Opening a CHD File

The CHD file type is primarily associated with MAME.

CHD	File extension: CHD
	File type:	game data

What is a CHD file?

CHD files mostly belong to MAME by MAME Team. A CHD file contains game data (e.g. game disc/cartridge image) losslessly compressed using Compressed Hunks of Data compression format. It is created using chdman command-line program. Emulators such as MAME can mount and run games saved in CHD files. A single CHD file may be used to store a single game disc image or the image of an arcade machine's entire hard disk. The format is mainly used to distribute games in the retro gaming community. ChartFX data visualization software uses a CHD file to save a script.

How to open CHD files

You need a suitable software like MAME to open a CHD file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your CHD file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a CHD file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online CHD Text Viewer

Choose your .chd file to analyze

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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CHD file format:

If you know the file format, you can also find out how to open or edit the file. The file format can be deduced from the file extension and the signature. Frequently, however, one file extension is used by different programs for different file formats, and one file format for different file extensions. So a detailed analysis of a file is vital in order to determine the format and the associated program. Our examination of the CHD files comes to the following conclusion:

The CHD file type is a very commonly used file extension and is used by a few programs, each with its own file format. The two most common formats are as follows:

• 60% of all CHD files belong to MAME Compressed Hard Disk image. These files contain neither text nor words, but only data. The file size is in the range of 37 MB to 650 MB. The file type was developed 10 years ago and is still in use today. The following keywords are characteristic: MComprHD, cdlzcdzlcdfl, NONE FRAMES, PREGAP, CHT2, MODE1_RAW SUBTYPE and TRACK:1 TYPE:MODE1_RAW. These files are attributed to japan, disc, europe, dragon, sonic, carnevil, force, akumajou, bishoujo, hedgehog, spuzbobl, dracula, sailor, senshi, hotel, mario, rondo, moon, sega and star.
• 15% of all CHD files start with the bytes CI,, which are crucial for this file format. These files are binary files, so they do not contain text, but only cryptic characters. The files are often between 10 KB and 50 KB in size. Files like these are about oetf.

The remaining 25% of all CHD files are files with no common format, frequently e.g. DOC. The category is chords or ykpa. If you want to find out what your CHD file contains, drag and drop it onto this page.