OpenAnyFile
What is a .bvh file?
Biovision Hierarchy Motion Capture is a 3D/CAD format developed by Biovision, first released in 1998. It is usually created by Mocap studios, Blender, MotionBuilder.
A skeleton definition plus per-frame joint rotations. The skeleton animates here.
File details
| Full name | Biovision Hierarchy Motion Capture |
|---|---|
| Category | 3D & CAD |
| MIME type | application/x-bvh |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 48 49 45 52 41 52 43 48 59 (HIERARCHY) |
| Developer | Biovision |
| Introduced | 1998 |
| Opens with | 3D viewer |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .bvh file
OpenAnyFile routes .bvh files to its 3D viewer, which shows an interactive model you can rotate and zoom.
- Drop your .bvh file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the 3D viewer.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: an interactive model you can rotate and zoom. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Editing and saving back. OpenAnyFile is a viewer, not an editor — for changes you still need the original app.
Is it safe to open a .bvh file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .bvh files
Can I open a .bvh file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .bvh files in your browser using its 3D viewer. You get an interactive model you can rotate and zoom, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .bvh file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine BVH file begins with 48 49 45 52 41 52 43 48 59 (HIERARCHY). OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .bvh file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.