RunConvert

CHM to TXT Converter

Convert CHM to TXT online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.

Free to useNo file stored beyond 1 hourEncrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3No watermarks

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How it works

Three steps to your converted file

Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.

01

Upload your file

Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.

02

Choose an output format

Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.

03

Convert & download

Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.

What is a CHM file?

The CHM (Compiled HTML Help) format is a proprietary binary documentation format developed by Microsoft for software help files. It encapsulates a collection of HTML pages, hyperlinks, and image assets into a single LZX-compressed archive, indexed via a binary table of contents (HHC) and keyword index (HHK). The format relies on the Information Tech Storage (ITS) file system structure, allowing for rapid random access and full-text search capabilities within the Windows Help environment.

How to open a CHM file

Windows operating systems provide native support via the built-in Microsoft HTML Help Executable (hh.exe). On macOS and Linux systems, which lack the proprietary Windows API, third-party viewers are necessary. KchmViewer is a standard solution for Linux/KDE environments, while xCHM provides cross-platform compatibility for macOS and BSD distributions.

CHM Technical Info

Full Name
Microsoft Compiled HTML Help
Developed By
Microsoft
Initial Release
1997
MIME Type
application/vnd.ms-htmlhelp

What is a TXT file?

A TXT file is a standard plain text document that contains unformatted text, free of styling information such as fonts, bolding, or layout parameters. It stores data as a sequence of characters encoded in standards such as ASCII, UTF-8, or UTF-16, making it universally readable across all computing platforms. The format relies solely on control characters for line breaks (CR/LF) and spacing, serving as the fundamental data type for code source files, logs, and simple documentation.

How to open a TXT file

TXT files possess universal native support on all operating systems. Windows opens them by default with Notepad, macOS uses TextEdit, and Linux distributions utilize editors like Gedit or Nano. Because they contain no proprietary formatting, they are also viewable in any web browser and can be imported into virtually any word processing or data management software without conversion.

TXT Technical Info

Full Name
Plain Text File
Standardized By
American Standards Association (ASCII)
Initial Release
1963 (ASCII)
MIME Type
text/plain

Why RunConvert

The fastest way to convert any file

Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.

Convert CHM to TXT in seconds

Every CHM to TXT conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.

Fast, cloud-powered

No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.

Secure & private

Encrypted in transit and never shared with anyone. Uploads are erased the moment your job completes, and results shortly after.

Free - no account needed

Convert without creating an account - no credit card, no trial clock. Sign in only if you want history and higher daily limits.

Developer API

Convert CHM to TXT via API

Automate CHM to TXT conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.

# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tag": "chm-to-txt",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "output_format": "txt"
      },
      "export-result": {
        "operation": "export/url",
        "input": "convert"
      }
    }
  }'

# 2. Upload your file (use upload_url from the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" --upload-file input.chm

# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.