MaxRewind

MaxRewind turns new 3ds Max scenes into scenes that an older 3ds Max can open.

Say you saved a scene in 3ds Max 2027, but your client has 3ds Max 2022. 3ds Max 2022 cannot open it. Drop the file into MaxRewind, choose 2022, press Convert, and you get a copy that opens in 2022. It works for any version down to 3ds Max 2012, for one scene or a whole folder of them. Your original files stay exactly as they were.

What you can do with it

• Send scenes to people who use an older 3ds Max.
• Open a scene that was saved in a newer 3ds Max than yours.
• Convert a whole project folder at once, subfolders included.
• See what is inside a scene before you send it: which 3ds Max versions can open it, the renderer, plugins and linked textures.

How to use it

1. Install MaxRewind from MaxPkg. Start it with its toolbar button in 3ds Max, or with the MaxRewind shortcut on your Desktop.
2. Drag your .max files or a folder into the window.
3. Click a scene to see its details on the right, in the Inspector.
4. Under Save As, choose the 3ds Max version you need.
5. Click Convert.
6. Right-click a converted scene to open it in 3ds Max or show the file in Explorer.

The copy is saved next to the original with the version in its name, for example Living_Room_max2022.max. You can choose another folder instead.

Features

• Converts any newer scene down to 3ds Max 2012.
• Many scenes at once: drop files or whole folders.
• A different version for each scene if you need it: click the scene's Change cell.
• Inspector: which versions open the scene, objects, polygons, materials, renderer, plugins and linked files, all read without opening the scene.
• Notes that tell you what the other computer will need: the same renderer, plugins for its 3ds Max version, the textures.
• Scenes that already open in the chosen version are skipped.
• A status for every scene: Ready, Converting, Converted or Failed. Click a failed scene to see why.
• If a file with the same name already exists: keep both, overwrite or skip.
• Works inside 3ds Max 2022–2027, or on its own from the Desktop shortcut without starting 3ds Max.
• Themes and a larger interface for 2K and 4K screens.

Which versions it can save to

Good to know

• MaxRewind converts the files itself, so 3ds Max does not have to open your scenes. If you prefer 3ds Max's own Save As (it goes only three versions back), turn it on in Settings.
• Plugins such as Corona, V-Ray or Forest Pack are not converted: the computer that opens the copy needs them installed, in a version for its 3ds Max.
• Textures and other linked files are not copied. If you send the scene to someone, collect them with Resource Collector.
• Copies are saved uncompressed, so they can be bigger than the original.
• Everything happens on your computer; nothing is uploaded.

Requirements

Windows 10 or 11 and 3ds Max 2022–2027. MaxRewind is free.