DLL

Dynamic Link Library

File type: Dangerous and malicious file, System file, Program executable file

Files with dll file extensions can be commonly found as dynamic link libraries for Microsoft Windows systems and apps. These files act as modules with additional runtime routines or data.

Found 5 different file type records with the same dll filename suffix.

.dll (1)

What is dll file?

File type category:
Dangerous and malicious file
System file
Program executable file

Date updated: December 31, 2024

File extension dll is commonly used for so-called dynamic-link libraries, modules containing data, and other functions that can be linked to another module, such as executables.

Many Windows apps and even Windows use .dll files to store runtime routines. You can find who created any DLL file by right-clicking on the file and choosing Properties and then selecting the Version tab.

DLL format generally has two functions, i.e., exported functions and internal functions.

Exported functions are intended to be called by other modules and from within the DLL where they are defined.
Internal functions, however, are typically intended to be called only from within the DLL where they are defined.

Last but not least, some .dll files may also contain program icons.

Various viruses and malicious programs often inject .dll files to infect computers when executed. So always be mindful when executing unknown programs.

MIME types:
application/x-msdownload
application/x-msdos-program

How to open dll file?

You cannot open or access .dll files manually; you would have to decompile them using some IDE before you can access the data.

Some programs can be used to explore .dll files and extract icons, but that's it.

How to convert dll file?

DLL format generally is not suitable to be converted to anything else. However, some dll files contain icons that can be extracted with a suitable program.

Suggested software to open dll file:

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Visual Studio

Microsoft Windows 10

Associated software actions with the dll file

Open

Software applications that can open dll files:

IconsExtract (Microsoft Windows)

ResEdit (Microsoft Windows)

IcoFX (Microsoft Windows)

Icon Extractor (Microsoft Windows)

BeCyIconGrabber (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Visual Studio (Multiplatform)

Edit

Software applications that can edit dll files:

Microsoft Visual Studio (Multiplatform)

Save

Software capable of saving dll files:

Microsoft Visual Studio (Multiplatform)

View

Programs for viewing dll files:

IcoFX (Microsoft Windows)

Icon Extractor (Microsoft Windows)

BeCyIconGrabber (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Visual Studio (Multiplatform)

Create

Software apps that create dll files:

Microsoft Visual Studio (Multiplatform)

Import

Software apps that import dll files:

Microsoft Visual Studio (Multiplatform)

Export

Software apps that export dll files:

ResEdit (Microsoft Windows)

Extract

Software apps that extract dll files:

IconsExtract (Microsoft Windows)

IcoFX (Microsoft Windows)

Icon Extractor (Microsoft Windows)

BeCyIconGrabber (Microsoft Windows)

Other actions

Software applications that handle other tasks involving dll files:

Microsoft Windows (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Windows 10 (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Windows 8 (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Windows 7 (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Windows Vista (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Windows 2000 (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Windows 3.x (Microsoft Windows)

Wine for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Microsoft Visual Studio (Multiplatform)

.dll (2)

FSociety ransomware affected file

File type category:
Ransomware encrypted file

Date updated: November 14, 2016

File extension dll seems to be also related to a ransomware encountered first in November 2016. Much like other nefarious ransomware, it encrypts users files and changes the original suffix and demands a ransom from the user for the decryption keys.