Dmp File Viewer: 3 Best We Tested & How to Open / Read
DMP files store information about crashes and errors
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Key notes
- .dmp extension is associated with dump files which are automatically created files when errors and crashes occur in the system.
- Viewing them can provide helpful information to fix the underlying issue.
- Debugging Tools for Windows also include a DMP file viewer, so you might want to check that out too.
Let us talk about the DMP file viewer.
There’s a large portion of Windows system files that are not as easily accessed as some others. One of those Windows-exclusive extensions is known as DMP (.dmp) or Windows Memory Dump files.
Today, we explain these files’ value and, most importantly, the means to open them in Windows 10.
What is .DMP file?
Windows Memory Dump files with the .dmp extension are system files stored in a binary format. These files are automatically created if there’s an error or sudden crash of the third-party program or system feature.
They store the details about the crash, so most seasoned users will utilize .dmp files to troubleshoot the affected programs.
If there’s a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death), the details about the possible causes (drivers or other software are usual suspects) must be found in the automatically-generated .dmp file.
For obvious reasons, they are mostly named Memory.dmp or Crash.dmp, respectively. Size-wise, they might be small individually.
However, as they tend to pile up over time, DMP files can take up a lot of storage space when bundled. So, you can clean them up with ease with the Disk Cleanup utility.
Now, opening DMP files isn’t exactly simple since Windows 10 doesn’t offer a built-in tool. There’s a good reason for this, as most common users will not need or want to access them in the first place.
However, a few third-party utility tools should enable you to open and read DMP files.
How can I use DMP file viewer?
1. Use a DMP file viewer online
- Visit the DMP online site. In this case, we will use File Pro.
- Click on Select the dump file.
- Wait for the dump file analyzer to complete the upload, and you can view the dump files.
2. Use WhoCrashed
- Visit the Who Crashed website.
- Scroll down and click Download Free Home Edition in the Who Crashed section.
- Click on the downloaded file to install it.
- Click Next and follow the wizard to complete the installation.
- After installation, click on Analyze.
This tool requires installation, but it’s fairly usable and has all the features you’ll need. You can even simulate the system crash (do this with caution) with certain parameters.
3. Use NirSoft DMP file viewer
- Visit the NirSoft website.
- Scroll down and click on Download BlueScreenView.
- Extract the Zip file.
- Double-click on BlueScreenView to start the application.
- Click on the Analyze icon, select Load from the following MiniDump folder, select Browse and choose your dump file, then click OK.
The app is a portable small-sized application, so it doesn’t require installation. Once you get it, just extract it and run the EXE file. However, we’re rushing. Firstly, you must let the system create the dump files readable by the third-party software.3. Use WinDbg.
The latest Windows packages are equipped with debugging tools that often include a DMP file viewer. The most popular ones are WinDbg.exe (the Windows Debugger), KD.exe, CDB, and NTSD. They are also part of the WDK (Windows Driver Kit). The one we recommend to open DMP files is WinDbg.
1. Download and install WDK from the Microsoft official page (When doing so, you can also choose to install only Debugging Tools for Windows as a standalone package).
2. Press the Windows key to open the search bar.
3. Type WinDbg in the search bar and open it with admin rights.
4. Next, navigate to the File menu.
5. Click on Start debugging.
6. Moreover, select Open Dump file.
7. Browse your PC for the DMP file you want to open.
8. Click on Open after you select it.
9. The DMP file will now be opened and you can read it.
After analyses of dump files, you often have to fix the corrupted memory dump. Deleting these files will have no negative effect on your computer. They are mainly used for debugging purposes.
You might want to keep them in case of errors or bugs. They will provide information about who is responsible for a crash or an error message.
That should do it. If you have alternative ways to open and read DMP files, tell us in the comment section below. We’ll be glad to hear from you.
