direction usually converts to a manageable file size.

Export your world as an OBJ file

Once you have selected your region, go to File > Export for Rendering. Mineways will ask you where to save the file and what format you want. Choose Wavefront OBJ as your format — this is the most compatible with Blender and includes texture information. Give your file a clear name like "my_world_section" and choose a folder you will remember.

Mineways will process the world and create several files in that folder: the OBJ file itself, an MTL file (which tells Blender where the textures are), and a folder full of PNG image files (the actual textures). Do not separate these files — keep them all in the same folder, or Blender will not find the textures when you import.

Import the model into Blender

Open Blender and create a new project, or open an existing one where you want to add your world. Go to File > Import > Wavefront (.obj). Navigate to the folder where you saved your Mineways export and select the OBJ file. Click Import OBJ.

Blender will load the model into your scene. The world will appear with textures if the MTL and texture files are in the same folder. If your world appears gray or untextured, the texture files are missing or in the wrong location — move them to the same folder as the OBJ file and re-import. The import may take a minute or two if the selection was large.

Adjust scale and position in Blender

Minecraft uses a different scale than Blender's default. One Minecraft block is one unit in Blender, which is usually fine, but you may want to adjust the model's position so it sits at the origin (0, 0, 0) or at a specific location in your scene. Select the imported model, press G to grab it, and move it where you need it.

If you want to scale the entire world larger or smaller, press S and type a number. Scaling to 2 makes everything twice as large; scaling to 0.5 makes it half size. You can now add lighting, cameras, materials, or other Blender objects to create renders or animations of your modded world.

Troubleshooting common import problems

If Mineways will not find your saves folder, make sure you are pointing it to the correct path for your operating system. On Windows, the AppData folder is hidden by default — enable "Show hidden files" in File Explorer's View menu. If Blender imports the model but it looks wrong or is missing large sections, the world may have been too large to export in one go. Re-export a smaller selection and import that instead.

Custom mod blocks that Mineways does not recognize usually show as gray or white cubes, or as the closest vanilla block match. This is normal and expected — Mineways has no way to know what a mod block should look like without the mod's texture and model files. You can manually replace these in Blender by adding your own materials or models on top of the imported world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import a modded world with custom biomes or terrain generation?

Yes. Mineways reads the actual terrain data in your world files, so custom biomes and terrain from mods like Biomes O' Plenty or Terraforged will import correctly. The terrain shape and block placement will match your world. Custom biome colors may not display perfectly if Mineways does not recognize the biome, but the geometry will be accurate.

Why do my mod blocks look like vanilla blocks in Blender?

Mineways converts only the block IDs and positions from your world file. It does not have access to the mod's custom textures or 3D models, so it falls back to vanilla equivalents or gray placeholders. You can manually add custom materials in Blender if you have the mod's texture files, but this requires manual work for each block type.

How large can my exported world be before Blender slows down?

This depends on your computer's RAM and graphics card, but most systems handle selections up to 500 by 500 blocks smoothly. Larger exports may cause Blender to lag or freeze when you try to edit. If your world is very large, export it in sections and import each section separately, positioning them next to each other in your scene.

Do I need to install any Blender add-ons to import Minecraft worlds?

No. Blender's built-in OBJ importer handles Mineways exports without any add-ons. You do not need to install anything beyond Blender itself and Mineways.

Can I export my world again if I make changes in Minecraft?

Yes. Re-run Mineways, select the same region, and export again with a new filename. Then import the new OBJ file into Blender as a separate object. You can compare the old and new versions side by side, or delete the old one and keep only the updated version.