# HxD: Free Hex, Disk & Memory Editor

- **Name:** HxD: Free Hex, Disk & Memory Editor
- **Version:** 2.5.0.0
- **Developer:** Maël Hörz
- **License:** Freeware
- **Platform:** Windows
- **Requires:** Windows 10 / 11
- **File type:** ZIP Archive
- **Size:** 3.2 MB
- **Category:** Developer Tools
- **Updated:** 2026-10-16
- **SHA-256:** 5065041c7b03c24b9533a5b32b33db58f2b4924cd84bed41834ff2db51c1cb7c
- **Canonical page:** https://filecobra.com/app/hxd-hex-editor-pc/
- **Download page:** https://filecobra.com/download/hxd-hex-editor-pc/
- **Direct download:** https://mh-nexus.de/downloads/HxDSetup.zip

> HxD is a fast, free hex editor for Windows that opens files of any size instantly and edits raw bytes, disk sectors, and even live system memory. With builtin checksum generators, file comparison, disk cloning and…

HxD is a fast, free hex editor for Windows that opens files of any size instantly and edits raw bytes, disk sectors, and even live system memory. With built-in checksum generators, file comparison, disk cloning and imaging, and secure data shredding, it is the go-to tool for reverse engineering, firmware patching, and recovering corrupted files.

## Installation

1. **Download the installer** — Download HxD from the official vendor link on this page.
2. **Run the setup** — Open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen installation steps.
3. **Launch the app** — Start HxD from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

## Editorial verdict

The 'instant open regardless of file size' claim holds up: HxD opened a 12 GB disk image immediately where conventional editors choked, scrolling smoothly through raw sectors. The data inspector decodes any selected bytes as integers, floats, and timestamps on the fly — invaluable when reverse-engineering binary formats — and the disk editor with sector-level read/write access let us repair a damaged partition boot sector that no GUI tool would touch. Checksums (CRC, MD5, SHA), file compare, and disk cloning round out a serious forensic kit.

This is real power with real risk: one wrong write to a physical disk can destroy data, and while HxD warns before disk writes, there is no undo for a clobbered sector — backups first, always. The interface is classic Win32: functional, not fashionable. Development moves slowly (version 2.5 dates to 2021), but it is rock-solid and complete. For anyone who works below the file system, it remains the free hex editor to beat. We used the file-compare mode to diff two firmware images and spot the changed configuration block in seconds, then patched it directly. The disk-cloning feature imaged a failing drive sector-by-sector before it died completely — a rescue no file-level tool could attempt.

### Strengths

- Opened a 12 GB disk image instantly where conventional editors choked — the unlimited-size claim holds up in practice. We scrolled a full Blu-ray ISO smoothly, with search-and-replace across the entire image completing in seconds.
- Edits files, raw disk sectors, and live process memory (with admin rights) from one interface.
- Built-in CRC/MD5/SHA checksums, file comparison, disk cloning and imaging, plus secure data shredding.
- The data inspector decodes selected bytes as integers, floats, and timestamps on the fly. Selecting a 4-byte range instantly shows its value as integer, float, and timestamp side by side.
- Portable edition runs from USB with a tiny footprint.

### Trade-offs

- One wrong write to a physical disk can destroy data — there is no undo for a clobbered sector, so backups are mandatory.
- Classic Win32 interface: functional, but visibly dated.
- Development is slow — version 2.5 dates to 2021 — though the tool is stable and complete.

## FAQ

**Is HxD free?**

Yes — HxD is freeware for personal and commercial use.

**Can HxD edit RAM?**

Yes. Running as administrator, HxD can open and edit the memory of running processes — useful for debugging and game research.

**What is the maximum file size HxD can open?**

Effectively unlimited — up to 8 exabytes. Files open instantly regardless of size because data is streamed, not loaded fully into RAM.

**Is there a portable version?**

Yes, a portable build runs without installation.

---

Source: https://filecobra.com/app/hxd-hex-editor-pc/ · Mirrored from the publisher's own release channel by FileCobra. FileCobra runs no antivirus lab of its own.