Finding Your Missing SVG File
You just bought an SVG file for your Silhouette, Cricut, or other crafting machine. You go to upload it, but instead of a file with an SVG extension and preview image of the file you just bought, you see an internet browser icon that says HTML document. What the heck gives? This is definitely not what you paid for! Don’t worry. This is actually a relatively common occurrence and is a super easy fix.
First, the Chrome HTML document is actually your SVG file. Computers that run on Windows like to associate a different program for each file type uploaded on your computer. That way when you go to open the file, it already knows what program to open it with. Just like Word and Excel documents using the programs icon. The only difference in this case is you don’t have dedicated software for SVG files, according to your operating system, so your computer thinks it needs to open the file with the internet.
I know, I know! You’re probably sitting there thinking, but I do have software to open the file. And more than likely, you’re right. Your computer just doesn’t know it yet which I talk about more in the last section. But my guess it that you’re probably in a hurry to finish the project you’re working on and want to use it as is right now. The good news, is that the file works just fine and can be uploaded the same way.
Uploading the SVG file
For Silhouette Studio users, I highly recommended not dragging and dropping the file into the design space area. Doing so can sometimes cause the file to accidentally have an error and may open a webpage or load nothing at all into Silhouette Studio. Instead, I recommend uploading it the following way:
In the software bar at the top of your screen, select file and then open.
From there your files box should popup. Select the HTML document which is your SVG file.
For Cricut Design Space users, you’ll just upload as usual, selecting the file that appears as an HTML document.
Eliminate the File Confusion for Good!
Now if you are anything like me, you probably find this problem really annoying and want to be able to open your file just by double clicking it. There is a really easy workaround for this problem that my friend Missy over at http://themissy.com does a great job walking you through. In her tutorial for Windows 10, she not only shows you how to change your default program for opening an SVG file to either Cricut Design Space or Silhouette Studio, she also walks you through a ridiculously easy way to make the SVG extension show as part of your file name from now on! Plus she provides step-by-step graphics to help you along the way.
If you that’s something you’re interested in (which come on, you know you are) then you can find her tutorial at http://themissy.com/2020/tech-help-when-svg-files-show-up-as-html-files-on-your-windows-10-computer?fbclid=IwAR2D0IPtOev_YzAc_Fm2vtAZP-RM1PJBSYDPJEzQJZN9kT56KdVD8rYerPU