How to open a .html file
Quick, free ways to open HTML on any system.
A .html file is a HyperText Markup Language. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads HTML yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .html file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .html. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Any browser or VS Code.
- On Mac, use Any browser or VS Code.
- On Linux, try Any browser or VS Code.
- Still stuck? Convert the .html to PDF, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .html files
Windows
- Any browser
- VS Code
- Notepad++
macOS
- Any browser
- VS Code
Linux
- Any browser
- VS Code
Web
- Every browser renders HTML
!
Before you open it: An HTML file can contain scripts. Opening a saved page from an unknown source in a browser can run that script, so treat unexpected .html attachments with care.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .html file?
Almost always because no installed app understands HTML. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open an HTML file?
Double-click it to view in your browser, or open it in a code editor like VS Code to see and change the source.