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 and Arkio on your Quest, Mac, tablet, phone, or other supported devices.

To load Revit, Rhino and SketchUp files you need to first open your model in that software and use the free 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 files. A license is only required in Arkio if you wish to place larger imported objects 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 (valid for 15 minutes) 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 instead. 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 adding the invite code. When joined, any file uploaded through the cloud portal will automatically be downloaded and shown on the main Arkio import tab.

You can also connect the Arkio Revit and Rhino plugins to the same cloud group so you can upload files directly to all connected devices without having to start a meeting from a PC to share your Arkio files.

If you join the same group on multiple devices, the files will automatically be shared with the devices the next time you run Arkio. Once your files are downloaded they will remain available offline to be placed in the scene. The Arkio cloud is used as a service for easily sharing local files between your devices. Files uploaded to the cloud will therefore expire after 7 days. If you want to prevent previous uploads from auto-downloading you can leave and create a new cloud group instead.

Import 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

Meta Quest and phones are mobile devices with limited processing power. To avoid crashes or low framerates on those devices the imported models in your scene should not exceed 500K polygons. If you want to load larger imported files it's recommended to use a more powerful device instead (eg a gaming PC running Arkio with your Quest in Air Link mode) you can also hide parts of the model before exporting, use lower LOD settings in our plugins, or manually optimize your models for mobile devices. 

We limit importing files per platform to avoid crashes when loading large models:

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 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 of that model 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 the older import date in your import menu and clicking "Update in Scene"

Exporting files from Arkio

Arkio models are exported as active scene by selecting the correct export format in the scene viewer

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

From the scenes export tab, 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 Arkio cloud portal under downloads. 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 edited using mesh editing software. GLB exports will contain the correct hierarchy of mesh elements and include all textures in one file.

FAQ

How can I manage cloud groups?

Arkio Cloud groups can be best seen as a quick way to share imports and exports of models and images between devices. Users can create or leave groups at any time and the temporary nature of sharing files via groups makes it easy to focus only on the files you need to share with Arkio on other devices.

How long are my files stored on Arkio Cloud?

Files uploaded to cloud groups will be stored for 7 days after that the files will no longer be shared with any linked devices. Uploaded imports that were already shared to linked devices will remain available offline so they can be opened in Arkio even when not connected to the internet or to the original group. Exports from Arkio shared to your cloud group will be available for download until you leave the group from your internet browser.

Can I have multiple cloud groups?

You can create multiple cloud groups but as uploads expire, groups are best used to quickly share a set of files between devices. You can always create a new group to make it easier to manage fewer files. If you wish to switch between multiple cloud groups you can use other workstations or browsers to manage different cloud group upload/download pages and create invitation codes from these browsers.

Who can access my files uploaded on the Arkio Cloud?

Only devices that are linked to an Arkio cloud group using the 15-minute generated invite code can access files uploaded to each unique cloud group. Group names are indicative and you can make as many new groups as you like. If no more devices are connected or if your uploads expire your files will no longer be accessible.

Known issues

Uploading Files larger than 200 MB to the Arkio cloud portal via a web browser can result in failing uploads and will show a warning. Models larger than 200 MB 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 headset to the PC using Meta's (air)link mode or SteamVR.