How to Edit DLL Files

This wikiHow teaches you how to open and edit DLL files on your Windows computer using a free program or web service. You should be aware that customizing DLL files can cause serious damage to your computer.

Table of Contents

Prepare to edit DLL files

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You need to know where to find the DLL file. A DLL is a binary file used by Windows to perform basic tasks and is often located deep in the computer’s system folders. It is because of this that it is not a good idea to shuffle DLL files. If you want to edit DLL files, you may need to unhide hidden files and folders on your computer.

The DLL file is usually located in the C:WindowsSystem32 path, open This PC, double-click the hard drive, double-click the “Windows” folder, and then double-click the “System32” folder.
If you want to edit the DLL file of a certain program (usually user-installed), you can search it directly in the program’s installation directory.

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Open File Explorer

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. Click the yellow and blue folder-shaped File Explorer application icon located in your computer’s taskbar. A window will pop up.

You can also press ⊞ Win + E to open File Explorer.

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Click View . This tab is at the top of the File Explorer window. A toolbar will appear at the top of the window.

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Check the “Hidden items” box. This box is in the “Show/hide” section of the toolbar. Check this box to make sure that your computer shows hidden files and folders.

You can now exit File Explorer.

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Consider making a copy of the DLL file. DLL files are often critical to the performance of a particular computer or program, so making a copy before editing is essential.

Find the DLL file you want to edit and click on it.
Press Ctrl + C to copy the DLL file.
Go to the desktop or to some easily accessible folder.
Press Ctrl + V to paste the copied DLL file here.

Edit DLL files with Hex Editor

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Download the Hex Editor setup file. Go to https://www.hhdsoftware.com/free-hex-editor in your computer’s web browser, then click Download near the top of the page.

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Install Hex Editor. Double-click the “free-hex-editor-anchor” setup file you just downloaded, then click through the wizard screens to install the program. Once you’ve finished the installation, the Hex Editor will open.

If Hex Editor does not open on its own after it is installed, double-click the blue “Hex Editor Neo” shortcut on the desktop to open the program before continuing.

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Click File . Options in the upper left corner of the Hex Editor window. A drop-down menu will appear.

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Select Open from the File drop-down menu. Another menu will pop up.

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Click Open File… . The action is in the Open menu that just popped up. The File Explorer window will appear.

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Find the DLL file you want to edit. In the File Explorer window, go to the folder containing the DLL file you want to edit.

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Click to select the DLL file.

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Click Open in the lower-right corner of the window. The DLL file will open in the Hex Editor.

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Edit the contents of the DLL file. To edit a binary value, right-click on it, select Edit , and then change the data you need.

You can also delete a value by clicking on it and pressing Del .

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Save all changes. Click File and choose Save All in the drop-down menu that appears. Any changes you have made to the DLL file will be saved.

You can also press Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + S to save all changes.

Advice

Due to the sensitive nature of the DLL file, we cannot open or edit it in a normal process on Windows (for example, through Notepad).
Technically, the DLL file can be opened in Notepad++, but most of the content in it will not be readable.

Warning

DLL files are extremely sensitive components of the system. Do not edit DLL files unless you have the necessary experience for this.

Steps

Prepare to edit DLL files

Edit DLL files with Hex Editor

Advice

Warning

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