While this guide provides a high-level overview of Cargo’s connection tools, each 3D software has unique requirements.
To get the most out of Cargo, please follow the specific instructions for your 3D Software to ensure proper plugin installation and performance
Accessing Software Settings
You can access Cargo Settings by clicking on the Profile icon at the bottom left
How to add new 3D software (Software Setup)
Ensure your 3D software version is supported by checking our guide on Cargo supported 3D software.
When adding new 3D software to Cargo, ensure that the 3D software is completely shut down and not running. If your 3D software is open during this step, this will prevent the Cargo plugin from being properly installed.
You can connect a new supported 3D software to Cargo by clicking the Connect New Software button in the Software Settings section (or choose Add Software from the Target Software dropdown menu).
The process is the same whether you click the Connect New Software button or use the Target Software dropdown menu.
Preparation: Ensure your 3D software is completely closed before starting.
Initiate Setup: Click Connect New Software or select Add Software from the Target Software dropdown.
Select Software: Choose your software from the list.
Note: If your software isn't appearing, open the 3D application version, save a project file, close it, and try again. This allows Cargo to auto-detect the installation.
Advanced Setup
If you're unable to use Simple Software Setup, please use Advanced Setup. Advanced Setup allows you to manually point Cargo to the specific .exe or application file.
The process looks the same as Simple (above) except you'll paste the installation path into the field rather than choosing your DCC version from a dropdown.
Common Reasons for Advanced Setup
Common Reasons for Advanced Setup
Custom Installation Paths
If your 3D software (like Blender, Maya, or Unreal Engine) is installed on a secondary hard drive or in a non-default folder, Cargo’s automated "Simple" scan may not be able to locate it.
Software Version Issues
Greyed-out Menu: If the software appears in the dropdown menu but is unselectable (greyed out), it indicates a detection error that requires manual configuration.
Try opening this version of the 3D software, saving a file to it and then closing the 3D software. In Cargo, navigate away and back to Software Settings and try again.
Missing Versions: If you have multiple versions of a software installed and the specific one you need isn't appearing, Advanced Setup lets you select the exact version path manually.
Recent Software Updates
If you have just downloaded a new version of your 3D software but haven't opened it yet, Cargo may not recognize it. While the first step is to open the software and a project at least once, Advanced Setup serves as the manual fallback if it still isn't detected.
Troubleshooting Plugin Errors
If you consistently encounter Error 102 (Could not connect) or Error 103 (Unknown Plugin Error) during the Simple Setup, the Advanced method is recommended to bypass automated detection and ensure the plugin is being sent to the correct directory.
Tips on Advanced Setup
If you have made any edits to the original ".exe" file, you will not be able to successfully connect Cargo to your software.
Example: With Blender, you would select the “blender.exe” file typically saved to C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender 4.5
Activate / Enable the Cargo plugin in your 3D software
⚠️ Important: Complete your setup ⚠️
After connecting your software in Cargo, you must activate the plugin within your specific DCC.
Each software (Blender, Unreal, Maya, etc.) has unique internal settings, advanced plugin configurations and advanced file structures.
Please follow the dedicated guide for your software below to ensure a successful connection.
How to change your 3D software
You can change the default 3D software in which Cargo imports assets into by navigating to Profile -> Software Settings -> Target Software
From here, you can use the drop-down menu for Target Software to change which software Cargo will import assets to for each Cargo session.
A checkmark denotes the default 3D software for importing assets.
This menu will only display 3D Software that has been set up in Cargo using Simple or Advanced Setup.
How To Delete 3D Software from Software Settings
Click on the Target Software menu
Hover over the 3D software version you'd like to remove from Cargo's settings.
Click Remove
How to change your default texture size
You can change your default texture size in Cargo from Account → Profile
From here you can use the drop-down menu for Texture Size to change what resolution and file format will be set when opening an asset in the inspector.
You can override this texture setting on a per-asset basis, but this default format will always show up first on an un-downloaded asset.
How to change your downloads folder
In order to use assets from Cargo, you’ll need to download the 3D files and texture maps to your computer.
This can take up quite a bit of space, so we recommend downloading to a drive that has at least 100 GB of free space.
By default, Cargo will download all files to %APPDATA%\kitbash3d.
Choosing Your Location
Prioritize Speed with SSDs: For the best experience, set your Cargo download folder to an Internal SSD. High-poly assets and 8K textures require fast read/write speeds; using an HDD may cause lag during the "Exporting" phase.
Mind Your Disk Space: 3D kits are heavy. We recommend ensuring your chosen drive has at least 100GB of free space to accommodate multiple kits and high-resolution textures without interruption.
Pro-Tips for Stability
Avoid Cloud Sync Folders: We strongly advise against setting your download folder to a location synced by OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive. These services often "lock" files during synchronization, which can cause Cargo to fail during the download or extraction process.
Permissions Matter: Ensure your chosen folder has full Read/Write permissions. Avoid system-protected directories like
C:\Program FilesorC:\Windows, as these often block Cargo from saving new asset data.
Moving Your Library
Relocating Your Assets: If you need to move your library to a new drive, move the folder manually in your File Explorer/Finder first. Once moved, immediately open Cargo > Settings > Account and update the Download Folder path to the new location to reconnect your library.
External Drive Safety: If you store your assets on an external drive, always ensure the drive is plugged in before launching Cargo. If the drive is missing, Cargo may default to a "Missing Path" error and prevent you from accessing your downloaded kits.
You can change the Downloads Location at anytime by following these steps:
Navigate to your Profile
Under Software Settings, click the entry field labeled “Downloads Location”
Navigate to the folder you’d like to set as the download folder and click select.
Choose whether you’d like to move all existing files to the new location, or leave them where they are.
If you leave them where they are, you will need to redownload any assets from Cargo before using them.
If you move your files to the new location, you may break texture links for existing projects.
Now you're ready to keep creating! You’ve selected a new download folder and all future downloads and imports from Cargo will be linked to this folder location.
Troubleshooting:
If copying files errors out, you may be stuck unable to download assets. If this occurs, navigate to %APPDATA%\kitbash3d and delete the file named cargo_v1.sqlite
Still experiencing issues getting set up? Start a chat using the widget on this page or get support at info@kitbash.com.