Files with hex extension are most notably related to the hex dump file format, a hexadecimal view (on screen or a printout) of computer memory.

There are 5 other file types using
the HEX file extension!

empty icon.hex - Macintosh BinHex encoded file archive (ASCII)

empty icon.hex - Magellan GPS Receiver flash ROM upgrade

empty icon.hex - Intel Hexadecimal Object

empty icon.hex - Pioneer CDJ-800MK2 firmware update file

empty icon.hex - WOW! firmware module

HEX file extension - Hex dump file format

What is hex file? How to open hex files?

File extension hex is also used for files that contain a hex dump, hexadecimal view (on screen or a printout) of computer memory. Each byte (8-bits) is represented as a two-digit hexadecimal number.

Hex dumps are commonly organized into rows of 8 or 16 bytes, sometimes separated by whitespaces. Some hex dumps have the hexadecimal memory address at the beginning and checksum byte at the end of each line.

Updated: November 23, 2023

The default software associated to open hex file:

NotePad++ text editor icon

Notepad++ Team logoNotePad++ text editor  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Notepad++ Team

A very popular free text and source code editor. It supports syntax highlighting and syntax folding for C, C++, HTML, ASP, Java, Pascal, PHP, Cobol, CSS etc. Notepad++ also supports plugins to add new features. It is localized to many languages.

Help how to open:

Use any text editor to view content of .hex files.

How to convert:

Conversion to other formats is not possible.

List of recommended software applications associated to the .hex file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open hex file, edit hex file, convert hex file, view hex file, play hex file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Software that open hex file - Hex dump file format

Programs supporting the exension hex on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open hex file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with hex file by default:
NotePad++ text editor small icon NotePad++ text editor
Other suggested software:
Microsoft Windows NotePad small icon Microsoft Windows NotePad
Sublime Text small icon Sublime Text

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

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