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Ever wondered what's happening inside a Windows

Code:


file when you run it?There's a completely free, open-source debugger called x64dbg that allows you to inspect how Windows applications behave at the machine-code level.

You can pause executable files, examine assembly instructions, inspect memory, analyse functions, and follow a program's execution in real time.

It's widely useful for reverse engineering, malware research, software debugging, and understanding how compiled applications work.

Unlike tools that only examine a program statically, x64dbg lets you observe its behaviour while it's running.

This tutorial uses a harmless executable that you create yourself.

WHAT CAN X64DBG DO?
- Debug 32-bit and 64-bit Windows executables

- Disassemble machine code

- Inspect CPU registers

- Examine process memory

- Set execution breakpoints

- Step through assembly instructions

- Follow function calls

- Search for embedded strings

- Inspect imported DLL functions

- Examine the call stack

- Analyse execution flow

- Automate debugging operations

The toolkit includes two primary applications:

x32dbg — For debugging 32-bit applications.

x64dbg — For debugging 64-bit applications.

OFFICIAL LINKSWebsite:

https://x64dbg.com/

Download:

https://x64dbg.com/#start

GitHub Repository:

https://github.com/x64dbg/x64dbg

Official Releases:

https://github.com/x64dbg/x64dbg/releases

Documentation:

https://help.x64dbg.com/

Debugging Commands:

https://help.x64dbg.com/en/latest/commands/index.html

STEP 1 — DOWNLOAD X64DBGOpen:

https://github.com/x64dbg/x64dbg/releases

Download the latest release archive.

As of October 2026, the latest stable release is:

2026.05.27

This release includes debugger fixes, interface improvements, and corrections for register modification and trace handling.

Extract the archive using 7-Zip.

Inside the extracted folder, locate:

 

Code:


For this tutorial, we'll use

Code:


.No paid licence is required.

STEP 2 — CREATE A PRACTICE PROGRAMRather than downloading an unknown executable, we'll create a simple program ourselves.

Open Notepad.

Paste:

 

Code:


Save the file as:

 

Code:


This program starts with the number 10, adds 5, and displays the result.

We're going to examine how these operations appear inside a debugger.

STEP 3 — COMPILE THE PROGRAMYou'll need a C compiler.

One option is Microsoft Visual Studio Community with the Desktop Development with C++ workload.

Official download:

https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/community/

Open the x64 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS.

Navigate to the folder containing

Code:


.Run:

 

Code:


Explanation:

 

Code:


Disabling optimisations makes the generated program easier to study.

The resulting file is:

 

Code:


STEP 4 — OPEN THE EXECUTABLE IN X64DBGLaunch:

 

Code:


Choose:

File → Open

Select:

 

Code:


The debugger loads the executable and prepares it for debugging.

You should now see the main CPU debugging interface.

STEP 5 — UNDERSTAND THE INTERFACEThe most important panels include:

Disassembly

Displays machine instructions.

Registers

Displays CPU register values such as RAX, RBX, RCX, RDX and RIP.

Dump

Shows process memory in hexadecimal and readable representations.

Stack

Displays stack memory and related values.

A typical disassembly might include:

 

Code:


These instructions are illustrative; the exact compiled assembly depends on your compiler and build.

They represent loading a value and adding another value.

STEP 6 — FIND YOUR PROGRAM'S ENTRY POINTWhen x64dbg first loads a Windows executable, execution may stop in system startup code before reaching your application's logic.

You can use the debugger's execution controls to continue towards the user application code.

The exact startup instructions depend on the operating system, compiler and runtime.

For this beginner exercise, you can begin by observing the initial instruction and stepping through the process.

You don't need to modify the executable.

STEP 7 — LEARN THE BASIC DEBUGGING KEYSx64dbg provides several useful shortcuts.

 

Code:


These allow you to control how the program executes.

Step Into follows execution into function calls.

Step Over executes a function call without stepping through all of its internal instructions.

Breakpoints pause execution automatically at selected instructions.

STEP 8 — SET A BREAKPOINTA breakpoint tells the debugger to stop when execution reaches a particular instruction.

Inside the disassembly panel:

- Select an instruction in your practice program.

- Press

Code:


.

- A breakpoint marker should appear.

- Press

Code:


to continue execution.

If execution reaches that address, the debugger pauses.

You can then inspect CPU registers, stack contents and memory.

Press

Code:


again to remove the breakpoint.STEP 9 — WATCH CPU REGISTERS CHANGEWith the program paused:

- Examine the Registers panel.

- Note the current values.

- Press

Code:


or

Code:


.

- Examine the values again.

Different instructions modify different registers and processor flags.

For example:

 

Code:


If those exact instructions execute sequentially, EAX would contain:

 

Code:


The debugger normally displays register values in hexadecimal.

This exercise demonstrates how software operations translate into processor instructions.

STEP 10 — SEARCH FOR STRINGSExecutables often contain readable text.

Examples include:
- Status messages

- Error descriptions

- Application names

- Configuration labels

- File paths

- Diagnostic information

In the CPU disassembly view, use the context menu:

Search for → Current module → String references

Depending on the executable, you may find strings associated with your

Code:


statements:

 

Code:


You can inspect their references to understand where the program uses those messages.

Some compiler and runtime configurations store or reference strings differently, so results can vary.

BONUS — UNDERSTANDING FUNCTION CALLSWindows applications call functions from their own code and from system libraries.

For example:

 

Code:


A

Code:


instruction transfers execution to another function while preserving the information needed to return.You can use:

 

Code:


This is useful when analysing:
- Input processing

- File operations

- Memory allocation

- Error handling

- Application workflows

You can inspect function behaviour without needing access to its original source code.

BONUS #2 — INSPECT THE CALL STACKThe call stack helps show how execution reached the current location.

Inside x64dbg, open the relevant stack or call-stack view.

You may see a sequence resembling:

 

Code:


Actual frames and symbols depend on the executable.

Understanding call stacks is useful for debugging crashes and tracing program behaviour.

BONUS #3 — CONDITIONAL BREAKPOINTSx64dbg supports conditional breakpoints.

Instead of stopping every time a particular instruction executes, you can define a condition.

For example:

 

Code:


A breakpoint with that condition pauses when it is reached and EAX equals hexadecimal 5.

Another example:

 

Code:


This pauses on the third hit.

Conditional breakpoints can help when investigating frequently executed code.

Official documentation:

https://help.x64dbg.com/en/latest/introd...point.html

BONUS #4 — INSPECT MEMORYThe Dump view displays process memory.

You can examine:
- Hexadecimal bytes

- Text strings

- Data structures

- Memory addresses

- Pointers

When analysing your own application, this helps demonstrate how variables and strings appear in memory.

Remember that executable memory changes during execution.

Addresses can vary between runs because of mechanisms such as address space layout randomisation.

BONUS #5 — MALWARE ANALYSISSecurity researchers also use x64dbg to understand suspicious Windows executables.

Typical analysis goals include:
- Identifying suspicious functions

- Observing unusual API calls

- Understanding execution flow

- Investigating unpacking behaviour

- Examining process memory

- Understanding persistence mechanisms

- Documenting indicators of compromise

Never run unknown malware directly on your personal computer.

Use a properly isolated malware-analysis environment with appropriate network controls.

For beginners, stick to executables you created yourself.

IMPORTANT — WHAT X64DBG CANNOT DOx64dbg doesn't automatically reconstruct an application's complete original source code.

It works primarily with machine instructions and runtime state.

Reverse engineering still requires understanding concepts such as:
- Assembly language

- CPU registers

- Calling conventions

- Windows APIs

- Memory management

- Compiler behaviour

Debugging protected or heavily obfuscated applications can also be considerably more difficult.

IMPORTANT — AUTHORISED USEUse x64dbg for your own software, authorised analysis, education and legitimate security research.

Respect software licences and applicable law.

This guide focuses on observing program behaviour rather than bypassing paid features, removing licence checks or defeating third-party protections.

IS X64DBG STILL MAINTAINED IN 2026?Yes.

The official GitHub releases page lists 2026.05.27 as the latest release as of October 2026.

The release includes fixes involving CPU registers, trace handling and interface behaviour.

The project remains free and open-source.

SOURCEShttps://github.com/x64dbg/x64dbg

https://github.com/x64dbg/x64dbg/releases

https://help.x64dbg.com/en/latest/index.html

https://help.x64dbg.com/en/latest/gui/menus/Debug.html

https://help.x64dbg.com/en/latest/introd...point.html

x64dbg is a powerful free debugger for understanding how Windows applications execute internally.

It's a useful starting point for anyone interested in reverse engineering, software debugging, compiled code and security research.

 

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