[Update] May 20, 2026
Hi Creators,
Two weeks ago we announced Reimport, adding the ability to non-destructively update previously imported models in-place with a single click/hotkey (Alt+Shift+R).
Today Reimport just got better! We have 2 updates for you:
- We updated Reimport with support for Rigs, Avatars, Bones, Cages, Dynamic Heads, and Joints/Motor6D!
- We made Reimport an opt-out beta, which means that everyone can use Reimport by default. You can disable the “Reimport” BetaFeature in
File > Beta Features.- Reimport does not change any other Studio behaviors so this should not affect anyone who does not use it.
To ensure you have all the new updates, check that you have v0.1.3 of Reimport, see here for instructions on how to check the Reimport version and update if it is out of date.
Using Reimport to update the skeleton of a skinned mesh
Usage
Right-click on any Model instance, select Reimport > Reimport. Or use the hotkey alt+shift+r (default).
See the documentation or original announcement for complete instructions.
Limitations
Reimport considers the entire skeleton as one “unit” - while Reimport typically does not delete instances that exist in Studio but not in the external file, it will delete bones that are missing. Not doing so would have made iterating on bones/skeletons far too tedious. Please do keep this in mind if you use tools/workflows that create bones in Studio and want to use those in combination with Reimport!
Reimport replaces WrapTargets instead of updating them - unfortunately WrapTarget has data set at import time that cannot be transferred from one instance to another in a way that would be compatible with Reimport. We will be looking into options to make this possible. For now, WrapTarget instances will be swapped out. We do transfer over any children, attributes, and tags the old wrap target had to the new one, but if you had instance references, or somehow relied on the instance’s UniqueId, these links will be broken. Note that undo (ctrl+z) will bring back the old instance, so no work will be lost.
Avoid reimporting while the Animation Clip Editor (ACE) is open - ACE does not expect the rig being edited to change while it is open. If reimporting with ACE open, bone/joint handles will not update and occasionally Reimport will get stuck. In both cases, close and reopen ACE, and if Reimport is stuck, re-trigger it before reopening ACE. We will be addressing the issues with ACE as part of supporting Animation Reimport (see below).
What’s Next
Reimport for animations! We have a working prototype that can reimport and reload animations mid loop with a single hotkey, it has been very satisfying to use during testing. We still need to build UI for it in the animation editor and thoroughly test it. We are hopeful that we can make it available to you early next year!
More Reimport targets. Today, Reimport can only be used on Model and SurfaceAppearance instances, we hope to add Decals, Accessories, and other additional targets soon. If you have any other targets that you think could benefit from Reimport please let us know!
Resources
Reimport documentation: https://create.roblox.com/docs/art/modeling/reimport
