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Is it possible to add a modifier to more than one mesh at once?

I have a lot of unique objects, and I want to set a subdivide modifier to them, would I have to do each one individually?

I have tried selecting all the objects and then adding a modifier, but as I expected, it only added it to the active object.

Trying to add modifier to more than one object at once.

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3 Answers 3

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You cannot use the modifier panel to apply a modifier to multiple objects, it only applies it to the active object. However, you can use Ctrl + L to copy the modifier on one mesh to all the other selected ones. You select the object(s) to apply the modifier to then the one that has the modifier.

enter image description here

For 2.8+ the menu will read Link/Transfer > Copy Modifiers.

Cool trick thanks to Greg Zaal

enter image description here

If you Alt + Left Click on a property, it’ll work on all the selected objects at once, not just the active object. This works on most properties, including modifiers (as long as all the modifiers have the same name, which they do by default).

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    $\begingroup$ Is there a way to make the link continually update? I linked the modifier to the objects as you said, but when I changed the modifier properties on the original object, the other ones stayed the same as they were when I first linked them. $\endgroup$
    – Stephen
    Commented May 25, 2013 at 2:33
  • $\begingroup$ @Stephen IIRC, it has something to do with Object Data, I am not entirely sure it is possible tho. Linking an objects data can have the material update but I don't think it works with modifiers. $\endgroup$
    – iKlsR
    Commented May 25, 2013 at 2:37
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    $\begingroup$ How to apply the modifier to all selected objects? $\endgroup$
    – Alessandro Pezzato
    Commented Jun 14, 2013 at 16:34
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    $\begingroup$ @AlessandroPezzato With Alt+C on multiple objects you can Apply multiple modifiers to them, see blender.stackexchange.com/a/8766/8282 $\endgroup$
    – Manu Järvinen
    Commented Sep 7, 2018 at 19:03
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    $\begingroup$ "you can use Ctrl + L to copy the modifier on one mesh to all the other selected ones" I believe the above statement is inaccurate, because you copy All the modifiers from one to the other object and also because the target object looses all Other modifiers it may have. So The modifier is not copied from active to target, but rather the selected target(s) inherit all the exact same modifiers as the active source. $\endgroup$
    – Christos
    Commented Dec 13, 2018 at 12:40
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The Copy Attributes add-on is an excellent tool for copying all modifiers. You also have the ability to copy only selected modifiers (apart from other attributes)

This add-on is not enabled by default. So you have to enable it from the User Preferences Editor. Once enabled it is available as a hotkey CTRL + C.

To use it, select the objects that need the modifiers and then the source object with a set of modifiers (active object) and press the hotkey to invoke the menu.

https://en.blender.org/index.php/Extensions:2.6/Py/Scripts/3D_interaction/Copy_Attributes_Menu

Note: It is also worth noting that by setting up drivers we can simultaneously edit properties on similar modifiers on different objects.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks satishgoda! I did not know about the Copy Attributes Add-on with the ability to copy only selected modifiers. This was exactly what I needed, as I had to find a way to copy a boolean modifier to multiple objects without overriding the individual settings in some build modifiers. Being able to copy only the boolean modifier was super useful... if only the new Alt-click feature worked to re-order modifiers in multiple objects; but for now I will have to manually re-order them. :-) $\endgroup$
    – Copperplate
    Commented Jan 11, 2018 at 16:42
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    $\begingroup$ In 2.79b this addon is available, pre-installed. However this addon not only copies from the source but overrides the modifiers in the targets. So I don't understand Copperplate's comment: it doesn't work that way for me. $\endgroup$
    – Christos
    Commented Dec 13, 2018 at 12:57
  • $\begingroup$ Unfortunately this does not work to copy the selectable or Viewport-Display attributes, when trying to REENABLE these attributes. If they are off, there is little hope of selecting multiple objects and allowing them all to be selectable or viewport-displayable again. $\endgroup$
    – james_t
    Commented Jan 16, 2021 at 18:17
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Download Smart Join Addon

Select the mesh (wheel) and click on smart join (it temporary join all the selected mesh). You can now move all the join mesh and add any modifier to all the join mesh. If you want to separate the mesh just click the separate s. join

If you want to edit the join mesh click on the expand smart join and after finishing the editing click on collapse smart join.

enter image description here

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