Ultimate Fix: SVG Files Show Up As HTML Files on Your Windows Computer

Have you created or even downloaded an SVG file, and when you try to open it, the computer automatically opens whatever program is associated with browsing web pages? For example, if you have Internet Explorer, the SVG file will instantly generate a new tab in Internet Explorer that shows the image.

If you’re running Windows 10, this is, by default Microsoft Edge. If your default browser is set to Chrome/Firefox, these SVG files will not open correctly. Instead of showing a nice picture of your cute pet Raccoon when you open the SVG file in a graphical editor like Inkscape or Sketch, you’ll get a message saying, “This app can’t open .svg files” as if it’s an HTML page.

Why does the file extension for SVG have a web browser? Many people have come across this very problem. This is an issue many people have experienced, and this step-by-step blog post will explain what the matter is, how to fix it, and how to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

What Is an SVG File?

SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. It’s a vector image format, which means it uses lines and curves instead of pixels to display images. This makes it possible to scale up an image without losing quality. If you zoom in on an SVG, it will look as sharp as it does when you first view it. They’re essentially the same thing as an image file, but instead of being rasterized (converted into pixels), SVG is made of code describing a drawing.

Why Do I Get an HTML File Instead of an SVG File?

The root cause of this common issue is that your computer doesn’t have any software installed to read or display SVG files. That makes sense because they’re rare on computers today, but they’re becoming more popular as developers use them more often. You’ll see this error message when you open an SVG file: “There was a problem displaying this document.”

This also happens because Windows 10 uses the Internet Explorer engine (the Trident engine) to display webpages in Edge browser windows by default. If you open an SVG file in the Edge browser window, it will try to render the file using this browser engine and fail miserably because of its incompatibility with SVG files.

How To Fix SVG Files Show Up As HTML Files

SVG files are images created in a vector-based editor software like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, Circuit Design Space, or Silhouette Studio. If you have been trying to open an SVG file on your Windows 10 computer and it shows up as an HTML file instead, several things can be done to solve this issue:

File Explorer Fix

The easiest method is to use File Explorer to open the file. This takes a few minutes, but it’s the most reliable way to do it. To see the file type, you should first click on the “View” tab at the top of your screen. Afterward, go over and tick the box next to “File name extensions” so that a checkmark appears. Now you can see the actual file type of your file.

First, make sure that your SVG file isn’t corrupted. If so, try opening it in an image-editing program like Photoshop or GIMP and saving it again. If that doesn’t really work, try using a different program to open it (like Adobe Illustrator).
Right-click on the SVG file and choose “Open with.” This will usually pop up a menu on the left side of your screen.
Next, move your mouse over “Open with” on this menu, and another menu will directly appear on the right side of your computer screen.
If you don’t see any options, go to the bottom of this second menu and click “Choose another app.” You’ll see options for some programs installed on your computer.
Keep scrolling down to the bottom until you see a blue “More apps” link. You will see a massive list of software, but you will probably need help finding your preferred software for opening your SVG file, for example, Silhouette Studio or Cricut Design Space.
Scroll down until you see a blue “Look for another app on this PC” link at the bottom of this list. Clicking this link will bring up on C>Program Files folder.

The big question is, where will I find my preferred software for opening SVG files? We will use Silhouette Studio and Cricut Design as examples.

Where Is Silhouette Studio on Local Disc C?

On the “Local Disc C,” go to the “Program Files” folder and click it. NOTE: you will see two Program File folders (Program Files and Program Files x86). Leave the one with x86.
Look for the “Silhouette America” folder and click it. You will see the “Silhouette Studio” folder; click it.
Here, you will see the “Silhouette Studio.exe” file. Select this file by clicking it, then click the “Open” button
Once the Silhouette program is open, your computer will open your SVG file in a new artboard. Minimize this program and directly head back to your folder full of files.
Right-click on the SVG file again and choose “Open with.” This will make your computer pop up a menu on the left side of your screen.
Hover your mouse over “Open with” on this menu, and another menu will directly appear on the right side of your screen.
Go to the bottom of this second menu and click “Choose another app.”
When you are there, Silhouette Studio will be an option too. Click on it, and it will turn blue.
From there, check the box next to “Always use this app to open .svg files” and then click the “OK” button.
The Silhouette logo is now the default icon for SVG files on your computer, and it shows “SVG File” in the file type column instead of “Chrome HTML Document”.
Double-clicking an SVG file will launch Silhouette Studio and open that file on a new artboard.

How To Configure Your Computer To Open SVG Files Using Circuit Design Space

When you click the blue “Look for another app on this PC” link and then click OK, most likely you’ll be taken to C>Program Files.

Locate where Cricut Design Space’s exe file is.

On “Local Disc C,” open the “Users” folder and then the folder with your name.
Click the “AppData” folder, then the “Local” folder. Open the “Programs” folder, then the “Cricut Design Space” folder. Here you will see the Cricut Design Space.exe file.
Click the “Cricut Design Space.exe file” and then the “Open” button. This will automatically start the Cricut Design Space software, but your SVG file will not be opened because of the unique uploading features in Cricut Design Space software.
Minimize the software and head back to your folder with many files.
Right-click on the SVG file again and choose “Open with.” This will usually pop up a menu on the left side of your screen.
Hover your mouse over “Open with” on this menu, and another menu will directly appear on the right side of your screen.
When you are there, Cricut Design Space will be an option too. Please don’t click on it. Instead, hover your mouse to “Choose another app” at the bottom of the list.
Again click on Cricut Design Space. It would help if you chose it after clicking “Choose another app” so that you can check the “Always use this app to open .svg files.” and then click the “OK” button.
All your SVG files on your computer will have the Cricut Design Space icon and “SVG File” under the “Type” column.
Again, due to unique uploading features in Cricut Design Space software, you must click the “New Project” in the software to open your SVG file.

Conclusion

There are so many different ways to fix this, but every solution ultimately returns to the same thing! It’s just a matter of getting priorities straightened out. If you have an SVG file that you want to open on your Windows 10 computer, right-click it and make sure that it’s set to open with a program. Or you can configure it, so they always open in a specific program if that’s preferable. Overall, this is a simple thing to fix with the solutions in this blog post.