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Blender Add-on

This page explains how to set up OpenForge MCP for use with Blender. Make sure you have completed the steps on the Installation page first.

Step 1: Install the Add-on​

If you have already run npx openforge-mcp setup, the add-on files have been downloaded.

  1. Open Blender
  2. From the menu bar, go to Edit > Preferences

[Screenshot: Opening Preferences from the Blender menu]

  1. Click "Add-ons" in the left-hand menu

[Screenshot: Clicking Add-ons in the Preferences window]

  1. Click the "Install..." button in the upper right (in Blender 4.x, select "Install from Disk..." from the dropdown menu)

[Screenshot: Location of the Install button]

  1. A file selection dialog will open. Select the following file:

    • Windows: C:\Users\YourUsername\.openforge-mcp\blender-addon\openforge_mcp.zip
    • Mac: /Users/YourUsername/.openforge-mcp/blender-addon/openforge_mcp.zip

  2. Click "Install Add-on"

[Screenshot: Selecting the file and clicking Install Add-on]

  1. Once the installation is complete, "OpenForge MCP" will appear in the add-on list. Check the checkbox to enable it

[Screenshot: Enabling the OpenForge MCP checkbox in the add-on list]

Hint

In Blender 4.2 and later, the add-on management interface has a slightly different layout. Use the "Install from Disk" option rather than the "Get Extensions" tab.

Method B: Manual Download and Installation​

  1. Go to the GitHub Releases page
  2. Download the latest version of openforge_mcp_blender.zip
  3. Follow the same process from step 4 above, selecting the downloaded zip file to install

Step 2: Verify the Connection (N Panel)​

To check the connection status in Blender, use the N Panel.

  1. Place your mouse cursor over the 3D Viewport (the main 3D view)
  2. Press the N key on your keyboard. A side panel will appear on the right side of the screen

[Screenshot: The side panel after pressing the N key]

  1. Click the "OpenForge" tab at the top of the side panel

[Screenshot: The OpenForge tab in the side panel]

  1. If it shows "Status: Connected", the connection to the AI is working

[Screenshot: The OpenForge panel showing Connected]

What Is the N Panel?

The N Panel is the side panel that appears on the right side of Blender's 3D Viewport. You can toggle its visibility with the N key. It is a convenient panel for checking properties and using add-on controls.

Troubleshooting​

The Add-on Does Not Appear in the List​

  • Make sure you selected the zip file without extracting it first. You cannot install the add-on by pointing to an extracted folder
  • Verify that your Blender version is 3.6 or later

The Tab Does Not Appear in the N Panel After Enabling​

  • Try closing Blender completely and reopening it
  • Make sure your mouse cursor is over the 3D Viewport before pressing the N key. Pressing N over a different editor (such as the UV Editor) may open a different panel

"Status: Disconnected"​

  1. Make sure OpenForge MCP is running in the terminal
  2. Try clicking the "Reconnect" button in the N Panel
  3. Check whether a firewall or security software is blocking the connection

Errors in the Blender Console​

From the Blender menu bar, select Window > Toggle System Console (Windows only) to view detailed error information. On Mac, launch Blender from the terminal to see errors:

/Applications/Blender.app/Contents/MacOS/Blender

Once you have confirmed the connection, proceed to AI Client Setup.