Code
What is a .chm file?
A .chm file is a Microsoft Compiled HTML Help. This is a code, script or executable format.
How to open a .chm file
- VS Code opens and highlights nearly every text-based code format.
- Never run a script you didn't write or trust.
The registry records this extension against Microsoft Compiled HTML Help, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .chm file
- Text-based code needs no conversion — just save with a different extension if a tool insists.
MIME type
When a .chm file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
application/vnd.ms-htmlhelpThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .chm.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Compiled HTML Help | — | application/vnd.ms-htmlhelp | fmt/634 |