Download HxD Hex Editor

Yes, HxD Hex Editor is completely safe to download and install. The software has been developed by Mael Horz since 2002 and is distributed as freeware through the official website at mh-nexus.de. The installer file is just 3.19 MB and has been scanned by major antivirus engines on VirusTotal with zero detections.

HxD does not bundle any adware, toolbars, or unwanted third-party software during installation. The installer is straightforward and does not attempt to change your browser settings or install background services. Because HxD is a hex editor that reads and writes raw binary data, Windows SmartScreen may occasionally show a warning on first launch — this is normal for unsigned freeware utilities and does not indicate malicious behavior.

• Always download from the official source at mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/ or from our download section
• Avoid third-party download sites that may bundle the installer with adware
• The portable ZIP version requires no installation at all — just extract and run

Pro tip: If Windows SmartScreen blocks the installer, click “More info” then “Run anyway.” This happens because HxD is distributed as unsigned freeware, not because of any security risk.

For more details about what HxD does, see our overview section.

HxD Hex Editor is 100% free from malware, spyware, and any form of unwanted software. The official installer from mh-nexus.de has maintained a clean record across all major antivirus platforms, including Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, Kaspersky, and Norton. The 3.19 MB download contains only the hex editor application and its supporting files.

Unlike many free tools that monetize through bundled software, HxD has no hidden monetization. There are no analytics trackers, no data collection, and no network connections made during normal operation. The software works entirely offline after installation. Mael Horz has maintained this clean distribution approach for over two decades, which is part of why HxD remains one of the most recommended hex editors in developer and security research communities on Reddit and Stack Overflow.

• No bundled adware or browser extensions
• No background processes or system services installed
• No internet connection required for operation
• Clean VirusTotal scan results from all major engines

Pro tip: If you want extra peace of mind, download the portable ZIP edition. It requires zero installation — just unzip to any folder and run HxD.exe directly.

Download HxD safely from our download page.

The official download for HxD Hex Editor is hosted on the developer’s website at mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/. This is the only source maintained directly by Mael Horz, the sole developer of HxD. Both the standard installer (Setup) and the portable edition (ZIP) are available there in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Some users on Reddit have reported occasional connection timeouts when downloading directly from mh-nexus.de, likely due to the site running on a personal server. If the official site is temporarily slow, our download section provides verified links to the latest version 2.5.0.0. Third-party mirror sites like Softpedia and MajorGeeks also host verified copies, but you should always avoid downloading from sites that wrap the installer in a custom downloader or require account creation.

1. Visit our download section or go to mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/
2. Choose between the Setup (installer) or Portable (ZIP) edition
3. Select 32-bit or 64-bit based on your Windows version
4. The download is 3.19 MB and completes in seconds on most connections

Pro tip: A common mistake is downloading HxD from random “free download” sites that wrap the installer with adware. Stick to the official source or trusted mirrors to keep your system clean.

Check our system requirements to confirm compatibility before downloading.

Yes, HxD Hex Editor works on Windows 11 without any issues. Version 2.5.0.0 is fully compatible with Windows 11 (both 23H2 and 24H2), and the 64-bit edition runs natively on modern Windows installations. HxD has been tested on Windows versions from XP through Windows 11, covering both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures.

One known cosmetic issue on Windows 10 and 11 involves high-DPI displays. If your display scaling is set above 100% (for example, 125% or 150%), HxD’s interface may appear slightly blurry because it does not yet support per-monitor DPI awareness. The hex data and text remain fully readable and functional, but the toolbar icons and menu text may look soft compared to DPI-aware applications. This is a known discussion on the mh-nexus.de forums and affects all scaling settings above 100%.

• Windows 11 64-bit: use the 64-bit (x64) edition for best performance
• Windows 11 ARM (Surface Pro): use the 32-bit edition under x86 emulation
• For DPI blurriness: right-click HxD.exe, go to Properties > Compatibility > Change high DPI settings > enable “Override high DPI scaling behavior” and set to “System”

Pro tip: On Windows 11 ARM devices like the Surface Pro X, the 32-bit edition runs fine under Windows’ built-in x86 emulation layer. Performance remains excellent because HxD is extremely lightweight at only 3.19 MB.

See full OS support details in our system requirements section.

No, HxD Hex Editor is a Windows-only application. There are no official macOS or Linux builds, and the developer Mael Horz has not announced plans to port HxD to other platforms. The software is built using Delphi and relies on Windows-specific APIs for its disk editing and RAM editing features.

If you need a hex editor on macOS, the closest alternatives are Hex Fiend (free, open source, macOS native) and 010 Editor (paid, cross-platform with binary templates). For Linux users, popular options include xxd (command-line, comes with Vim), Bless (GTK-based GUI editor), and ghex (GNOME hex editor). ImHex is another modern cross-platform option that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with features like pattern language support and data analysis tools.

• macOS: Hex Fiend (free) or 010 Editor ($49.95 license)
• Linux: xxd (CLI), Bless, ghex, or ImHex
• Cross-platform: 010 Editor or ImHex cover Windows + macOS + Linux

Some users have reported running HxD under Wine on Linux, but disk editing and RAM editing features will not work in that configuration. File editing works, but you lose the system-level capabilities that make HxD unique.

Pro tip: If you switch between Windows and macOS, consider using ImHex — it is free, open source, and supports pattern files for structured binary analysis across all three major operating systems.

For Windows users, download HxD from our download section.

HxD Hex Editor has very minimal system requirements. It runs on any Windows PC from Windows XP through Windows 11, needs less than 10 MB of disk space, and works with as little as 256 MB of RAM. The application itself is only 3.19 MB, making it one of the lightest hex editors available.

Because HxD uses memory-mapped file I/O, it can open files of virtually any size — up to 8 exabytes (8 EB) in theory — without loading the entire file into memory. This means you can open a 50 GB disk image on a machine with just 4 GB of RAM without any performance problems. The actual memory used by HxD stays low regardless of file size, typically under 30 MB even with multiple large files open in tabs.

• OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, or 11 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• CPU: Any x86 or x64 processor (Pentium III or later)
• RAM: 256 MB minimum, 1 GB recommended
• Disk: 10 MB free space
• Display: 800×600 minimum resolution

Pro tip: For the absolute smallest footprint, use the portable edition. It needs no installation and does not write to the Windows registry, which makes it ideal for running from a USB drive on any Windows PC.

Full hardware details are listed in our system requirements table.

Yes, HxD Hex Editor is completely free for both personal and commercial use. There is no paid version, no subscription, no trial period, and no feature restrictions. Every feature — file editing, disk editing, RAM editing, checksums, file comparison, data export — is available at no cost.

HxD is classified as freeware (not open source). The developer Mael Horz distributes it freely but retains the copyright and source code. This licensing model has been consistent since HxD was first released in 2003. Unlike many “freemium” hex editors that gate advanced features behind a paywall (010 Editor charges $49.95 for a license, for example), HxD provides all capabilities in a single free package with no limitations.

• Free for personal use on your home computer
• Free for commercial use in business and enterprise environments
• Free for educational use in schools and universities
• No registration, no email signup, no account required
• No feature limitations or nag screens

Pro tip: Because HxD is free for commercial use, IT departments can deploy it across an entire organization without license tracking. The portable edition is especially convenient for this — place it on a shared network drive and every team member can run it directly.

Learn more about what HxD offers in our features overview.

No, there is no paid or premium version of HxD Hex Editor. The software has always been a single-edition freeware product. Every feature available in HxD — from basic hex editing to raw disk editing and process memory modification — is included in the free download.

If you need features that HxD does not offer (binary templates, scripting, or cross-platform support), those capabilities exist in paid alternatives like 010 Editor ($49.95 single license) or free open-source tools like ImHex. HxD focuses on doing core hex editing tasks extremely well rather than expanding into scripting or plugin ecosystems. For most users — developers inspecting file headers, security researchers analyzing binaries, or gamers modifying save files — HxD covers everything needed.

• HxD 2.5.0.0 is the latest and only edition — no “Lite” vs “Pro” split
• All features (disk editing, RAM editing, checksums, file compare) are included
• 010 Editor ($49.95) adds binary templates and scripting if you need those
• ImHex (free, open source) adds pattern language and data processing if you want structured analysis

Pro tip: If you find yourself wishing HxD had binary templates for parsing structured file formats, try ImHex alongside HxD. Many professionals keep both installed — HxD for quick edits and disk operations, ImHex for format analysis.

Download HxD at no cost from our download section.

Installing HxD Hex Editor takes under two minutes. Download the installer from our download section, run the setup file, and follow the prompts. The entire process requires no special configuration.

The installer is a standard Windows setup wizard built with Inno Setup. It does not bundle any third-party software, toolbars, or browser extensions. The default installation path is C:Program FilesHxD for the 64-bit edition or C:Program Files (x86)HxD for the 32-bit version.

1. Download the HxD Setup file (3.19 MB) from our download section
2. Double-click the downloaded HxDSetup.exe file
3. If Windows SmartScreen appears, click “More info” then “Run anyway”
4. Accept the license agreement and click “Next”
5. Choose the installation directory (default is fine for most users)
6. Select whether to create a desktop shortcut and Start Menu entry
7. Click “Install” and wait a few seconds for the files to copy
8. Click “Finish” to complete the installation and optionally launch HxD

Pro tip: If you prefer not to install anything, download the portable ZIP edition instead. Extract it to any folder (or a USB drive) and run HxD.exe directly — no administrator rights needed.

See our Getting Started guide for first-use configuration tips.

Choose the portable edition if you want zero installation and the ability to run HxD from a USB drive. Choose the installer if you want desktop shortcuts, Start Menu integration, and file association for .hex files.

Both editions are identical in functionality — same features, same version (2.5.0.0), same 3.19 MB download size. The difference is purely in how the software is deployed on your system. The installer registers HxD with Windows (adds uninstall entry, optional file associations, Start Menu shortcut), while the portable ZIP runs from whatever folder you extract it to and leaves no trace in the Windows registry.

• Installer: Best for your primary workstation where you want quick access via Start Menu and right-click “Open with HxD” on files
• Portable: Best for USB drives, shared network drives, locked-down corporate PCs where you lack admin rights, or situations where you want zero footprint
• Both support 32-bit and 64-bit Windows
• Settings location: installer stores config in %APPDATA%HxD, portable stores config alongside HxD.exe

Pro tip: Many IT professionals carry the portable edition on a USB drive alongside other diagnostic tools. It boots instantly and requires no dependencies, making it a reliable first-response tool for examining binary files or disk sectors on any Windows machine.

Download either edition from our download section.

HxD appears blurry on displays with scaling above 100% because the application does not support per-monitor DPI awareness. This is the single most reported cosmetic issue on the mh-nexus.de forums and affects Windows 10 and 11 systems where display scaling is set to 125%, 150%, or higher.

The root cause is that HxD was built with older Delphi UI frameworks that rely on Windows to upscale the application window. Windows applies a bitmap stretch to the entire window, which produces the soft/blurry appearance. The hex data, text, and all features work correctly — only the visual sharpness is affected.

1. Right-click HxD.exe (or the HxD shortcut) and select “Properties”
2. Go to the “Compatibility” tab
3. Click “Change high DPI settings”
4. Check “Override high DPI scaling behavior”
5. Set “Scaling performed by:” to System
6. Click OK, then OK again, and relaunch HxD

This makes Windows render HxD at native resolution and handle scaling at the system level, which produces sharper text and icons. The trade-off is that HxD’s window may appear smaller on very high-resolution screens (4K at 200% scaling, for instance), but the content will be crisp.

Pro tip: If you use HxD frequently, create a shortcut with these compatibility settings baked in. That way you never have to adjust them again after a Windows update resets the executable properties.

More troubleshooting tips are available in our Getting Started guide.

You cannot save disk edits in HxD because the volume is mounted and locked by Windows. Starting with Windows Vista, the operating system protects mounted volumes from direct writes. To save changes to a physical disk, USB drive, or SD card, you must unmount the volume first or open the physical disk (not the logical volume).

HxD can open two types of disk targets: logical volumes (like C: or D:) and physical disks (like \.PhysicalDrive1). Logical volumes are protected by Windows when mounted, which is why save operations fail with an access error. Physical disks can be written to, but you must unmount any partitions on that disk first to avoid data corruption.

1. Open Disk Management (press Win+X, select “Disk Management”)
2. Right-click the volume on the target disk and select “Change Drive Letter and Paths”
3. Remove the drive letter to unmount the volume
4. In HxD, go to Extras > Open Disk and select the physical disk (not the volume letter)
5. Make your edits and save with Ctrl+S
6. After saving, reassign the drive letter in Disk Management

Pro tip: Always run HxD as Administrator when doing disk-level edits. Right-click HxD and select “Run as administrator” before opening any disk target. Without admin privileges, Windows blocks all raw disk access regardless of mount status.

Learn more about disk editing workflows in our features section.

The most common reason HxD search returns “not found” is that the search mode does not match the data type you are looking for. By default, HxD may search for text strings, but if you are following a tutorial that provides hex byte sequences (like 4D 5A 90), you need to switch the search mode to “Hex-values” in the Search dialog.

This is the number one confusion point for new HxD users, especially those following game modding guides or firmware tutorials on Reddit and YouTube. The Search and Replace dialog (Ctrl+F or Ctrl+H) has a “Datatype” dropdown at the top that controls whether HxD searches for text, hex values, integers, or floating-point numbers. If you paste hex bytes but the dropdown says “Text-string,” HxD will search for the ASCII text “4D 5A 90” instead of the actual bytes 0x4D 0x5A 0x90.

1. Press Ctrl+F to open the Search dialog
2. Click the “Datatype” dropdown at the top of the dialog
3. Select “Hex-values” if searching for byte patterns
4. Enter the bytes without the “0x” prefix, separated by spaces: 4D 5A 90
5. Set “Search direction” to “All” to search the entire file
6. Click “Search” or press Enter

Pro tip: For case-insensitive text searches, check the “Ignore case” box in the Search dialog. For hex searches, also try searching with the Ctrl+H (Replace) dialog — it has the same Datatype dropdown and additionally lets you replace found sequences in bulk.

See our Getting Started guide for a full walkthrough of HxD’s search features.

HxD does not have a built-in auto-update feature. To update, download the latest installer from the official website or our download section and install it over your existing copy. The current latest version is 2.5.0.0, released on February 11, 2021.

Updating is straightforward because the installer detects any previous HxD installation and upgrades it in place. Your settings, bookmarks, and recent file history are preserved. If you use the portable edition, simply download the new ZIP and extract it over the old folder — your configuration file (stored in the same directory) carries over automatically.

1. Check your current version: open HxD, go to Help > About
2. Compare with the latest version on our download section (currently 2.5.0.0)
3. If a newer version exists, download the matching edition (installer or portable, 32-bit or 64-bit)
4. Run the installer — it upgrades the existing installation without removing your settings
5. For portable: extract the new ZIP over your existing folder and allow file overwrite

Pro tip: HxD updates are infrequent — version 2.5 was a significant release that added LEB128 data type support and improved Intel HEX/Motorola S-Record handling. Bookmark the mh-nexus.de forum announcements page or periodically check our site to stay aware of new releases.

Current version details are listed in our download section.

HxD version 2.5.0.0, released on February 11, 2021, introduced several significant features including LEB128 data type support, improved Intel HEX and Motorola S-Record handling, and better error reporting for disk operations.

The most notable improvement for firmware developers is the enhanced handling of Intel HEX and S-Record files. Version 2.5 properly handles gaps and out-of-order data records in these formats, which was a frequent source of bugs in earlier versions. For data analysts and reverse engineers, the addition of LEB128 (Little-Endian Base 128) variable-length integer support in the Data Inspector means you can now decode this common encoding format directly in HxD’s sidebar without external tools.

• LEB128 support: Decode variable-length integers used in DWARF debug info, WebAssembly, and Android DEX files
• Intel HEX improvements: Correct handling of discontinuous address regions and out-of-order records
• Motorola S-Record fixes: Better parsing of S19/S28/S37 files with non-contiguous data
• Error handling: More informative error messages when disk or RAM operations fail
• Stability: Fixed undo/redo issues after fill and insert operations

Pro tip: The LEB128 support in the Data Inspector is especially useful for Android reverse engineers. Open a DEX file in HxD and click on any byte — the Data Inspector panel on the left shows the LEB128-decoded value along with all other integer representations.

Download the latest version from our download section.

HxD is the better choice if you need a free, fast, lightweight hex editor for everyday file and disk editing on Windows. 010 Editor is better if you need binary templates, scripting, or cross-platform support on macOS and Linux.

HxD opens instantly regardless of file size (up to 8 EB), handles raw disk editing and process memory modification, and stays under 10 MB installed. 010 Editor ($49.95 single license) adds a binary template system that can parse over 300 file formats (EXE, PNG, ZIP, PDF, etc.) with structured views, plus a C-like scripting language for automating repetitive tasks. 010 Editor also runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, while HxD is Windows-only.

• Price: HxD is free; 010 Editor costs $49.95 (single license)
• Speed: HxD opens files faster and uses less memory for basic editing
• Disk/RAM editing: Both support disk editing; HxD also edits process memory
• Binary templates: 010 Editor has 300+ format templates; HxD has none
• Scripting: 010 Editor supports C-like scripts; HxD has no scripting
• Platforms: HxD is Windows only; 010 Editor supports Win/Mac/Linux

Pro tip: Many professionals use both. HxD handles quick edits, disk operations, and checksum generation where speed matters. 010 Editor gets used when you need to parse a complex binary format like an ELF executable or a PCAP network capture. The two tools complement each other rather than compete directly.

See all HxD capabilities in our features section.

You should not switch entirely — HxD and ImHex serve different primary use cases. HxD excels at fast, lightweight binary editing and raw disk access. ImHex focuses on structured binary analysis with a pattern language and data processing nodes. Most power users keep both installed.

ImHex is a newer, open-source hex editor (first released in 2020) that has gained popularity in the reverse engineering community, particularly on the r/ReverseEngineering subreddit. Its standout feature is a custom pattern language that lets you define data structures and automatically highlight and decode fields in binary files — similar to 010 Editor’s binary templates but free and open source. ImHex also includes a data processor with visual node-based data transformation, bookmarks with color coding, and built-in hash/checksum tools.

• Raw speed: HxD opens and navigates faster, especially for multi-gigabyte files
• Disk/RAM editing: HxD supports direct disk and process memory editing; ImHex does not
• Pattern analysis: ImHex has a pattern language for structured binary parsing; HxD has no equivalent
• Cross-platform: ImHex runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux; HxD is Windows only
• Maturity: HxD has 20+ years of stability; ImHex is newer and some users report occasional lag with very large files

Pro tip: Some Reddit users in the reverse engineering community report that ImHex can lag when editing large binary files, while HxD handles them instantly. If your workflow involves frequently opening multi-gigabyte files for quick edits, keep HxD as your primary editor and use ImHex when you need pattern-based analysis.

Download HxD from our download section.

HxD can directly read and write the memory of running Windows processes. Go to Extras > Open RAM, select the target process from the list, and HxD will open that process’s memory space as a hex view where you can search, navigate, and edit bytes in real time.

This feature is commonly used for game value editing, debugging, and security research. When you open a process’s RAM in HxD, you see the full virtual address space. You can use Ctrl+G (Go To) to jump to specific memory addresses and Ctrl+F to search for byte patterns or text strings within the process memory. Changes are written immediately when you save — there is no “apply” step.

1. Run HxD as Administrator (required for memory access)
2. Go to Extras > Open RAM (or press Ctrl+Shift+M)
3. Select the target process from the list of running processes
4. Use Ctrl+G to navigate to a known address, or Ctrl+F to search for values
5. Edit bytes directly in the hex view — modified bytes appear in red
6. Press Ctrl+S to write changes to the process memory immediately

Pro tip: For game memory editing, first find the value you want to change (like a health or gold counter) by searching for its current value as a 32-bit integer. Change the value in the game, then search again for the new value. Narrow down to the exact address, then modify it in HxD. This manual approach works when cheat engines are blocked.

Learn about all HxD features in our features section.

HxD has a built-in checksum generator that supports MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512, CRC-16, CRC-32, and custom CRC polynomials. Open any file in HxD, go to Analysis > Checksums, select your algorithm, and HxD calculates the hash for the entire file or a selected range of bytes.

This is particularly useful for verifying downloaded files against published checksums, validating firmware images before flashing, or checking data integrity after a file transfer. HxD computes checksums quickly — a SHA-256 hash of a 1 GB file typically completes in under 10 seconds on modern hardware. You can also generate checksums for just a portion of a file by selecting a byte range before opening the Checksums dialog.

1. Open the file you want to hash in HxD
2. Optionally select a byte range (or leave nothing selected to hash the entire file)
3. Go to Analysis > Checksums (or Analysis > Data Statistics for a full distribution view)
4. Choose the algorithm: MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512, CRC-16, CRC-32, or Custom CRC
5. The result appears immediately — copy it to clipboard for comparison

For Intel HEX files specifically, HxD 2.5 correctly handles checksum records, and you can verify individual record checksums by selecting the record bytes and running the Checksum calculator with an 8-bit checksum algorithm. The expected Intel HEX checksum is the two’s complement of the byte sum modulo 256.

Pro tip: Use the Data Statistics view (Analysis > Statistics) to see a byte frequency distribution graph. This is a quick way to identify encrypted vs compressed vs plaintext data — encrypted data shows a near-uniform distribution, compressed data skews toward certain values, and plaintext clusters in the 0x20-0x7E ASCII range.

See more analysis features in our features section.

Yes, HxD can export binary data as source code arrays in C, C#, Java, Visual Basic .NET, Pascal, and Delphi. It also supports exporting to HTML, RTF, Intel HEX, and Motorola S-Record formats. Go to Edit > Copy As to copy the current selection in any of these formats to the clipboard, or use File > Export to save to a file.

The code export feature is one of HxD’s most practical capabilities for developers. When you need to embed binary data (like a firmware blob, an icon resource, or a certificate) directly in your source code, HxD can produce a ready-to-paste byte array declaration. For C, the output looks like unsigned char data[] = { 0x4D, 0x5A, 0x90, ... }; with proper formatting and line wrapping. For C#, it generates byte[] data = new byte[] { 0x4D, 0x5A, 0x90, ... }; and so on for each language.

• Edit > Copy As > C: Copies selected bytes as a C unsigned char array
• Edit > Copy As > C#: Copies as a C# byte array declaration
• Edit > Copy As > Java: Copies as a Java byte array (with signed byte conversion)
• File > Export > Intel HEX: Saves the entire file in Intel HEX format for microcontrollers
• File > Export > Motorola S-Records: Saves in S19/S28/S37 format for embedded systems

Pro tip: When exporting large byte arrays for C/C++ projects, HxD automatically formats the output with 16 bytes per line. If you need a different line width, copy the output and use a text editor’s find-and-replace to adjust the formatting. For firmware work, Intel HEX export with the correct start address is a significant time-saver compared to manual format conversion.

Explore all export capabilities in our features section.