XVI32 for Windows

One of the best free hex editors

Hex editors are interesting and useful little tools that a lot of people overlook. This is likely due to the fact that hex editors look very intimidation for beginners. All you see are numbers, letters, and symbols and that can be a bit daunting. However, hex editors have a lot of great uses such as being able to debug and edit files, figuring out file information among others. There are dozens of hex editors in the market out there, but among the free options, one stands out due to its versatility and flexibility. That hex editor is the XVI32 developed by Christian Maas. What does it have to offer that it’s being lauded as one of the best free programs for editing hexadecimals?

Probably the thing that most people appreciate about the XVI32 is the fact that it’s extremely portable. Unlike most programs that come with large installer packages, XVI32 only comes in a ZIP file that doesn’t even take up too much storage space. There’s no need to install the program. All you have to do is to extract the ZIP archive file and run the program directly from the folder you extracted it from. This makes it very easy to launch and use. You can keep it on your flash drives and take it with you everywhere.

Aside from its portability, the XVI32 has a lot of features that any user of hex editors will really appreciate. One important feature is the ease of editing hexadecimals. You can edit directly onto the interface. Additionally, you can copy, replace, and search words quickly in the hex editor. It has a bookmark feature which is extremely useful if you’re handling large files. Although this feature is dampened by the fact that you can only add nine. It is also possible to open files in read-only mode in order to prevent file damage and modifications.

XVI32 is undeniably powerful and useful, but no program is ever perfect. One massive point against its favor is that it cannot make block selections using a mouse. You can do it by using arrow keys and other keyboard functions, but not with a mouse. Suffice to say, this is very frustrating. Another annoying problem is the difficulty of scanning large files. It seems the program doesn’t have a good scrolling feature. Finally, this doesn’t seem to be a program suited for beginners. It has a very steep learning curve. That said, none of these things are particularly tough to get used to. The last point especially, while worth mentioning, can easily be overcome by getting more familiar with the program.

Sure this program has problems, but don’t let that scare you from using it. It’s a steady and amazing hex editor. It does its function, and it does it with quality and speed. Its portability is also a massive plus. Even if you’re not on a budget, the XVI32 is a program I wholeheartedly recommend.