HLP File

What are HLP files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a HLP file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your HLP files.

What is a HLP file?

HLP files have multiple uses, and Windows Help is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Windows Help File

The HLP file format is an outdated file format that was used by Microsoft Windows to contain help files. It was designed to give users context-specific guidance within their software. This format is based on Rich Text Format (RTF) and usually holds text, images, and formatting data.

An advantage of the HLP file format is its capacity to incorporate hyperlinks and cross-references, allowing users to easily move between sections of the help material. Moreover, .HLP files can be searched with the inbuilt search feature of the Windows help viewer.

Unfortunately, .HLP file format has become almost obsolete in recent times because of the lack of support on modern OSs. In prior versions of Windows, .HLP files could be viewed through WinHlp32.exe, but this utility is not included by default in Windows 8 or later.

How to open HLP files

Important: Different programs may use files with the HLP file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your HLP file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: January 25, 2025

All known file formats using extension .HLP

While Windows Help File is a popular type of HLP-file, we know of 18 different uses of the .HLP file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

MS-DOS Help File

We know that one HLP format is MS-DOS Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

OS/2 Help File

We know that one HLP format is OS/2 Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

CZ Help File

We know that one HLP format is CZ Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

FrameMaker Help File

We know that one HLP format is FrameMaker Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Gfxboot Compiled HTML Help File

We know that one HLP format is Gfxboot Compiled HTML Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

HP200LX System Application Help File

We know that one HLP format is HP200LX System Application Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

JOC Help File

We know that one HLP format is JOC Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

LapLink Help File

We know that one HLP format is LapLink Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Microsoft Advisor Help File

We know that one HLP format is Microsoft Advisor Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

NewAge Help File

We know that one HLP format is NewAge Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

PerFORM Messages

We know that one HLP format is PerFORM Messages. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Pure Pascal Help File

We know that one HLP format is Pure Pascal Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Quick Help File

We know that one HLP format is Quick Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

RMP Help Format File

We know that one HLP format is RMP Help Format File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Seal Help Format File

We know that one HLP format is Seal Help Format File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

SymbOS Help File

We know that one HLP format is SymbOS Help File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

TopSpeed Help

We know that one HLP format is TopSpeed Help. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about HLP file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.