DecktlyPractical guide
How to edit an HTML file without coding
By Hannes Krieg · Updated 27 September 2026
An HTML presentation may look finished when you open it in a browser. To change its text and layout without editing the source, open the file in Decktly. Here is a straightforward workflow for your first edit.
If the file came from Claude, start with how to edit a Claude HTML presentation.
Free account to save · Visual editing for HTML presentations
The workflow
Make your first change in five steps.
Keep the original
Duplicate the .html file before you start. If it comes with folders of images, styles, or scripts, keep those files together and preserve their relative locations.
Open the file in Decktly
Choose your local HTML file in the desktop editor. You can also try app.decktly.com. Opening, editing, and commenting work without an account. Saving needs an account and a browser that can write local files, which means desktop Chrome or Edge.
Switch to Edit and change the text
Click the heading, paragraph, or label you want to update. Type your replacement, apply formatting, and move an object if the layout needs it. In the desktop app, Ctrl/Cmd+Z undoes a change.
Save the HTML
Use Save in the editor. In the desktop app, Ctrl/Cmd+S saves back to the file. In the browser, complete the file-access permission prompt. Saving is not available in Safari, Firefox, or on a phone.
Open your saved file in a browser
Check the wording, layout, and interactions in the saved copy. Share the file and its linked assets together; a self-contained HTML file is easier to move between computers.
If something does not edit as expected.
Text drawn inside an image or a canvas is not ordinary HTML text. Embedded frames that use a data: URL or a separate file are view-only; frames written as srcdoc can be edited. Missing images often mean an asset path is broken. For a layout or script change, use a code editor or AI assistant and reopen the result. Keep your original until you have checked the saved copy.
A few useful answers
Why can’t I edit it in a normal browser?
A browser normally displays the HTML file. Its developer tools can change a page temporarily, but those changes do not automatically update your original file. Decktly provides an editing and saving workflow.
Which keyboard shortcuts can I use?
In the desktop app, Ctrl/Cmd+O opens a file, Ctrl/Cmd+E toggles Edit mode, Ctrl/Cmd+Z undoes a change, and Ctrl/Cmd+S saves. Browser shortcuts may be handled differently.
Will my file still open without Decktly?
The saved result is HTML and can be opened in a browser. If it relies on separate images, CSS, or scripts, those resources must remain available.
Does editing locally mean everything is offline?
Local editing does not require uploading the deck to Decktly. Sign-in, updates, optional AI assistants, cloud-synced folders, and external resources referenced by the HTML may use the network.