Buzz
DLL, which stands for Dynamic Link Library, is a file type that contains code and objects used by Windows programs when necessary to complete tasks. Unlike standard programs, DLL files cannot be launched or explored unless you have specialized software, and they cannot be opened in text editors to view their code. To explore the contents of a DLL file, you can use one of the handy free tools listed below to analyze, reverse-engineer, edit, and extract multimedia content from the file. Note: Avoid modifying DLL files that are being used by other programs, as this could cause those programs to malfunction.
Steps
Resource Hacker
Resource Hacker allows you to browse icons, images, and other multimedia content within a DLL file. If your goal is to extract specific content from a DLL file, including audio and video, Resource Hacker makes the process much easier. The program has a simple interface and even lets you edit DLL content using both a plain text editor and a binary editor.
- You can download Resource Hacker for free at http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker.
Resource Tuner 2
Try Resource Tuner 2 if you need to view, edit, and extract various multimedia content from DLL files. This tool is similar to Resource Hacker, but it offers additional features such as extracting extra file types (including PNG format). The downside of Resource Tuner 2 is that it only has a 30-day free trial. After that period, you will need to pay to continue using the service.
- You can download the 30-day trial version of Resource Tuner 2 at http://www.restuner.com/download.htm.
Dependencies
If you just want to browse the list of all components required by a DLL file, use Dependencies. Based on the once-popular Dependency Walker tool, which was previously included in Microsoft Visual Studio, Dependencies can scan a DLL file and display a hierarchical view of all its dependencies and required files. This program doesn't allow reverse-engineering or editing, but it is perfect for troubleshooting DLL file errors.
- You can download Dependencies for free at https://github.com/lucasg/Dependencies.
ILSpy
If you want to view the code that makes up a DLL file, you will need a decompiler like ILSpy. Besides being available on Windows, this .NET decompiler is also compatible with Linux and macOS. It is an open-source, actively maintained decompiler. You can use ILSpy to explore the contents of a DLL file, decompile it into Visual Basic, and save the code as a C# project.
- You can download the standalone ILSpy program at https://github.com/icsharpcode/ILSpy.
- Visit https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=SharpDevelopTeam.ILSpy to download the Visual Studio plugin.
dotPeek Decompiler
This free, standalone decompiler from JetBrains is another excellent option if you're looking to view the code of a DLL file. If your goal is to convert a .NET DLL file into equivalent C# or IL code, dotPeek is a feature-packed decompiler with a simple interface. This decompiler also allows you to save the code as a .csproj file, enabling you to open, modify, and recompile it in Visual Studio.
- You can download dotPeek at https://www.jetbrains.com/decompiler.
HxD Hex Editor
This hex editor for Windows allows you to directly edit the hex code of a DLL file. DLL files contain compiled code, meaning they cannot be edited with traditional text editors. If you don't want to decompile the DLL and modify the linked source files, you can use a hex editor to adjust the binary content of the file. While there are many hex editors available, HxD stands out with its ability to compare the hex code of two different files.
- You can download the HxD Hex Editor at https://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=1454.
- Note: Hex code primarily consists of 0s and 1s, so you won't be able to edit any programming code using a hex editor like HxD.
Dumpbin
If you have Visual Studio, use the dumpbin command to view DLL file information. Dumpbin is a part of Visual Studio (which includes the free Community edition) that can display details about DLL files. You need to run the dumpbin command from the Visual Studio command prompt, not the Windows command prompt. To check a DLL file with the command, use the syntax dumpbin [option] filename.dll. Below are some helpful options:
- Use dumpbin /DEPENDENTS filename.dll to view all dependencies.
- Use dumpbin /HEADERS filename.dll to see the headers of each object member.
- Use dumpbin /EXPORTS filename.dll to view all the definitions exported from the DLL file.
- Visit https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/dumpbin-options?view=msvc-170 for a list of all options for the dumpbin command.
