Khronos Releases Open-Source iOS App for Viewing glTF Files
Brie Clayton December 8, 2023
0 Comments
Khronos glTF Viewer is live on the Apple App Store with source code immediately available on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license; developer participation and feedback is welcome
glTF is the most portable and accessible asset format for bringing 3D content to diverse platforms, including the web. This open, royalty-free specification minimizes the runtime processing to unpack and process 3D assets, while also supporting sophisticated graphics functionality, rich textures, and diverse materials. Broad industry support for glTF includes adoption of glTF 2.0 as an ISO/IEC International Standard. Now, Khronos is pleased to announce an open-source native iOS app, Khronos glTF Viewer, that enables users to view and interact with glTF assets on iOS devices, including in AR.
This app is distinct from the glTF Sample Viewer, the official browser-based reference viewer from Khronos. Rather, it is squarely focused on bringing glTF viewing capabilities to iOS devices, bridging a crucial gap for the JPEG of 3D and hastening a future where content creators can deploy glTF assets on any target platform.
iOS App: Khronos glTF Viewer The Khronos Group commissioned Fourspace to develop the native Khronos glTF Viewer iOS app, which is immediately available on the App Store, and enables viewing and interaction with glTF models directly on iOS devices, including the iPhone and the iPad. The app can display 3D models against a digital or AR background. The user can zoom, spin, and orient the model, inspecting it from every angle.
The app is a Designed for iPhone application, which means it also works on Mac computers with Apple silicon.
Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!
This happens because the functionality/content marked as Vimeo framework uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.
The application source code is released under an Apache 2.0 license, and is built using well-established, publicly available APIs and platform frameworks, including Swift and SceneKit, plus open source components such as glTFKit2, DracoSwift, and libktx.
The app currently supports all base glTF 2.0 features, as well as Draco compression and clearcoat PBR extensions. The full list of the currently supported glTF extensions is on the Khronos glTF Viewer app page. Khronos will seek to add support for additional glTF capabilities in future updates.
In a collaborative effort, the Khronos Group and Warren Moore from Fourspace have tackled a significant challenge for our users: the ability to quickly and easily view glTF files in AR on their iPhones. Traditionally, glTF assets required cumbersome conversions before being used on iOS. This new iPhone app revolutionizes this process. Users can now directly view their glTF files in AR just by clicking on a glTF 3D model, pointing their camera, and placing their model in the real world. High quality materials and lighting are taken care of by glTF magic. I'm also delighted to see the app released as an open-source project on GitHub, inviting others to learn and contribute. This is a great body of work! said Michael Beale, Autodesk Developer Advocate.
Using the Khronos glTF Viewer App Launch the app from your iPhone or iPad screen.
Choose from several pre-loaded glTF sample models like the Outdoor Chairs.glb model shown above or open your own glTF or glb models from your iPhone's built-in file browser.
You can also easily download glb models from the web and launch them in the app:
Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!
This happens because the functionality/content marked as Vimeo framework uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.
Tapping a model will open a preview, showing highly detailed, realistic materials and even animations.
Tap Object or AR to switch between these two views:
Object Viewer displays objects against a digital background. Users can swipe to rotate, pinch to zoom, or use two fingers to pan.
AR Viewer places your model into the camera's view. Once the app detects a plane, you can pinch to zoom or pinch-rotate the object's orientation. To place your model in a new location, hold down to activate dragging.
Tap the (i) info button to access the glTF file's author, title, generator, license, and copyright details.
Developing Derivative glTF Apps for iOS Full application source code has been released on GitHub under an Apache 2.0 license to inspire innovative, industry and community-driven glTF on iOS experiences. Developers are invited to use the source code to develop their own derivative projects and drive the proliferation of glTF 3D and AR viewers, bringing the superb performance and rich detail of glTF models to the iOS ecosystem.
December 12, 2023Magma Art Collaboration Platform Closes $5M Seed Round Led by GFR Fund with participation from international game publisher Bandai Namco EntertainmentExpansion to Art Platform Used by Professional Studios To Reduce Costs and
December 12, 2023Pixotope Fly Unlocks Industry-First Zoom Capabilities for Tracking Augmented Reality, Extended Reality, and Virtual Studio WorkflowsThe markerless, real-time through-the-lens (TTL) camera tracking software solution for virtual production
Offering Feedback on the Khronos glTF Viewer App Project This open-source project is a significant step in proving the viability of seamless glTF experiences on iOS, but there is more work to be done. Community in
North America Stories
23/07/2026
Evergent (5.A86) will showcase its Agentic Revenue Orchestration Platform for streaming services, sports leagues, pay-TV operators at IBC2026 (RAI Amsterdam, 11...
23/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
23/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
23/07/2026
David Dvir, 2D founder (left), Sundeep Reddy (center), and Jean-Marc Bouchut (right), both of Zeiss...
23/07/2026
Lock in and load up the cloud. GFN Thursday brings fresh updates and new adventu...
22/07/2026
Among other tweaks to coverage, the broadcaster added announce positions in the ...
22/07/2026
The Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) has reported a sharp acceleration in Australia's sportstech sector, with revenue growth rising from 10% in...
22/07/2026
From a retrofitted broadcast bus to packed Match Day Live! events, Bennett detai...
22/07/2026
TMRW Sports has named Brendan Donohue as President, Flag Football, where he will lead the company's professional flag football business in partnership with ...
22/07/2026
Stephen Arnold Music (SAM) designed and produced soundtracks for nine projection...
22/07/2026
Harmonic has announced a $25,000 donation to Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) fo...
22/07/2026
Telemundo has announced it has acquired from UC3 exclusive U.S. Spanish-language...
22/07/2026
The Rest Is Football, hosted by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, ...
22/07/2026
Sports Studio has announced a partnership with TheSoul Group to distribute Free ...
22/07/2026
Daktronics has concluded its 2026 High School Video Summit, a two-day hybrid event combining virtual sessions with hands-on host school visits across the countr...
22/07/2026
FOR-A America will exhibit at the MMCA Show in Pensacola, Florida (July 21-24), marking the company's first appearance at the house of worship AV event. FOR...
22/07/2026
The New York Yankees have selected Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) to connect Ya...
22/07/2026
Calrec will exhibit at IBC 2026 (Stand 8.C47) with demonstrations of its IP-native audio ecosystem built around the Argo console range, and will announce two ne...
22/07/2026
Solid State Logic has announced the appointment of Algam EKO as its distributor for SSL large format consoles in Italy, covering the Live, Broadcast, and Studio...
22/07/2026
FloSports has announced the launch of the FloSports Channel, a free ad-supported streaming channel premiering on Prime Video in the U.S. on July 21. The channel...
22/07/2026
Banana Ball TV (BTV), the broadcast operation of the Savannah Bananas, has insta...
22/07/2026
SiriusXM and Audacy have announced an agreement bringing 42 Audacy sports, news, and talk stations from 29 U.S. markets to SiriusXM. Twenty-three Audacy sports ...
22/07/2026
The collaboration produced more than 500 short-form videos across four cities th...
22/07/2026
At 2,600 sq. ft., the new home of digital content houses a main studio, podcast space, and an auxiliary control room
NFL franchises are accelerating their prod...
22/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/07/2026
Proven managed IP solution helps broadcasters confidently navigate the future of broadcast distribution
LTN announces it has completed successful satellite-to-...
22/07/2026
Today, Chaos announced V-Ray 7, update 4, eliminating the need for asset conversions and tool switching, which slow down media and entertainment pipelines. Arti...
22/07/2026
An AI playground for the Project Indigo camera app
Marc Levoy July 22, 2026
0 Comments
At left is the user interface of our Playground, running on an ...
22/07/2026
Custom Consoles announces the completion of a large technical furniture project for Radio T l vision Suisse (RTS) at the networks recently inaugurated productio...
22/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
22/07/2026
Culver City, CA, July 21, 2026 3D streaming infrastructure provider Miris today announced glTF intake, including the binary .glb form, to its spatial streamin...
22/07/2026
Documentary Lo Invisible Captured with Blackmagic PYXIS 6K
Brie Clayton July 21, 2026
0 Comments
Camera's versatile design allowed filmmakers to c...
22/07/2026
AAF Bridge converts AAF and XML Timelines to Ableton Live - and back
Jerome Gardier July 21, 2026
0 Comments
A two-way converter for macOS and Windows...
22/07/2026
From Class to Concert: Explore a Student-Led Production of David Bowies Work Thr...
22/07/2026
NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang today visited the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, to commission an NVIDIA DGX GB300 system - bringing one...
22/07/2026
Before a healthcare robot can be useful in the real world, it has to learn how the physical world pushes back. Anatomy varies. Instruments bend, press, slip and...
21/07/2026
With winners Spain having already paraded the World Cup trophy through Madrid in front of millions of fans and the dust now settling on an epic tournament of th...
21/07/2026
In a time of disarray in regional sports broadcasting, the league will provide c...
21/07/2026
When NEP designed one of its largest recurring mobile production unit fleets for PGA TOUR
coverage, the leading media services provider faced a familiar challe...
21/07/2026
Warner Bros. Discovery's unbroken lead is interrupted as sports and live mus...
21/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
21/07/2026
Across the TV and streaming ecosystem, industry players face mounting pressure to do more with less. They must simplify operations, protect premium content and ...
21/07/2026
Tuxera, a leading prover of quality-assured file systems and networking technologies, is bringing its latest advances in connectivity performance to the media w...
21/07/2026
COW Jobs: Apple Motion Expert for Custom FCP Rigged Graphics Package
Brie Clayton July 21, 2026
0 Comments
HIRING: Apple Motion Expert for Custom FCP ...
21/07/2026
Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software-defined television technology, will use its presence at IBC2026 (stand 7.A01, Amsterdam RAI, 11 14 September) to...
21/07/2026
Calrec will be located in Hall 8, on Stand C47
Beyond bigger
For years, broadcast facilities were built around one assumption: provision for the biggest pro...
Khronos Releases Open-Source iOS App for Viewing glTF Files 
