YouTube Videos Do Not Work in .CHM Files Anymore?

We would like to know what could be causing this issue and how we can fix it.

HTML Help Viewer Blocks YouTube Embedded Videos on Windows 11

If you are using Windows 11, embedded YouTube videos will not work in the HTML Help Viewer.

It happens because HTML Help Viewer is based on the legacy Internet Explorer which is permanently disabled and removed from Windows 11. Therefore, the HTML Help viewer can no longer render modern HTML5 and JavaScript-based content including YouTube.

Please note that this issue is not related to HelpSmith itself. Anyway, we will look for possible solutions.

Do you have a solution to the issue of displaying YouTube videos within CHM files on Windows 11?

Do you have a solution to the issue of displaying YouTube videos within CHM files on Windows 11?

Use Text Links Instead of Embedded Videos

As a workaround, you can use text or static image that acts as a hyperlink to your video on YouTube. Thus, when the user clicks on the link, it will open the video in the user's default web browser (e.g. Edge, Chrome, etc.).

To create a hyperlink in HelpSmith

1. In the HelpSmith's topic editor, select the text or image you need.
2. On the Insert tab, in the Links group, click Hyperlink.
3. In the Hyperlink dialog, go to the Web Page section to create a link to an URL address.
4. In the Address box, specify the URL of your YouTube video.
5. In the Target Frame box, select New Window. This will cause the HTML Help viewer to open the hyperlink in a new web browser window, but not in its own window.
6. Click OK.

Thus, using a hyperlink to a YouTube video, instead of embedding the entire player, may help solve the issue with playing YouTube videos in the HTML Help (.CHM) Viewer on Windows 11.

Use Web Help (.HTML) as an Alternative to HTML Help (.CHM)

If you need to create documentation containing YouTube embedded videos, you can switch to the Web Help format instead of using HTML Help.

Since HelpSmith ver. 10.x, a Web Help system uses a frame-less layout and it can now work both on a web-server and on a local computer.

Because a web help system is based on the modern HTML5 standards and is accessed by users through a regular web browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.), YouTube embedded videos will correctly work in this documentation format.

To generate a Web Help system in HelpSmith

1. In the Ribbon, on the Project tab, click Compile.
2. In the Compile Project dialog, in the Output Format box, select Web Help.
3. Click Compile.

Please note that a web help system can be integrated with your application or website as explained here.