What happens when you convert CHM to TXT
- The CHM is unpacked by 7-Zip on our conversion server, and its pages are joined into one document in the order of the help file's own table of contents.
- Scripts, style sheets, frames and embedded objects are removed, so the pages come out in a plain, readable style. Pictures stored inside the CHM are kept; anything it would load from the web is not.
- pandoc, the open-source document converter, writes the result as UTF-8 plain text, with lines wrapped at 72 characters.
- This conversion runs on our server: the file is uploaded, converted, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to you. Nothing is kept. Files up to 25 MB are accepted.
How to convert CHM to TXT online
- Press "Choose CHM files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. Files up to 25 MB each can be converted.
- There are no settings to choose: the converter keeps everything the target format can hold.
- Press "Convert to TXT". The file is uploaded to our conversion server, converted in a few seconds, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result is sent back.
- Save each TXT with its download button. Our server has already deleted both your CHM and the TXT by then.
Why convert CHM to TXT?
CHM files usually come from Windows help files, software manuals and some older e-books. People convert them to TXT because plain text opens everywhere and is easy to search, copy, edit and paste into other tools.
In short, CHM is good at what it was made for, and TXT is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. CHM opens with a double-click on Windows; a Mac or Linux PC needs an app such as Calibre or xCHM, while TXT opens in every browser, text editor and phone.
How to convert CHM to TXT on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your CHM files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each TXT is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the CHM files from Finder onto the drop zone and the TXT files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose CHM files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted TXT appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose CHM files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The TXT is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for CHM to TXT
There are no settings: every topic listed in the table of contents is included, in that order.
Topics that exist in the CHM but are missing from its table of contents may be left out, just as the help viewer never shows them.
CHM vs TXT: the differences
| CHM | TXT | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Compiled HTML Help | Plain text |
| Type | e-book | document |
| Created by | Microsoft | no single author |
| First released | 1997 | 1963 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | HTML pages, images, a contents tree and a search index in one compressed file | characters only, with no formatting |
| In a browser | opens with a double-click on Windows; a Mac or Linux PC needs an app such as Calibre or xCHM | opens in every browser, text editor and phone |
| Common uses | Windows help files, software manuals and some older e-books | notes, logs, extracted text and anything that must open everywhere |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-htmlhelp | text/plain |
About CHM and TXT files
What is a CHM file?
CHM packs a whole website of help pages into one compressed file with a contents tree and search index. Windows still opens it, but blocks CHM files downloaded from the internet until you tick Unblock in their Properties, because they can run scripts.
What is a TXT file?
A TXT file holds nothing but characters: no fonts, images or layout. Modern text files are usually UTF-8, which covers every language.
CHM to TXT not working? Common problems
- "Files up to 25 MB can be converted." Server conversions have a size limit. Most of a large book is its pictures; a copy with smaller images will convert.
- The CHM will not open on Windows either. Windows blocks help files downloaded from the internet: right-click it, choose Properties and tick Unblock. That block does not affect converting.
- "This file is not really in CHM format." The converter checks every file before it runs anything, so a file of another format renamed to .chm is refused. Choose the page for its real format.
Convert CHM to TXT from the command line
7-Zip unpacks a CHM into the web pages inside it, which any browser opens and can print to PDF:
7z x input.chm -ohelpConverting on your own computer keeps the file entirely local, which is worth it for very large or very sensitive documents. For everything else, the converter on this page does it without installing anything.
CHM to TXT converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting CHM to TXT?
The words of every topic are kept; formatting and pictures are not.
Why is the TXT a different size from the CHM?
Much smaller than the CHM, because only the words are kept.
Are my CHM files uploaded?
Yes, for this conversion. A faithful CHM to TXT conversion needs 7-Zip and pandoc, two open-source tools, which cannot run in a browser. The file travels over an encrypted connection, is converted in a private temporary folder, and is deleted together with the TXT as soon as the result has been sent back to you. We do not keep, read or share it.
Can I convert several CHM files to TXT at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open a TXT file?
TXT opens in every browser, text editor and phone. TXT is common for notes, logs, extracted text and anything that must open everywhere.
Is this CHM to TXT converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Because this conversion uses our server, there is a fair-use limit of 25 MB per file and a number of files per hour, which stops the service being overloaded.
Can I convert CHM to TXT on my phone?
Yes. It works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. The conversion happens on our server, so it is as fast on a phone as on a computer; the TXT is saved to your Downloads folder.