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Convert HEX to TXT

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Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 12, 2026
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Is it possible to convert HEX to TXT?
Yes - HEX converts to TXT.

You can do it right here with our free converter - no sign-up, and your file is deleted right after.

The fastest path is to rename a copy of the file from .hex to .txt - no software needed. The file content does not change at all; only the extension changes, affecting which app your OS uses to open it.

Also to TXT: RTF · KKSRC · HVE

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

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Why convert HEX to TXT?

The most common reason is tool compatibility: a script or workflow accepts only .txt files, and Intel HEX records are valid plain text under any name. Some users also want to paste or share HEX records in a plain-text context such as a forum post or a code diff. You can learn more about the target format on the .TXT page.

How to convert HEX to TXT

File rename - Windows / macOS / Linux BUILT-IN

Make a copy of your .hex file and rename the extension to .txt; the bytes inside stay identical.

Text editor - Save As FREE

Open the .hex file in Notepad, Notepad++, or TextEdit, then choose File > Save As and type a filename ending in .txt.

Command line - xxd CLI

To dump a raw binary as a readable hex listing, run xxd firmware.bin > output.txt on Linux, macOS, or Git Bash for Windows.

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 →
.TXT Plain Text File

A TXT file is plain, unformatted text - the simplest document format on any computer. Double-click it: Windows opens it in Notepad, macOS in TextEdit, Linux in gedit. Nothing to install. If…

Open .TXT details →

Quality & what to watch

  • Intel HEX is already ASCII text - renaming does not alter a single byte inside the file, only which app opens it.
  • Do not confuse HEX to TXT with HEX to BIN: if you need a flat binary to flash a chip, use a dedicated tool such as avr-objcopy or the SRecord toolkit instead.
  • If your .hex file shows binary noise in a text editor, it is a raw binary image with a misnamed extension, not Intel HEX, and cannot be meaningfully read as text.

Frequently asked questions

Does renaming .hex to .txt change the file content?
No. The bytes inside the file are identical after renaming; only the extension changes, which affects how your OS picks an application to open the file.
My .hex file shows gibberish in Notepad - is it not a text file?
A genuine Intel HEX file displays readable lines beginning with colons. If you see binary noise, the file is a raw firmware binary saved with a .hex extension by mistake and cannot be read as text.
Can I read the actual firmware instructions from a .hex file?
Renaming to .txt shows you the Intel HEX encoding, not disassembled instructions. Reading assembly code requires a disassembler such as avr-objdump - that is a separate process from format conversion.
Is there a dedicated converter program for HEX to TXT?
No dedicated converter is needed because Intel HEX files are already plain text. Any text editor or a simple file rename accomplishes the task instantly.