How to Open HTML Files in Browser from Notepad++

When working with HTML files in Notepad++, many users expect to open the current file directly in Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox using the Run option. However, Chrome and Firefox do not appear by default in Notepad++.

This happens because Notepad++ does not include built-in browser commands by default. To launch your active file in a browser, you must manually add the browser’s executable path to Notepad++.

Below, we’ll show you how to add Chrome and Firefox to Notepad++ using the built-in Run feature so you can preview the currently opened HTML file instantly.

1. Open Notepad++ on your computer.
   
2. Click the Run menu from the top menu bar.
   
3. Select Run… from the dropdown list.
   
4. In the Run dialog box, enter the browser’s executable path and add “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)” at the end (including the quotation marks). This tells the browser to open the file you currently have active in Notepad++.
5. For Google Chrome:

   C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe "$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)"

   

6. For Mozilla Firefox:

   C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe "$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)"

   Note: If your browser is installed in a different location
   (such as Program Files (x86)), adjust the path accordingly.

7. Click the Save… button.
   
8. Give the browser command a name and (optional) assign a
   keyboard shortcut for faster access.
   
9. Click OK to save the command.