CHM to GZ Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Unpack a .gz into a normal file or repack it as ZIP/TAR when the receiving tool does not understand gzip. If your files are still in CHM format, this page is the shortcut: CHM is Microsoft's compiled help format: HTML topics, images and an index compressed into one legacy-but-everywhere file. Old software manuals, ebooks and documentation still ship as CHM.
iLoveConverter processes everything locally on your computer, which makes it private and fast: no upload wait, no server storage, no limits. Add as many files as you like — batch conversion is built in.
How CHM compares to GZ
| CHM | GZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | LZX | DEFLATE |
| Bundling | HTML topics + index in one file | Single file |
| Best for | Legacy software manuals | Logs, dumps, datasets |
How to convert CHM to GZ
- 1
Select your files
Select your CHM file.
- 2
Convert instantly
The file bytes are gzip-compressed in place — the same archive your server or build tool produces, made locally.
- 3
Download results
Download the .gz file — ready to upload, serve or attach.
About the CHM format
CHM (Compiled HTML Help) is Microsoft's format for bundling HTML topics, images and a searchable index into one file. An entire generation of software manuals, programming references and even novels shipped as CHM — and modern Windows no longer renders it comfortably.
Extracting a CHM gives you back the raw HTML topics and images: open them in any browser, convert them onward to PDF or EPUB, or migrate the content into a modern documentation system. The help tree becomes regular files.
+Strengths
- ✓Unlocks decades of locked-in documentation
- ✓Topics come out as clean, standalone HTML
- ✓No deprecated viewer required
!Limitations
- −Index and search metadata do not convert
- −Topic filenames are often opaque codes
- −Some CHM files use encodings that need care
About the GZ format
A .gz file is one file squeezed by gzip — not an archive. kernel.org tarballs are “tar inside gz”, but plenty of logs, JSON dumps and CSV exports travel as plain .gz. Opening one means decompressing it back to the original bytes.
Repacking into ZIP or TAR gives the decompressed file a container that every GUI tool opens without a second thought.
+Strengths
- ✓Everywhere on Linux and macOS
- ✓Fast, well-understood compression
- ✓Streams natively from any tool
!Limitations
- −Single file only — no directory tree
- −No encryption or integrity metadata
Why convert CHM to GZ?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: Index and search metadata do not convert GZ sidesteps that — Everywhere on Linux and macOS If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this CHM to GZ converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Is there a file size limit for CHM to GZ?
The only limit is your device's memory, since nothing is uploaded. Files up to a few hundred megabytes work fine on a modern desktop browser; very large files simply take a little longer.
Are the files inside my CHM archive modified?
No. Contents are unpacked in memory and repacked into GZ byte-for-byte — the conversion changes the container, never the files inside it.
Is there a size limit for archive conversion?
There is no upload cap because nothing is uploaded — the practical limit is your device memory. A few hundred megabytes of unpacked content works comfortably on a modern computer.