diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/editor.py b/Lib/idlelib/editor.py
index 859a288b4bc..08d6aa2efde 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/editor.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/editor.py
@@ -86,10 +86,20 @@ class EditorWindow:
                     dochome = os.path.join(basepath, pyver,
                                            'Doc', 'index.html')
             elif sys.platform[:3] == 'win':
-                chmfile = os.path.join(sys.base_prefix, 'Doc',
-                                       'Python%s.chm' % _sphinx_version())
-                if os.path.isfile(chmfile):
-                    dochome = chmfile
+                import winreg  # Windows only, block only executed once.
+                docfile = ''
+                KEY = (rf"Software\Python\PythonCore\{sys.winver}"
+                        r"\Help\Main Python Documentation")
+                try:
+                    docfile = winreg.QueryValue(winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, KEY)
+                except FileNotFoundError:
+                    try:
+                        docfile = winreg.QueryValue(winreg.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,
+                                                    KEY)
+                    except FileNotFoundError:
+                        pass
+                if os.path.isfile(docfile):
+                    dochome = docfile
             elif sys.platform == 'darwin':
                 # documentation may be stored inside a python framework
                 dochome = os.path.join(sys.base_prefix,