How do I send an HTML file on WhatsApp so it opens?

Why does an HTML file not open as a webpage on WhatsApp?

When you attach an .html file in WhatsApp, it goes through as a document file rather than a live website. The phone on the other end may not open it as a page, and even if a viewer opens the single file, any local images, stylesheets or scripts stored on your computer are missing.

Hosting the file first solves both issues at once. When you convert HTML to a link, you send a standard HTTPS address in the chat, and tapping it opens the rendered page in the recipient's browser.

What can I include when I share an HTML page?

ship.page hosts static websites, which means files that run directly in the visitor's browser without a backend server. You can share an HTML file by itself or bundle a complete multi-file folder.

Whether you are sending a client prototype, a report or a custom invitation website, make sure your files fit these rules:

• Supported files: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, fonts, audio, video, WebAssembly and JSON.
• No server code: PHP, Node.js, Python, databases and WordPress do not run; forms need a third-party form service.
• Single files: upload one .html file up to 10 MB, or paste HTML code directly into the browser uploader.
• Multi-file projects: upload a folder (roughly 7 MB of files in one 10 MB request) or a .zip up to 25 MB on the free plan (100 MB unpacked, up to 100 files).
• Homepage and paths: name the entry file index.html, and keep in mind that file paths are case-sensitive.
• No standalone media: a lone PDF, image or video file is not accepted; wrap it in a folder or ZIP with an index.html file.

Tip: If your ZIP has a single top folder, ship.page unwraps it automatically so index.html loads at the root address.

Who can see the link I send?

Every uploaded page is sent with a noindex header so search engines leave it out of search results, and ship.page does not list uploads anywhere public. Anyone who has the link can open it, so anyone in your WhatsApp chat or group can view the page without logging in.

Every upload also generates a website QR code on the success screen with a PNG download, which you can drop into a chat or print out. If you need to restrict access with a password, the Pro plan ($4 a month, cancel anytime) adds password protection.

How do I update the page or keep a custom address?

You can publish without an account on the free forever plan, which has unlimited uploads and no bandwidth limits. If you want to manage your upload from a dashboard, claim the page with a free account using Google or an email link (no card required); on the free plan, a page cannot be updated in place, so a new upload gets a new link.

With Pro for $4 a month, pages don't expire while you're on Pro and can be updated without changing the link, so you do not have to send a new URL to your WhatsApp chat when you fix a typo. Pro also raises the ZIP limit to 100 MB (400 MB unpacked, 10,000 files), removes the closable "Hosted on ship.page" badge, and includes up to 5 custom subdomains like yourname.ship.place that you can point at any of your pages.

When is another tool a better fit?

ship.page is built for fast link sharing of static HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and no plan offers custom domains. Depending on your project, another service may fit better:

• Custom domains (like yoursite.com): use Netlify, Vercel or Cloudflare Pages if you need to connect a domain you own.
• Server code and databases: use a full-stack host like Render, Railway or Fly.io if your site runs PHP, Node.js, Python or WordPress.
• Single-page apps with path routing: ship.page has no single-page-app fallback and no custom 404 page, so apps with client-side routes must use hash routes like #/about or host on a platform with rewrite rules.