How to Extract Files from a CHM Archive on macOS
CHM (Compiled HTML Help) files are Microsoft's documentation format, containing compressed HTML pages, images, and a search index. You may encounter CHM files when accessing Windows software documentation, technical manuals, or programming references on your Mac.
The default way to open CHM files on macOS
Tool: 7zz via Homebrew or extract-chm (third-party)
$ 7zz x file.chm -ooutput_dirSteps
- Install 7-Zip via Homebrew: brew install 7zip
- Extract: 7zz x file.chm -ooutput_dir
- Open the extracted HTML files in a browser.
- For reading CHM directly, install iCHM from the App Store.
Extract individual files from a CHM archive
The default macOS tools extract everything — there's no way to pick individual files. MacPacker lets you browse CHM archive contents, preview files, and extract only what you need — without unpacking the entire archive.
A better way: open CHM files with MacPacker
MacPacker is a free, open-source macOS archive manager that supports CHM and 30+ other formats. Unlike the default tools, MacPacker lets you:
- Browse archive contents like a folder
- Preview files with Quick Look without extracting
- Extract individual files via drag and drop
- Navigate nested archives (archives within archives)
- Enjoy a native SwiftUI interface that feels right at home on macOS
Get MacPacker
v0.15.1 · macOS 14+$ brew install --cask macpackerApp Store updates may lag a few days behind direct downloads due to Apple review.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read a CHM file on Mac?
macOS has no built-in CHM reader. Use MacPacker to browse and extract CHM contents, or install iCHM from the App Store for a dedicated reader. You can also extract the HTML with: 7zz x file.chm