can't find WinDBG.exe

Question

I am trying to follow the examples in the book "Windows Internals" from Microsoft Press, but I can't find windbg.exe, or any of the debugging tools for that matter.

I have Visual Studio 2022 installed for C++ development and I tried installing the tools separately but they just don't show up.

Windows search has no luck and typing windbg.exe at the command prompt just says command not found.

A Google search says the tools should be under program files/windows kits/10 but they are not, the folder is nearly empty.

I am using Windows 11 on a surface Pro 7.

Answer 1

It is NOT necessary to install the WDK to obtain Windbg.exe and the Debugging Tools For Windows. As the link provided by @David Lowndes states the debugger can also be obtained from the Windows SDK that you should have installed for C++ Development when VS2022 was initially installed.

On my Win10 22H2 system open the installer for the installed SDK from either the Settings->Apps and Features (click Modify) or from Control Panel->Programs and Features (click Change).

Settings->Apps and Features -

Control Panel->Programs and Features -

When the SDK installer opens select the Change option and click Next -

Now Select the Debugging Tools For Windows and complete the installation.

Answer 2

It's possible that the debugging tools were not installed with your current installation of Visual Studio. Here are some steps you can try to install the debugging tools:

1. Open Visual Studio Installer
2. Click on "Modify" for your current installation
3. In the "Individual components" tab, search for "Debugging tools for Windows"
4. Select the appropriate version
5. Click on "Modify" to install the debugging tools

If you still can't find windbg.exe or any of the debugging tools after following the steps above, you can try downloading and installing the debugging tools separately from the Microsoft Download Center (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/debugger/debugger-download-tools).

Once the debugging tools are installed, you should be able to find windbg.exe and other debugging tools in the installation directory. If you're still having trouble finding them, you can try using Windows search to locate the windbg.exe file.

Answer 3

Hi @graham dearsley ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

If you have installed WinDbg from here: Install WinDbg, then you can directly run the WinDbg application by searching it in Windows Search box.

If you want to use windbg.exe, it stores in C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x64\windbg.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x86\windbg.exe, but you may need to install WDK, otherwise you might not find Debuggers folder.

Sincerely,

Tianyu

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Answer 4

Hello there,

It usually creates a folder called Debugging Tools for Windows (x64) in Start -> All Programs.

The following link says that it is installed under C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1\Redist\Debugging Tools for Windows

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-hardware/drivers/download-the-wdk

The default folder for Windows 64 bit systems is :

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers

There is both a x86 and x64 bit sub-folder in that folder. Use either.

If your version of Windows is 32 bit (x86) it will be :

C:\Program Files\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers

Hope this resolves your Query !!

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Answer 5

On Windows10 today, 7/27/2024, WinDbgX.exe is located here on my laptop:

`C:\Users\YOUR-USER\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps`

exemple:

`c:\Users\necul\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\WinDbgX.exe` 

C:\Users\necul\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WinDbg_8wekyb3d8bbwe