Articles on: Troubleshooting

OrcaSlicer sends G-code instead of a 3MF: the Use 3MF instead of G-code setting

OrcaSlicer 2.4.0 added a printer setting called Use 3MF instead of G-code. It decides whether OrcaSlicer sends SimplyPrint a plain .gcode file or a sliced .gcode.3mf. If files from OrcaSlicer arrive as G-code when you expected a 3MF, or your Bambu Lab printer is not offered for them, this setting is the cause.


In this guide


What the setting changes


Setting off

Setting on

OrcaSlicer sends

a plain .gcode file

a sliced .gcode.3mf

Thumbnail in SimplyPrint

the picture OrcaSlicer stores in the G-code (its G-code thumbnails setting), or one SimplyPrint draws from the toolpath

the plate picture inside the 3MF

Bambu Lab printer in cloud mode

cannot print it, so it is not offered as a printer for the file

can print it


The setting is off by default, but some printer profiles that come with OrcaSlicer have it turned on.


Which one your printer needs

  • Bambu Lab printers in cloud mode: turn it on. They only print 3MF files, never plain G-code.
  • Bambu Lab printers in LAN mode, the QIDI Q2, and Creality, Anycubic and Flashforge printers on the SimplyPrint Client: either works.
  • The Anycubic Kobra X and Kobra S1 models, the Creality K2 Plus, and printers on Klipper, OctoPrint or Prusa: turn it off. They need plain G-code.


Do not rename a .gcode.3mf to .gcode to get around this. A 3MF is a zipped package, so the renamed file is broken. Change the setting and slice again instead.


The full list of which printers read a sliced 3MF is in Uploading files and splitting multi-plate 3MF files.


Turn the setting on or off

  1. In OrcaSlicer, open the printer settings for the printer preset you send to SimplyPrint.
  2. If you don't see the setting, switch OrcaSlicer to Advanced mode.
  3. On the Basic information tab, under Advanced, tick or untick Use 3MF instead of G-code.
  4. Save the printer preset.
  5. Slice again and send the file to SimplyPrint.



Check: in SimplyPrint's Files, the new file's name ends in .gcode.3mf with the setting on, or .gcode with it off.


The setting is saved with the printer preset, so you set it once per printer.


The setting only matters when you slice in OrcaSlicer on your computer. SimplyPrint's own cloud slicer ignores it and always produces the right file for your printer.


Updated on: 28/10/2026

Was this article helpful?

Share your feedback

Cancel

Thank you!