Open CHM files

  • Full name
    Microsoft Compiled HTML Help Format
  • Developer
    Microsoft
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a CHM file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a CHM file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your CHM file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is CHM file?

CHM files are so-called compiled Html Help files or Microsoft Compressed HTML Help, so put together help data in html format, which were introduced by Microsoft with Windows 98 and are still used today for many Windows help texts.

More info

CHM files are compressed archives of various files, such as text in html format, images and precompiled Javascript. Chm files can also contain structure information for a chapter partition, an index and also links.

On Windows, CHM files can be displayed easily, on other systems, a display program is usually necessary. Some CHM files can also be viewed with a browser, but this depends on the structure of the CHM. If you only want the individual files, you can also open a CHM file with an unpacker like 7-zip.

For example, CHM files can be created using the free Microsoft HTMLHelp Workshop. There are also converters that can create CHM files from pdf or Word files.

Programs which can open a CHM file

How to open file with CHM extension?

In order to open a file with CHM extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening CHM file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with CHM files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install xCHM or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening CHM files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support CHM files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of CHM files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set xCHM as the default program for opening CHM files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate CHM files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the xCHM applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where xCHM has been installed.

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Check the section that lists most common problems with CHM files

Sometimes problems with opening CHM files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

  • File data is corrupted
  • CHM files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
  • Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open CHM files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • CHM file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)

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