Cloud import & export

Importing models larger than 15MB requires a Plus, Pro or Enterprise license. You can learn more about our paid licenses on our website and can start a free trial from Arkio to try this feature. 

Arkio supports importing and exporting of images, and 3D models from various tools. The simplest way to import and export models to Arkio is using the Arkio Cloud to share your files between devices like your PC using our plugins and Arkio on your Quest, Mac, tablet, phone, or other supported devices.

To load Revit, Rhino and SketchUp files you need to first open these models in the original software and use the Arkio plugins included in our Windows Installer to prepare your active 3D view for Arkio.

The Arkio Cloud page does not require a user account, email, or license to upload files. You can directly create a group and upload your files. A license is only required in the Arkio app if you wish to place imported objects in your scenes that require a subscription.

Join the same Cloud Group

The Arkio Cloud portal allows you to upload and download 3D models and images directly to and from Arkio on your devices. You can access the cloud portal at cloud.arkio.is to create a new group (and optionally give it a name). Once your group has been created you can join the same group in Arkio by entering the invite code provided.

If your original invite code has expired you can create a new invite code. If you run into issues with your existing cloud group you can simply unjoin the cloud group on your device and create a new group to join. You can create, join and leave as many cloud groups as needed for your collaborations.

In Arkio you can join the group by selecting the opening the cloud panel in the create tool and entering the invite code. When joined, any files uploaded through the cloud portal will automatically be downloaded to Arkio in the import tab.

If you join the same group on multiple devices, the files will be downloaded on all of the devices the next time you run Arkio. Once your files are downloaded they are available offline on your device to be placed in the scene. The cloud is only used as a temporary service for sharing files with your devices. Files uploaded to the cloud will expire after 7 days. If you want to skip previous uploads from automatically downloading again you can leave and create a new cloud group with new files instead.

Importing files to Arkio

The Arkio cloud portal supports uploading of images, OBJ and GLB models and exports from the Arkio plugins for Revit, Rhino, SketchUp and Unity. Exports from our plugins can be found under \Documents\Arkio\Import\. You can multi-select files that belong to the same 3D model or zip the files to upload them as one file to your cloud group.

Once your files are uploaded to the Arkio Cloud and your devices are in the same cloud group the files will automatically be downloaded and processed in Arkio, the assets will appear in your import drawer and can be placed in the scene. 

Note: Placing exports larger than 15 MB or models exported from our Unity, Revit, Rhino and SketchUp plugins will require a paid license to be applied in Arkio. 

Imported models and images can be locked as a non-movable reference (Locked at origin)

or placed freely like other Arkio props (Place as object)

Model import size

The Quest and smartphones are mobile devices running on a battery with limited power. You want to make sure that imported models don't exceed 500K polygons to avoid crashes or uncomfortable framerates for your VR experience. If you have a heavy model but still like to load it on mobile devices you can hide parts of the model in the view before exporting, use lower LOD settings on our plugins or manually optimize your models for mobile devices. We limit the maximum

Loading indicators

When loading files,  the following icons will indicate if the files are currently being processed, loaded or have issues. Models imported in Arkio are stored locally and are only shared with meeting participants fully end-to-end encrypted. When the last user exits the meeting the imported assets will no longer be available for other users to download.

Loading locally	Loading from server	File not found	Update available
Initializing model	Downloading model	Click to remove	Click to replace

If you see a yellow or red warning cloud it means that the model you try to load is too large for your device and cannot be loaded. Try reducing the model size or using Arkio on a more powerful device like a PC with a VR headset in link mode.

Updating models

When you save a new version of your model or image with the same name to the cloud, Arkio will download this automatically and show a yellow notification in your scene to indicate that a new version is available. You can click this yellow icon to update the placed model with the new version.

Arkio will keep the old versions of your imported models so you can always revert back to an old version by selecting an older import date in your placement menu and clicking "Update in Scene"

Exporting Files

Arkio models are exported by opening your scenes and selecting the correct export format.

When Arkio is linked to a cloud group you can also export scenes and photos to the cloud from the export panel, found under scenes. Just make sure to toggle the cloud export toggle on.

Here you can choose to export photos taken inside Arkio from the last 48 hours or your current scene to our support 3D file formats or plugins. Files exported from Arkio via the cloud can then be found in the cloud portal under downloads and can be downloaded to your device. Exports for Revit and other Arkio plugins can be converted back to native geometry using the Arkio plugins that are included with the Windows installer.

The models get exported in metric (1 unit = 1 meter). OBJ's are exported from Arkio as one mesh that can be spit and edited using mesh editing software. GLB exports will contain the hierarchy of mesh elements and all textures.

Known issues

Uploading Files larger than 200MB to the Arkio cloud can result in failing uploads and will show a warning when you try to do so.

Models larger than 200MB are often too large to load on mobile devices like a Quest. If you need to work with files this large you can best import the file locally to Arkio on a more powerful device like PC or Mac. The PC version of Arkio can also be used to work on larger models in your VR headset by connecting your VR headset to the PC using Meta's (air)link mode or SteamVR.