File Extension/MAX
alphabetical list of extensions

File extension .MAX

File description

Files with a MAX extension are 3d animation program binary files. These files contain the information necessary to render 3d animation art and drawings in Autodesk 3D Studio. The files are proprietary to this software system, and are not backwards compatible with previous versions of the software.

3DS Max uses plug-in extensions which are proprietary to this software. These plug-ins are encoded into the MAX file format. Because of this, there is no reason to parse out industry-standard formats for other programs than 3DS Max. These files compress on save automatically. Upgrading software requires opening and resaving MAX files with new software encoding present.

Description of the problem
If you have on your computer a .MAX file that you cannot open, you are in exactly the same situation as thousands of other people who have similar problems with this or any other unknown file.

There may be several reasons why you cannot open the file with .MAX extension. Directly on this website you can find a solution of the most common problem with the .MAX file – that you do not have on your computer the appropriate program to open the file.
Solution
From the list below, select the appropriate program, install it and double click on the icon of a file that did not want to open - the problem with the .MAX file extension should be solved. However, if this does not happen, go back to the website to learn about other possible causes of the error, which have been described at the bottom of the website.
Category
3D Image Files
Developer
Autodesk
Popularity
StarStarStarStarStar
File name: 3ds Max Scene File
Programs that will open this file:
Windows
Windows
3D Studio Max 3D Studio Max
Category
Raster Image Files
Developer
Nuance Communications
Popularity
StarStarStarStar
File name: PaperPort Scanned Document
Programs that will open this file:
Windows
Windows
OmniPage Ultimate OmniPage Ultimate
PaperPort PaperPort
PaperPort Viewer PaperPort Viewer
Mac OS
Mac OS
OmniPage Pro X OmniPage Pro X
PaperPort Viewer PaperPort Viewer
Linux
Linux
Maxview Maxview
Category
Layout Files
Developer
Nuance Communications
Popularity
StarStarStar
File name: OmniPage Scanned Document
Programs that will open this file:
Windows
Windows
OmniPage Ultimate OmniPage Ultimate
PaperPort PaperPort
Mac OS
Mac OS
OmniPage Pro X OmniPage Pro X
Linux
Linux
Maxview Maxview
Category
Game Files
Developer
Datel
Popularity
StarStar
File name: Action Replay Max Save File
Programs that will open this file:
Windows
Windows
PS2 Save Builder PS2 Save Builder
PS2 Save Converter PS2 Save Converter
Remember!
The .MAX file extension can correspond to several not related file formats. If there is more than one file format with the .MAX extension, you will probably find most of them at this website. Remember that you need to download a program to support a particular file type. So first look through the entire contents of the website to select a program to support just the file you have.

Other possible reasons why your .MAX file does not want to open

In addition to the problem described above, i.e. the lack of the appropriate application to support the .MAX file, there may be several reasons that cause problems with opening and operation of the data format:

1. Incorrect version of the installed application

A quite common problem is the lack of application in the appropriate version. Even if you have an application, with the help of which you should open the .MAX file, you may have a problem with it because of its version. Perhaps in previous versions the application has not yet supported the .MAX file, so download the update and check again.

2. Incorrect .MAX file association with the program

If you have already installed the appropriate application, and it is the correct version, the file may not open correctly, because the operating system does not have information that this program supports the file. So you need to "show" which program the computer should use. To do this:

  • Right-click the .MAX file
  • Go to the "Open with" - then "Choose default program ..."
  • Locate the appropriate application
  • Click "OK"

3. The file is corrupt

It also happens that the file you want to open is corrupt and therefore there is no such possibility. In this situation, you should find its different version, or ask a person from whom you got, to send it again.