A hex editor is a tool through which users can open any type of file and display its contents. From time to time, a normal user will come across a file that cannot be opened with a normal text editor. They will require the hex editor to open the binary file to find the information in it. Another popular reason to use the hex editor is to change and edit the saved files of the game. However, most users wonder if there is any hex editor pre-installed in Windows or there is any good third-party hex editor to install. In this article, we will tell you the most used hex editors by the community and how it works.
Do Windows have a Hex Editor?
Windows do not have any pre-installed hex editor in their operating systems. Hex files can be stored in the text format or binary format. If you have a text-based hex file, then it can be opened with text editors like notepad. However, if you have a binary hex file, then the only option to open them is by using the third-party hex editing programs.
However, there are many free or open-source hex editor for Windows. Some hex editors come in the form of a plugin for the famous programs like Notepad++. These are some of the free best-known hex editors that you can use for Windows:
- HxD Freeware Hex Editor and Disk Editor
- Free Hex Editor Neo
- Cygnus Hex Editor
- Frhed (Free Hex Editor)
- PSPad Freeware Editor
We are going to show you how to install and use some of the above-mentioned hex editors on Windows. Down below some of the latest and outdated hex editors are demonstrated to give you the idea about using them on Windows.
Using HxD Freeware Hex Editor and Disk Editor
HxD is one of the fast and large file handler hex editors for Windows. It also provides the modifying of RAM and raw disk editing. The editing in HxD is similar to the editing in a normal text editor. The data can be viewed in ANSI, DOS, EBCDIC, and Macintosh character sets. It’s one of the updated hex editors among many other hex editors. To try the HxD hex editor follow the below steps:
- Open your browser and download the HxD hex editor in your language.
Downloading HxD hex editor - Extract the zip folder and open the setup file to install the HxD hex editor.
Extracting the zip file - Open the installed folder and then double-click the HxD64.exe to open the HxD hex editor.
Note: You can also open the HxD32.exe if you want to open it in 32-bit. - Click on the File menu in the menu bar and choose the Open option. Search and select your hex file to open in HxD.
Opening your hex file in the hex editor - Now you can view and edit the hex file by using the different features of the HxD hex editor.
You can find and use the Option menu features to edit the file
Using Free Hex Editor (Frhed)
Frhed is a hex or binary file editor for the Windows platform. The stable version of this was released back in 2009 and it still is available up to that version. This editor is written in C++ and it is open-source software. Even though it’s outdated, but many users are still using it because of the good performance. Follow the below steps to try Frhed for Windows:
- Download and Install the Frhed application.
Downloading Free hex editor - Open the Frhed application by double-clicking the shortcut. Click on File and choose the Open option. Search and find the hex file to open it in Frhed.
Opening application and hex file - You can see the hex file a bit different in this outdated application but it still works.
You can view and edit the file now
Kevin Arrows
Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.
Ordinary text editors and composers usually do not allow you to see or edit Hexadecimal files or hex codes. To edit and display hexadecimal files, you’ll need specialized software or a computer program. The post will assist you in locating the best HEX editor and instruct you on how to use it.
So, let’s take a look at the top 15 Hex editor for Windows 10 in 2023.
What is a Hex Editor and how does it work?
A Hex editor, often known as a binary editor, is a computer program that manipulates a computer’s binary data’s underlying binary integers. A computer file typically contains many sections on a file storage system, such as a hard disc drive (HDD) or a disc. The contents are combined to create a binary file that is stored.
A Hex editor is a program that parses and edits the sector data from a hard drive or floppy disk’s physical segments. These editors are known as disc editors or sector editors.
There are a number of hex editors available, but not all of them are worthwhile. We have saved you the hassle of searching for the best free hex editor for Windows 10. In 2021, below is a list of the top 20 hex editors for Windows.
Hex Editor Neo
This is excellent hex editors for Windows 7, 8, and 10 is Free Hex Editor Neo. One may simply modify ASCII, binary, double, and decimal codes with the Free Hex Editors Neo. It’s a fantastic hex editors and viewer.
It’s possible to call it the best HXD hex editors alternative. You may edit and examine numerous hex files at once with the Free Hex Editor Neo. A hex code can be edited and removed from a file. It can also encrypt and decrypt hexadecimal data for you. Hexadecimal files can also be saved and printed. Large hex files are no problem for it.
Characteristics
- Free Hex Editor Neo is a free hex editor for Windows.
- It can encrypt and decrypt hex files;
- It can work on hex files with several tabs;
- It can insert hex codes and other files.
- The Neo Windows hex editor can handle huge files.
WinVi
WinVi is a fantastic open-source hex editor for your Windows software. It’s completely free to use, and hundreds of people around the world use it and continue to improve it. You may easily examine and modify hex, ASCII, DOS, UTF-8, EBCDIC, and Binary files using this simple program. You can use it to edit any hexadecimal file.
Characteristics
- WinVi also allows you to modify binary codes.
- It can handle files up to 2 GB in size.
- WinVi supports the Unix text file format, as well as multi-language support and the ability to customize the program’s background.
BitEdit9
Another free hexadecimal file editor is BitEdit9. It includes a hex viewer and editor, as well as a decimal editor, a binary viewer, and editor, and an octal viewer and editor. It comes with three editing parts. The Offset, Hexadecimal, and Character sections are as follows. The string’s designated information is shown in the parts.
Characteristics
- BitEdit9 is a full-featured editor that supports all Unicode characters.
- It has a fantastic and user-friendly interface.
- A code string can be searched and replaced.
HxD Hex Editor
My personal favorite hex editing and viewing application for Windows 10 is HxD Hex Editor. It has a lot of interesting and useful features. The hexadecimal numbers can be copied, edited, cut, and pasted. You may also insert bytes and compare two hex files. You can use the HxD Hex Editor to look for and replace certain hex codes. You can also lookup a certain code address. Additionally, you can edit decimal and octal files with the HxD Hex Editors.
Characteristics
- This is freeware software.
- Two hex files can be compared.
- Codes can be searched and replaced.
- You can navigate to a specific address and insert bytes into a file.
XVI32
XVI32 is a free hex editor capable of opening files up to 2 GB in size. You may view and edit both ASCII and hex files using XVI32. When editing or viewing numerous tabs, the application allows you to control two cursors at the same time. You can change the text size, font, and color using the interface. It allows you to jump to a string, change a code, and remove a string. Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 are all supported by XVI32. The most recent version of the app was released on June 26, 2012.
Characteristics
- XVI32 is a lightweight and portable application.
- XVI32 can open files up to 2 GB in size and can also edit ASCII files.
- The user interface can be customized.
- You can use the search tool to look for a specific string.
HexEdit Catch22
HexEdit is a free program that allows you to browse and edit Hex files. You can edit, inspect, copy, cut, paste, and replace any hex file with this handy tool. However, unlike other free hex editors, this one has a 16-exabyte limit (1 exabyte = 1e+18 bytes).
Characteristics
- It can open files up to 16 exabytes in size, and you can undo and redo as many times as you want.
- You can bookmark any string and use it in future projects because it is an open-source hexadecimal editor.
Hextreme Hex Editor
The best open-source hex editor is the Hextreme Hex Editors. You may view and edit hexadecimal, binary, and octal files with this free and simple editor. The software can open and edit many files at the same time. It may search for a certain hex code and replace it with a new one, just like other editors. You can also alter the app’s background color, text color, and fonts, as well as modify the UI. You can use it as an alternative to Neo’s hex editors.
Characteristics
- The software is completely free to use.
- The user interface can be customized.
- It allows you to edit, cut, and paste hex files, as well as search for and replace codes.
- If you want, you can save and print a hex file.
Hexplorer
Hexplorer is yet another excellent hex editor for Windows that is completely free. You can open, modify, print, and save hex codes and files using Hexplorer. It supports a variety of file types, including ASCII, ATMEL, Cosmos, SPASM, DEC, Binary, and others. It can also control various logic gates. Hexplorer allows you to comprehend and control operators like OR, NOR, AND, NAND, and XOR. This useful tool also allows you to alter binary and decimal codes. It also has the ability to encrypt and decrypt hex codes.
Characteristics
- The software is available for free.
- It can encrypt and decode data;
- It can open files other than hexadecimal;
- It can copy and paste a string of hex codes.
iHex
Another handy cross-platform hex editor is iHex. IHex works on both Windows and Linux computers. You can create a shortcut to quickly access and edit any file. The software allows you to save hex files in different sizes such as MB, Kb, GB, and Bytes. Furthermore, iHex makes it simple to merge and compare different hex files. Any hex codes can be easily saved and printed. It is a free, intelligent, and lightweight PC tool.
Characteristics
- It is free and lightweight software that can compare and join two hex files, as well as copy, paste, and modify data.
- It runs on Windows and Linux and can edit binary files.
Tyrannosaurus Hex
Tyrannosaurus Hex is an excellent free hex editor. It can compare numerous hex files, just like the other programs. It can easily process big hex files. It can be used for hex code editing.
Characteristics
- Multi-tab support is included with Tyrannosaurus Hex
- It works with both Windows and Linux operating systems
- It has a histogram on the interface
- you can replace a string with a new one
- The user interface is completely customizable
Wxhexeditor
WxHexEditor is a great free cross-platform hexadecimal editing tool. Currently, the program is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Multiple hex files can be opened, viewed, and edited with ease. You can open and edit many hex files at once with wxHexEditor. Hexadecimal symbols, offsets, and characters can all be displayed on the interface. You may also search for and change strings with wxHexEditor.
Characteristics
- It is a cross-platform hex editing software that is free to download.
- The UI is simple and efficient, and it can replace any symbol in the string.
Java hexeditor
The Java Hex Editor is an excellent program for working with hexadecimal files. It is, like the other software on the list, free software. It can easily recognize and open hex and decimal codes. Hex codes from a file can be readily compared and replaced.
Characteristics
- Java Hex Editor is a cross-platform program with a simple user interface and a tiny file size that can examine hex and decimal codes.
- Java Hex Editors allows you to compare two or more hexadecimal files.
Frhed
Frhed is another hexadecimal file editor that is both easy and powerful. The program makes it simple for you to open and edit hex codes. You may also use Frhed to replace a string of codes. It’s a free tool that adapts well to your needs. Hex dump values can also be imported and exported. Templates and bookmarks are also available in French. You can also use assignment operators like X-OR, OR, NOR, AND, NAND, and so on.
Characteristics
- The software allows you to compare offset values.
- The software is completely free to use.
- The user interface can be customized.
- It allows you to use operators such as AND, OR, NOR, and others, as well as substitute strings and codes.
Cihexviewer
The last but not least hexeditor on our list is CIHexViewer. It’s a simple editing tool that’s also free to use. It’s a multi-platform app that works on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Multiple tabs and concurrent searches are supported by CIHexViewer. A fantastic little app for hexadecimal editing.
Characteristics
- CIHexViewer is a cross-platform app that is lightweight and simple to use.
- It allows parallel searches and file comparisons.
Hex-ed.it
Hex-Ed is a tool-based hex editor. It lets you edit, view, and exchange hexadecimal files. It can also modify other files. To use Hex-Ed, you’ll need an internet connection. It runs on all major operating systems. It’s simple to use, and the performance is excellent. Hex-Ed is an online hex editor that is free to use and allows you to edit and analyze various codes.
Conclusion
Hex editing software isn’t necessary for everyone. If you’re a techie, however, you might search the internet for the best hex editors. We hope that this post has assisted you in finding the best app for you.
Let us know which app is best for you in the comments section below.
Notepad++ is a popular text editor that, when paired with the right plugins, can serve as a powerful hex editor. If you’re interested in installing the Hex Editor plugin for Notepad++ to unlock this functionality, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to install the Hex Editor plugin in Notepad++, equipping you with a versatile tool for working with hexadecimal data. Let’s get started on enhancing your text editor with hex editing capabilities.
Hexadecimal is a numerical format for encoding binary data, and its name stems from it. A hex editor is an application that allows you to examine, inspect, and edit files that have been encoded in hexadecimal. Notepad++, on the other hand, is unable to open and edit some text files and programming languages. You may require some plugins, such as Hex Editor, to examine different forms of text and code in this situation. You may open the file in Hex Editor, and most files have information that indicates what type of file it is. This may also be used to alter the game’s stored state file and adjust the game’s changeable feature.
Step 1: Verify Notepad++ Version
Because many individuals have confirmed that the 64-bit version of Notepad++ does not operate with Hex Editor, it is suggested that you check your Notepad++ version first. Here’s how:
1. In your Notepad++ text editor, click the Question mark (?) symbol.
2. Select About Notepad++, and a pop-up box will appear, indicating whether Notepad is 32-bit or 64-bit.
3. If your version isn’t a 32-bit version, download and install Notepad++ 32-bit x86 version.
Also Read: Where is NOTEPAD in Windows 10? 6 Ways to open it!
Step 2: Add Plugin Manager from Github
Plugin Manager is a Notepad++ plugin that lets you install, update, and uninstall any available plugins. The Plugin Manager plugin was withdrawn from the official distributors after Notepad++ version 7.5. Because of sponsored advertising, this plugin has to be removed. Because the application was deleted from the official website after Notepad++ 7.5, you’ll have to manually download it from GitHub and install it. If you have Plugin Manager installed on your Notepad++, you may skip this stage.
1. Firstly, browse the GitHub page: Plugin Manager.
2. You have the option of downloading 32bit or 64bit zip files.
3. Plugin Manager zip files are available for download on GitHub.
4. Now Using WinRAR, unzip the zip file and open the extracted folder. It will have plugins and updater folders. Each will contain one file. The files must be copied from this directory to the Notepad++ plugins and updater folders.
C:\Program Files\Notepad++
5. Now copy the files from the downloaded plugin’s directories and paste them into the Notepad++ folders.
6. Restart Notepad++ after copying the files, and the Plugin Manager will appear.
Also Read: How to Add Notepad++ Plugin on Windows 10
Step 3: Install Hex Editor Plugin
Plugin Manager is a simple and effective tool for installing and uninstalling Notepad++ plugins. Notepad++ does not come with a Hex editor by default, thus you won’t be able to read the text in Hex format. You will, however, be able to examine any file in Hex format without problem after installing the Hex Editor Plugin. The instructions for the hex editor download Plugin are as follows:
1. Double-click the shortcut to open Notepad++.
2. Now select Plugins from the menu bar.
3. Select Plugin Admin…
4. This will bring up a window with a list of available plugins. Search for HEX-Editor.
5. Check the box next to HEX-Editor and click on Install.
6. After restarting, open the file you wish to see in HEX in Notepad++, such as change.log which we utilized in this technique. You can drag and drop with Notepad++.
7. After you’ve opened the file, go to Plugins, then HEX-Editor, and finally View in HEX.
8. This converts your encoded text to HEX.
Hence, this is how you perform hex editor download in Windows 10.
Recommended:
- Fix Windows 10 Update Error 0x80190001
- How to Delete Github Account Permanently
- How Many Types of Keys on a Computer Keyboard
- Fix Command Failed With Error Code 1 Python Egg Info
We hope you found this information useful and that you were able to install hex editor Notepad++. Please let us know which technique was the most beneficial for you. Please use the form below if you have any queries or comments.
WinHex: Computer Forensics
& Data Recovery Software,
Hex Editor & Disk Editor
Windows
XP/2003/Vista/2008/7/8/8.1/2012/10/2016/2019/11, 32 Bit/64 Bit*
|
Feb 17, 2025
User manual |
WinHex is
Having all the bits and bytes in a computer at your |
Registered professional users include:
Microsoft Corp., Hewlett Packard, Deloitte & Touche, KPMG Forensic, Ernst & Young,
Toshiba Europe,
Ericsson, National Semiconductor, Siemens AG, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems,
U.S. federal law enforcement agencies, … (more)
What’s?
Please check out the newsletter archive or
support forum.
User interface and program help fully
available in English and German.
User interface also partially available in Chinese, Ukrainian, Russian,
French,
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese.
Installation tips
Old screenshot
*Limitations under Windows Vista/2008
Server/7: Physical RAM cannot be opened. Unable to write sectors on
the partitions that contain Windows and WinHex.
Earlier versions may be made available to
licensed users on request.
HexEdit is a hexadecimal file editor for Microsoft Windows. HexEdit allows the user to view and edit any type of file, no matter what format it is saved in.
With a maximum file size limit of 16Exabytes (17,179,869,184 gigabytes!!), HexEdit can cut, copy, paste, insert and delete any amount of data with no decrease in performance with larger files. With unlimited multi-level undo and redo capability, no matter how large the file, HexEdit brings a new level of control over file editing.
Open Source
HexEdit 2.0 has been fully open-sourced under the MIT licence. Visit github.com/strobejb/HexEdit to clone the sourcecode repository using Git, or download the entire source bundle as a single Zip file.
Features
- 16 Exabyte files — opens files of any size, with no decrease in performace
- Unlimited Undo & Redo
- Modify file time-stamps
- Search & Replace for Hex, Ascii, Unicode and Numeric data
- Flexible hex display options (hex, decimal, binary, byte, word, dword)
- Fill data ranges
Custom types & structure viewer
- TypeView provides a structured view on top of a file’s raw hex bytes
- Underlying structure of a file can interpreted and modified through the TypeView window
- Supports full C syntax for structure definitions
- Structures can be edited within HexEdit, or in an external source editor
Bookmarks and Annotations
- Bookmarks and annotaitons within the hex display
- Annotate any range(s) of bytes within a file
- Fast access to saved bookmarked positions, through the bookmark viewer.
- Automatically saves bookmarks for future use
Clipboard formats
Import & Export files or clipboard data, using many different formats of data:
- Hex, Ascii & Raw data
- Base64, UUEncode
- Intel Hex & Motorola S-Records
- HTML
- C++, Assembler
Supported Platforms
Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7
32bit & 64bit versions available