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File conversion

Convert HEX to BIN

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 14, 2026
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Is it possible to convert HEX to BIN?
Yes - HEX converts to BIN.

Run avr-objcopy -I ihex -O binary firmware.hex firmware.bin to convert immediately. No data is lost - the output contains exactly the bytes the .hex file was carrying, minus the colon, address, and checksum framing.

Also to BIN: B64 · XDELTA · VCD

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert HEX to BIN?

Intel HEX stores compiled firmware as plain-text ASCII records; each byte is encoded as two hex digits wrapped in address and checksum fields. Many firmware flashing tools, bootloaders, and device update utilities expect a flat .bin image instead - for example, STM32 boards accept a .bin file dragged onto their USB drive while the Arduino toolchain outputs .hex. Converting lets you use firmware built by one toolchain with a flasher that expects the other format.

How to convert HEX to BIN

avr-objcopy OPEN-SOURCE

Run avr-objcopy -I ihex -O binary firmware.hex firmware.bin in a terminal. On Linux the generic objcopy from system binutils accepts the same flags without the AVR-specific package.

SRecord OPEN-SOURCE

Run srec_cat firmware.hex -Intel -o firmware.bin -Binary. SRecord handles address gaps in the HEX file by filling them with 0xFF, matching erased flash memory.

About these formats

.HEX Intel HEX File

A .hex file is an Intel HEX file: compiled firmware for a microcontroller such as an Arduino, AVR, or PIC chip, stored as plain-text records. You don't run it on a PC - you flash it to the…

Open .HEX details →
.BIN CD/DVD Disc Image (BIN/CUE)

A BIN file is most often a raw, sector-by-sector copy of a CD or DVD that ships with a matching .cue text file describing the tracks. Mount it with PowerISO or DAEMON Tools Lite (point them…

Open .BIN details →

Quality & what to watch

  • The .bin output is smaller than the .hex because Intel HEX encodes each byte as two ASCII hex digits plus framing overhead.
  • If the HEX file has address gaps - common when both flash and EEPROM regions are covered - SRecord fills them with 0xFF by default.
  • avr-objcopy is bundled inside the Arduino IDE on Windows under hardware/tools; on macOS it is available via Homebrew with the avr-gcc package.

Frequently asked questions

Does converting HEX to BIN lose any data?
No - the binary image contains exactly the same bytes; only the ASCII framing (colons, address fields, checksums) is removed.
Where do I find avr-objcopy on Windows?
It is bundled with the Arduino IDE under the hardware/tools directory, or available via the WinAVR package.
Can I use this conversion for non-AVR chips?
Yes - on Linux use the generic objcopy from system binutils with the same flags; SRecord is also architecture-agnostic.