blender · HeyBraza shows you
blender mirror modifier not working
HeyBraza points at the mirror axis buttons, the clipping checkbox and your object's origin so the halves actually meet.
the mirror modifier reflects across the object's origin, not the world centre or your mesh's middle - so if the origin is off, the mirror lands somewhere strange. that plus the wrong axis explains almost every 'mirror not working'.
short answer
the mirror happens around the object's origin, not the world centre, so a mis-placed origin is the usual cause. set the origin to the centre line first, then pick the right axis in the modifier and tick 'clipping' to stop vertices crossing the seam.
or do it yourself
- 1check the origin first: in object mode, right-click > 'set origin' > 'origin to 3d cursor' after snapping the cursor (shift + c) to the world centre.
- 2add the modifier: modifier properties (wrench) > 'add modifier' > 'generate' > 'mirror'.
- 3under 'axis' pick x, y or z - the wrong axis is why it looks like nothing happened.
- 4tick 'clipping' so vertices can't cross the mirror line and leave an overlapping seam in the middle.
- 5delete the half you're mirroring (edit mode, box-select it, x > vertices) - otherwise the original and the mirror sit on top of each other.
steps last checked
let HeyBraza do this with you
HeyBraza teaches you software while you're using it. hold a key and ask out loud - an ai tutor that sees your screen walks you through every step in real time, pointing and highlighting on your real work, talking you through it as it goes - not someone else's tutorial.
downloadcommon questions
why does the mirrored half sit far away from my model?
the object's origin isn't on the mirror line - move the origin to the centre of the model and the halves meet.
my two halves have a seam down the middle - how do i weld them?
turn on 'clipping' in the modifier, then merge the centre vertices (m > 'by distance') once you apply it.
why is blender mirror not working on my model?
the mirror happens around the object's origin, not the world centre, so an origin sitting off to one side mirrors the geometry somewhere unexpected. set the origin to the centre line first, then check you picked the right axis in the modifier.