Enabling Phone Simulator for Local Files

Why Local Files Need Special Permission

When you open HTML files directly from your computer (file:// URLs), Chrome restricts extension access by default for security reasons. To use Phone Simulator - Mobile Emulator Tool with locally stored files, you'll need to grant explicit permission.

Quick Check: Are You Using a Local File?

Local file URLs start with file:// instead of http:// or https://.

Example: file:///C:/Users/YourName/Documents/project/index.html

If you see this format in your address bar, follow the steps below.

Enabling Local File Access: 3-Step Process

Step 1: Navigate to Extension Settings

Open Chrome's extension management page using either method:

Option A: Type chrome://extensions directly into your address bar and press Enter

Option B: Click the puzzle piece icon in Chrome's toolbar → Select "Manage Extensions" from the dropdown

Step 2: Find and Configure Phone Simulator

Once you're on the extensions page:

1. Scroll through your installed extensions until you find Phone Simulator - Mobile Emulator Tool
2. Click the "Details" button for this extension
3. Look for the toggle switch labeled "Allow access to file URLs"
4. Enable this toggle by clicking it

Troubleshooting tip: If the toggle is already enabled but the simulator isn't working, try switching it off and back on again to refresh the permission.

Step 3: Test Your Local File

Now you're ready to test:

1. Open your local HTML file in Chrome (drag and drop it into the browser or use File → Open)
2. Activate the Phone Simulator extension
3. Your mobile emulator should now display correctly

Still Having Issues?

If you've followed these steps and the simulator still isn't working with local files, please reach out to our support team. We're here to help troubleshoot any problems you encounter.

Note: This permission only needs to be enabled once. Phone Simulator will remember this setting for all future local files.