File Extension/CHD
alphabetical list of extensions

File extension .CHD

File description

CHD file is associated with MAME software application. MAME is an emulator application which is used for running old arcade games on modern computer systems.

In order to run any game on this emulator the user is required to have an image file of the game. This file is referred to as hard disk image and the file is given the extension of CHD. This file stores all the visual and audio information for a specific game. Once the game file is mounted on the emulator the user can play that game using keyboard keys. The game mechanism and logic is also stored in CHD file.

Description of the problem
If you have on your computer a .CHD file that you cannot open, you are in exactly the same situation as thousands of other people who have similar problems with this or any other unknown file.

There may be several reasons why you cannot open the file with .CHD extension. Directly on this website you can find a solution of the most common problem with the .CHD file – that you do not have on your computer the appropriate program to open the file.
Solution
From the list below, select the appropriate program, install it and double click on the icon of a file that did not want to open - the problem with the .CHD file extension should be solved. However, if this does not happen, go back to the website to learn about other possible causes of the error, which have been described at the bottom of the website.
Category
Game Files
Developer
The MAME Team
Popularity
StarStarStarStar
Last updated
June 26, 2015
File name: MAME Hard Disk Image
Programs that will open this file:
Windows
Windows
ExtraMAME ExtraMAME
MAME MAME
Mac OS
Mac OS
MacMAME MacMAME
MAME OS X MAME OS X
Remember!
The .CHD file extension can correspond to several not related file formats. If there is more than one file format with the .CHD extension, you will probably find most of them at this website. Remember that you need to download a program to support a particular file type. So first look through the entire contents of the website to select a program to support just the file you have.

Other possible reasons why your .CHD file does not want to open

In addition to the problem described above, i.e. the lack of the appropriate application to support the .CHD file, there may be several reasons that cause problems with opening and operation of the data format:

1. Incorrect version of the installed application

A quite common problem is the lack of application in the appropriate version. Even if you have an application, with the help of which you should open the .CHD file, you may have a problem with it because of its version. Perhaps in previous versions the application has not yet supported the .CHD file, so download the update and check again.

2. Incorrect .CHD file association with the program

If you have already installed the appropriate application, and it is the correct version, the file may not open correctly, because the operating system does not have information that this program supports the file. So you need to "show" which program the computer should use. To do this:

  • Right-click the .CHD file
  • Go to the "Open with" - then "Choose default program ..."
  • Locate the appropriate application
  • Click "OK"

3. The file is corrupt

It also happens that the file you want to open is corrupt and therefore there is no such possibility. In this situation, you should find its different version, or ask a person from whom you got, to send it again.