OpenAnyFile
What is a .lha file?
LHA Archive is an archive format developed by Haruyasu Yoshizaki, first released in 1988. It is usually created by Amiga, MS-DOS, Japanese PCs.
The dominant archive format in Japan and on the Amiga in the late 80s and 90s.
File details
| Full name | LHA Archive |
|---|---|
| Category | Archives |
| MIME type | application/x-lzh-compressed |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 2D 6C 68 (-lh) at offset 2 |
| Developer | Haruyasu Yoshizaki |
| Introduced | 1988 |
| Opens with | Archive engine |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .lha file
OpenAnyFile routes .lha files to its archive engine, which shows a browsable listing of everything inside.
- Drop your .lha file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the archive engine.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: a browsable listing of everything inside. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Editing and saving back. OpenAnyFile is a viewer, not an editor — for changes you still need the original app.
Is it safe to open a .lha file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .lha files
Can I open a .lha file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .lha files in your browser using its archive engine. You get a browsable listing of everything inside, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .lha file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine LHA file begins with 2D 6C 68 (-lh) at offset 2. OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .lha file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.