This minHour teaches you how to open and edit your Windows computer's DLL files using a free program or a free web service. Keep in mind that modifying DLL files can permanently damage your computer.
Preparing to Edit a DLL
Understand where to find DLL files.
DLL files—which are binary files used by Windows in order to perform basic tasks—are usually found deep within your computer’s system folders. Because of this, it’s usually a good idea not to mess with them; if you’re positive you want to edit a DLL file, though, you may have to unhide your computer’s hidden folders and files.
- You’ll typically find DLL files in the C:WindowsSystem32 path, which can be found by opening This PC, double-clicking your hard drive, double-clicking the “Windows” folder, and double-clicking the “System32” folder.
- If you want to edit the DLL files for a specific program (typically a program you installed yourself), you’ll usually find the pertinent files in the installation folder.
Open File Explorer.
Click the File Explorer app icon, which resembles a yellow and blue folder, in your computer’s taskbar. A pop-up window will appear.
- You can also press to open the File Explorer.
Click View.
It’s a tab at the top of the File Explorer window. You should see a toolbar appear at the top of the window.
Check the “Hidden items” box.
This box is in the “Show/hide” section of the toolbar. Placing a checkmark in this box ensures that your computer will show hidden files and folders.
- You can exit File Explorer at this point.
Consider making a copy of the DLL.
Since DLL files are often crucial to the performance of your computer or a specific program,
- Find the DLL you want to edit and click it once.
- Press to copy the DLL.
- Go to your desktop or a similarly easy-to-access folder.
- Press to paste the copied DLL here.
Editing DLLs with Hex Editor
Download the Hex Editor setup file.
Go to https://www.hhdsoftware.com/free-hex-editor in your computer’s web browser, then click near the top of the page.
Install the Hex Editor.
Double-click the “free-hex-editor-neo” setup file that you downloaded, then click through the on-screen prompts to install the program. Once you’re done, the Hex Editor program should open.
- If Hex Editor doesn’t open after installing, double-click the blue “Hex Editor Neo” shortcut on your desktop to open it before proceeding.
Click File.
It’s in the top-left corner of the Hex Editor window. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu.
Select Open.
This is in the drop-down menu. A pop-out menu will appear.
Click Open File….
It’s in the pop-out menu. Doing so opens a File Explorer window.
Find the DLL you want to edit.
In the File Explorer window, go to the folder location of the DLL file that you want to edit.
Select the DLL.
Click once the DLL to do so.
Click Open.
It’s in the bottom-right corner of the window. This will open the DLL file in the Hex Editor.
Edit the DLL’s contents.
To edit a binary value, right-click it, click , and change the value as needed.
- You can also delete a value by clicking it and then pressing .
Save all of your changes.
Click , then click in the resulting drop-down menu. This will save any changes you made to the DLL.
- You can also press to save all changes.
Tips
- Due to their sensitive nature, DLL files cannot be opened or edited with a Windows process (e.g., Notepad).
- Opening a DLL in Notepad++ will technically work, but most of the DLL’s contents will be unreadable.
Warnings
- DLL files are incredibly sensitive system components. Don’t edit DLL files unless you have the necessary experience to do so.