Tips to open HEX file

Can't open the HEX file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open HEX files as well as a list of programs that support HEX files.

HEX file extension

File Name Hexadecimal Source Format
File Category Misc Files

The HEX file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the HEX files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the HEX file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 4
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is HEX file?

The .HEX file is a development file. It contains a code in hexadecimal (hexadecimal) notation. Usually the file is in text form, but there are also binary forms. It is also recommended to use an appropriate editor to read the file. Hexadecimal notation consists of numbers and letters from A to F. Where A corresponds to 11 and F 15. This allows 16 values (including zero) to be recorded. Code analysis requires a lot of knowledge, even for programmers. Regular users should not modify them.

How to open HEX file?

An often recurring problem with Hexadecimal Source Format is that HEX is not associated with the correct program file. Thus, when you open HEX, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the HEX file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install HexEdit

The first step is to check if the computer has the HexEdit program installed. To do this, enter the name HexEdit into the system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file HEX with HexEdit. Below is a list of programs that support the file HEX.

Step 2. Create association of HexEdit with HEX files

If, despite the installed application, the HEX file does not start in the HexEdit application, you must create a file association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the HEX file with the HexEdit program.

Step 3. Update HexEdit to the latest version

If, however, after binding HexEdit with Hexadecimal Source Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the HEX file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. The most common file problems are:

The HEX file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to HEX files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our HEX file. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover HEX files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the HEX file. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular HEX file corruption.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted HEX files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. If possible, you can try to move the HEX file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the HEX file again. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.