Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files contain code and objects for Windows programs reference when they need to complete tasks. Unlike programs, DLLs aren't the types of files you can run or browse without special software, nor can you open a DLL in text editor to see its code. If you want to explore the contents of a DLL file, you can try one of these handy free tools to evaluate, decompile, edit, and extract media from DLL files. Just be sure not to modify a DLL that's in use by a program, or you could cause that program to crash.

6

HxD Hex Editor

7

Dumpbin

  1. If you have Visual Studio, use the dumpbin command to view information about a DLL. Dumpbin is a part of Visual Studio (including the free Community versions) that displays information about DLL files.[4] You'll need to run dumpbin from the Visual Studio command prompt, not the Windows command prompt. To check a DLL file with dumpbin, use the syntax dumpbin [options] filename.dll. Some helpful options:
  2. Advertisement

About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 12,229 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 4
Updated: April 2, 2022
Views: 12,229
Categories: Software
Advertisement