How to Open a Webarchive File on a PC
By Gissimee Doe
Webarchive files are a special type of file archive that the Safari browser uses for saving Web pages. You can recognize a webarchive file from the “.webarchive” extension in the file name. Webarchive files are useful when you need to view Web pages while offline, but you have to either use the Apple Safari application to view them on a Windows machine or convert them to a Windows-recognized format, such as HTML, using conversion software or Microsoft Office Word and then open them using a browser such as Internet Explorer.
Webarchive
Apple’s Safari browser lets you save individual Web pages for offline viewing by storing all the elements of the Web page in a Web archive, denoted by the .webarchive file extension. The Web archive consists of the files needed to serve the Web page from your local machine, including the HTML files, images and scripts that the browser needs to display the page properly without an Internet connection.
Safari
The easiest way to view .webarchive files is to open them using the Safari application. You can find the Windows version of this application online, download and install it on your PC, and then use it to open files with the .webarchive extension (link in Resources). If you don’t want to go through the hassle of downloading and installing another application on your PC, you can use a common Windows application such as Microsoft Word to convert the file to a non-Safari browser-friendly format.
Converting
You have several options available when it comes to converting your .webarchive file to a format that you can open on a PC. One of the simplest options is to open the Web archive in Microsoft Office Word and then click "File" and “Save As.” The Save As window opens, and you see a “Save As Type” drop-down box with available file types. Pick one of the “Web Page” options in the drop-down list and save the file. You can then open the newly created Web page using a browser on your Windows computer.
Considerations
If you don’t like the way your Web page looks after Microsoft Office Word has converted the .webarchive file or if you don’t want to use that conversion method, you can download file conversion software and use this to convert your files. Many converters, such as the opensource SourceForge Web Archive Extractor, are available online, so choose one that appeals to you. You can also try opening the .webarchive file from your browser as the browser may be able to open the file without an external conversion process.
References
Writer Bio
Gissimee Doe has been writing for over 11 years on a range of subjects and interests. Her favorite genres are horror, science fiction, adventure and food. Doe maintains a number of fashion and style blogs and is currently working on her first novel. She holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science and a Master of Science in computer-based management information systems.