Tips to open HXW file

Can't open the HXW file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open HXW files as well as a list of programs that support HXW files.

HXW file extension

File Name Microsoft Help Attribute Definition
File Developer Microsoft Corporation
File Category Settings Files

The HXW file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the HXW files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the HXW file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 2
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is HXW file?

The file in the HXW format belongs to the Settings Files category. The creator of this file is Microsoft Corporation. In addition to this file, the Settings Files category includes 1305 related files. Microsoft Help Attribute Definition appears on 1 operating systems as a functional file. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Windows. It is recommended to use Microsoft Windows to handle this file. This is a program created by Microsoft Corporation. Alternatively, you can use 1 other programs. You can use Microsoft Visual Studio in case Microsoft Windows cannot be used.

How to open HXW file?

The main problem with Microsoft Help Attribute Definition is that the HXW file is incorrectly associated with programs. This is manifested by the fact that HXW files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the HXW file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Microsoft Windows

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Microsoft Windows is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Microsoft Windows into the system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below is a list of programs that support the file HXW.

Programs to open HXW file

Remember to download programs supporting HXW files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Windows with HXW files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the HXW file still does not use the Microsoft Windows program, it means no association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Microsoft Windows application as the default for handling the HXW file.

Step 3. Update Microsoft Windows to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Microsoft Windows program with the Microsoft Help Attribute Definition file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Microsoft Corporation page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the HXW file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The HXW file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the HXW file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file HXW or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected HXW files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the HXW files changes over time. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular HXW file corruption. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact Microsoft Corporation
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted HXW files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. It is best to move HXW to a different directory.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the HXW file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the HXW file again. However, some background programs may block the HXW file while scanning. If this does not work either, restart the device.