How to use the A23D Asset Importer Plugin for Unreal Engine

The A23D Asset Importer provides you with the ability to download assets directly from the A23D website into your Unreal Engine projects. It adds an A23D button to the Content Browser toolbar, where you can manually import assets from disk and see live status while website imports download and import.

Installing the plugin

  1. Visit the Unreal Engine integration page.
  2. Download the latest version of the plugin compatible with your Unreal Engine application.
  3. Unzip the downloaded file. The extracted files include the A23DAssetImporterPlugin folder.
  4. Close Unreal Engine.
  5. Install the plugin at project level or engine level:
    • Project level: copy A23DAssetImporterPlugin into your project's Plugins folder.
    • Engine level: copy A23DAssetImporterPlugin into the Engine/Plugins folder for your Unreal Engine version.
  6. Open your Unreal Engine project.
  7. Go to Edit > Plugins.
  8. Search for A23D Asset Importer and enable the plugin.
  9. Restart Unreal Engine when prompted.

After restart, the A23D button appears in the Content Browser toolbar. The plugin is also available from File > Import A23D Assets. When the plugin is ready for website imports, the toolbar button shows A23D. If it shows A23D · Offline, the local import helper is not reachable yet. Wait a few seconds, or restart Unreal Engine if it stays offline.

Downloading assets with one-click

  1. Open your Unreal Engine project and make sure the A23D button is visible in the Content Browser toolbar.
  2. On the A23D website, open the asset you want to import.
  3. In the Software dropdown, choose Unreal Engine.
  4. Choose the resolution you want.
  5. Click Send to Unreal Engine.
  6. Return to Unreal Engine. The A23D toolbar button changes to show progress, such as Downloading, Unzipping, Importing, and Done.

If the toolbar button shows A23D · Offline before you send an asset, restart Unreal Engine and try again.

Browser permission

When you click Send to Unreal Engine, your browser may ask to allow access to apps on your device. Click Allow so A23D can connect to the Unreal Engine importer. If you skipped it, open site settings for www.a23d.co, allow Apps on device, reload the page, and try again.

You can also manually add https://www.a23d.co:443 to your browser's list of allowed sites to access Apps on device. This setting can be found at:

  • Chrome — chrome://settings/content/loopbackNetwork
  • Edge — edge://settings/privacy/sitePermissions/allPermissions/loopbackNetwork
  • Brave — brave://settings/content/loopbackNetwork
  • Firefox — Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Device apps and services

Safari may not always complete one-click sending because of its local app connection behavior. If that happens, use Chrome or Edge, or download the asset and use Import from disk.

Using multiple Unreal Engine editors

Only one Unreal Engine editor receives website imports at a time. The editor that most recently loaded the A23D plugin becomes the active receiver.

If you have multiple Unreal Engine projects or editor windows open, use the one-click website import with the project you most recently opened. To send assets to a different project, close and reopen that project so it becomes the active receiver.

Importing an asset from disk

Use the disk importer when you already have a downloaded A23D asset on your computer.

  1. Open your Unreal Engine project.
  2. Click the A23D button in the Content Browser toolbar, or go to File > Import A23D Assets.
  3. Select the downloaded A23D asset .zip file, or select a file from an extracted A23D asset folder.
  4. Confirm the import. The plugin imports the asset into the current project.

Locating imported assets

Imported assets are organized under the top-level A23D folder in the Content Browser.

  • 3D models are imported into /Game/A23D/3D_Models.
  • PBR texture materials are imported into /Game/A23D/PBR_Textures.
  • Raw imported source assets are stored under /Game/A23D/Resource_Assets.

From there, drag the imported meshes or materials into your level and use them in your scene.

Uninstalling the plugin

Close Unreal Engine, delete the A23DAssetImporterPlugin folder from the project or engine plugin location where you installed it, and restart Unreal Engine.

Need some help?

Contact our team at support@a23d.co