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.HPUB file extension

To open .HPUB files on Windows, try opening the file with an HPub-capable app (IANA lists example applications such as hReader and hCreator).

To open a .hpub file, use an HPub reader/creator app (examples in the IANA registration include hReader and hCreator). If you don’t have a compatible app, treat it as a ZIP archive and extract it, then open the HTML files in a web browser.

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Last updated: May 5, 2026 · Reviewed by Julian Stricker

Open on your device

Choose your operating system for a dedicated step-by-step opening guide.

How to open .HPUB files

Use these platform-specific instructions to open .HPUB files safely.

Windows

  1. Try opening the file with an HPub-capable app (IANA lists example applications such as hReader and hCreator).
  2. If you don’t have a reader, open it with a ZIP tool to extract it, then open the extracted HTML files in your web browser.
  3. If nothing recognizes it, check that the file downloaded completely (ZIP-based files often fail when truncated).
Full Windows guide

Mac

  1. Try opening the file with an HPub-capable app (IANA lists example applications such as hReader and hCreator).
  2. If you don’t have one, extract the .hpub as a ZIP archive and open the included HTML files in a browser.
  3. If the file won’t extract, re-download it; broken ZIP containers commonly indicate an incomplete transfer.
Full Mac guide

Linux

  1. Open it with an installed HPub-capable reader/creator app if available.
  2. If your desktop environment doesn’t recognize .hpub, use an archive manager/unzip tool to extract it and open the HTML files in a browser.
  3. If you manage MIME associations, ensure your system’s shared-mime-info database includes (or is extended to include) the application/prs.hpub+zip type for *.hpub.
Full Linux guide

iOS

  1. If your iOS app can’t open it directly, transfer the .hpub to a desktop system and extract it as a ZIP archive to access the HTML content.
Full iOS guide

Android

  1. If no app opens it, use an archive app to extract the .hpub (ZIP-based) and view the HTML files in a browser, or transfer it to a desktop HPub reader for a better reading experience.
Full Android guide

Security notes

  • .hpub is a ZIP container and can include arbitrary files; extract it to a new folder and review contents before opening anything unfamiliar.
  • HPub publications are HTML5-based; opening extracted HTML in a browser can run active web content (scripts). Be cautious with publications from untrusted sources.
  • Be careful when extracting archives: verify the extraction tool protects against unsafe paths (e.g., files attempting to write outside the destination folder).
  • If you use a dedicated reader app, keep it updated—parsers for archive/HTML content can have vulnerabilities when handling malformed files.

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Can't open this file?

These are the most common causes and fixes when .HPUB files fail to open.

Common reasons

  • The .hpub file won’t open in any app
  • Extraction fails or reports a corrupted archive
  • It extracts, but the publication doesn’t work as expected
  • Linux file manager doesn’t recognize the file type

Fix steps

  1. Use an HPub-capable app (IANA lists example applications such as hReader and hCreator).
  2. If you can’t install a reader, extract the file as a ZIP archive and open the included HTML content in a browser.

OS-specific troubleshooting

What is a .HPUB file?

An HPUB file is a ZIP container that uses the .hpub extension. The HPub specification describes it as an HTML5-based publication with a required manifest file named book.json. The IANA-registered media type for this format is application/prs.hpub+zip.

Background

HPub is designed to bundle web-style publication content (HTML5 and related assets) into a single distributable file. Conceptually it’s similar to other “packaged web content” formats: you get a ZIP-like container plus a manifest that tells a reader app what the publication contains and how it should be presented.

Because it’s ZIP-based, .hpub can often be handled by general archive tools for inspection and extraction. However, properly reading it as a publication (navigation, metadata, reading flow) typically requires software that understands the HPub structure and book.json.

On Linux desktops, file-type handling often relies on the shared-mime-info database, which maps filename patterns (like *.hpub) to MIME types. That helps file managers choose an associated app, but support depends on whether your system has a MIME definition and an installed program that can open application/prs.hpub+zip.

If you received an .hpub file and you’re unsure what to do, the safest practical approach is to first inspect it by extracting it into a folder, then open the HTML content in a browser or use an HPub-aware reader if you have one.

Common MIME types: application/prs.hpub+zip

Further reading

Authoritative resources for more details on the .HPUB format.

Common .HPUB issues

The .hpub file won’t open in any app

Many systems don’t ship with a dedicated HPub reader/creator, so the file may appear “unknown” even though it’s valid.

  1. Use an HPub-capable app (IANA lists example applications such as hReader and hCreator).
  2. If you can’t install a reader, extract the file as a ZIP archive and open the included HTML content in a browser.

Extraction fails or reports a corrupted archive

HPub is ZIP-based; if the download or transfer was interrupted, the ZIP container may be incomplete.

  1. Re-download or re-transfer the file and try extracting again.
  2. If possible, compare file size against the sender’s value or source listing to confirm it is complete.

It extracts, but the publication doesn’t work as expected

HPub content relies on a required book.json manifest and a specific folder/file structure; missing files can break navigation or reading flow.

  1. Check that the extracted package contains book.json (required by the HPub specification).
  2. Try opening the .hpub in a dedicated HPub reader instead of manually opening individual HTML files.

Linux file manager doesn’t recognize the file type

Linux desktop type detection typically depends on the shared-mime-info database and installed MIME definitions for application/prs.hpub+zip.

  1. Update your system MIME database packages and retry.
  2. If you administer the system, add or install a MIME definition mapping *.hpub to application/prs.hpub+zip (per shared-mime-info practices).

FAQ

Is .hpub just a renamed .zip file?

It is ZIP-based, but it isn’t merely an arbitrary ZIP: HPub defines a publication structure and requires a book.json manifest. Renaming to .zip may let you extract it, but it doesn’t make it a valid publication.

What MIME type is used for .hpub?

The IANA-registered media type is application/prs.hpub+zip.

Can I read a .hpub file in a web browser?

Not directly as a single file in most cases. A practical workaround is to extract it (it’s ZIP-based) and then open the extracted HTML files in your browser.

What files should I expect inside an .hpub archive?

HPub packages contain HTML5 content and assets, and the HPub specification requires a manifest file named book.json.

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