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SO DLL
Not possible

Convert SO to DLL

Can you convert SO to DLL?
Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jun 25, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert SO to DLL?
No - not a direct conversion.

Obtain the library's source code and recompile it for Windows using MinGW-w64 or MSVC. Many open-source libraries already ship a prebuilt Windows .dll - check the project's releases page before recompiling from scratch.

No direct path
Also to DLL: FS · JUK · NUPKG

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert SO to DLL?

A .so stores machine code in ELF format with Linux system call conventions and glibc linkage. A .dll stores machine code in Windows PE format with Windows API linkage. They are compiled for entirely different operating systems - swapping the container format without recompiling would produce a file that neither OS could load because the code inside still calls the wrong system.

How to convert SO to DLL

MinGW-w64 OPEN-SOURCE

Cross-compile the library's source code for Windows using x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -shared -o lib.dll *.c to produce a Windows .dll from a Linux build machine.

MSVC FREE

Compile the library's source code on Windows using Visual Studio or cl.exe with the /DLL linker flag to produce a Windows .dll.

About these formats

.SO Shared Object (ELF shared library)

A .so file is a shared object library on Linux and Unix - the Linux equivalent of a Windows .dll. Programs load it automatically at run time; you never open it directly. If an app fails…

Open .SO details →
.DLL Dynamic Link Library

A DLL (Dynamic Link Library) is a Windows library file holding compiled code that programs load while they run, so it is not something you open by double-clicking. If an app reports a DLL…

Open .DLL details →

Quality & what to watch

  • Both .so and .dll contain native machine code compiled specifically for their respective OS - the boundary is at the operating system level, not just the file format.
  • If you do not have the source code and the library is proprietary, there is no legal or practical route to a .dll.
  • Many open-source libraries already ship prebuilt Windows .dll files - check the project's releases page before attempting to recompile.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't a converter just repackage the binary?
The code inside a .so calls Linux kernel interfaces that do not exist on Windows - even wrapped in a PE container, Windows cannot execute the code.
Can Wine run a Linux `.so` on Windows?
No. Wine translates Windows API calls so that .dll files run on Linux - the opposite direction. It does not help with running Linux ELF shared objects on Windows.
I only have the `.so` and no source code - what can I do?
You can inspect the library with Ghidra to understand what it does, but reconstructing working Windows binaries from that output is a manual expert-level task with no automated converter.