From the Files app
Use Open In or the share sheet to send a .html or .htm file to a compatible app.
iPhone and iPad
Open an HTML file on iPhone.
iOS does not include a general local HTML viewer. HTML Lens is built to open the file, render the page, show the source, and keep the document on your device.
No accountLocal-firstNo HTML Lens uploadsFree web tool
Why tapping the file usually fails
Safari renders URLs, while Files relies on Quick Look for previews. A local HTML file can land between those systems without a built-in rendered preview.
From Mail or Messages
Open the attachment through the share sheet when a normal preview is unavailable.
From an AI chat
Copy the full HTML and paste it into the free web tool or the native app.
Offline and local
Self-contained documents can render without uploading the file.
What you actually need
To render a local HTML file on iOS, use an app that registers for HTML documents and displays them in a WebView. If you only need to inspect the code, a text editor can open it as text, but it will not show the finished webpage.
How it works
01
Get the file
Save the .html attachment to Files or copy the HTML from the place that created it.
02
Open with HTML Lens
Choose HTML Lens from the share sheet, or paste into the free web version.
03
Render and export
See the page, inspect its source, and export it in the format you need.
Common questions
Why does Safari not open my local HTML file?
Safari on iPhone is designed around web addresses and does not provide a normal File menu for opening arbitrary local HTML documents from Files.
Can I view the source instead?
Yes. A text editor can show a local HTML file as code. HTML Lens lets you move between source and the rendered page.
Does the file have to be uploaded?
No. HTML Lens is local-first and does not upload your document to an HTML Lens server.
What if the page looks different on my phone?
Responsive CSS, missing remote resources, or a missing viewport declaration can change how a page renders at phone width.