UTF-16 Decode a String
Decode UTF-16 hex code units back into a string. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
0 chars · 0 lines
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use UTF-16 Decode a String
- 1. Paste the UTF-16 hex code units. Enter a space-separated list of four-digit hexadecimal code units into the input pane, such as values copied from a debugger or a binary file inspector.
- 2. Read what the tool computes. UTF-16 Decode a String reads each 16-bit hex value, handling surrogate pairs for characters outside the basic multilingual plane, and reassembles the original text.
- 3. Copy the decoded text. Copy the readable string out of the output pane, now showing the actual characters, including accented letters or symbols the code units represented.
When to use UTF-16 Decode a String
UTF-16 Decode a String turns a list of hexadecimal UTF-16 code units back into readable text. Use it whenever you are inspecting raw UTF-16 data, such as from a debugger, a binary dump, or a Windows API trace, and need to see what text it actually encodes.
- Reading code units from a memory dump. You are debugging a native application and dumped a wide string as raw 16-bit hex values from memory, and want to see the actual text those values represent.
- Verifying a surrogate pair encodes the right emoji. A character outside the basic multilingual plane, like certain emoji, encodes as a surrogate pair in UTF-16, and decoding the two hex code units confirms which character it represents.
- Checking a Windows API string trace. A Windows API call logs wide-character strings as hex code units, and decoding them lets you read the actual file paths or messages being passed.
- Studying UTF-16 encoding for a course. You are learning how UTF-16 encodes characters beyond the basic multilingual plane and want to manually decode sample code unit sequences to see the mechanism at work.
Examples
Decode
Input
0041 00c9
Output
AÉ
About the UTF-16 Decode a String tool
UTF-16 Decode a String is a free online tool that works entirely inside your web browser. Decode UTF-16 hex code units back into a string. Because the processing happens on your own device, nothing you enter is uploaded, logged or stored anywhere.
This page is one of 159 String utilities on EditSafely. Each one does a single job well, and all of them follow the same rule: your input stays on your machine.
There is nothing to configure. Provide the input and the result appears on its own. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
Because nothing leaves your device, the tool is suitable for sensitive content such as internal documents, credentials or customer data. It also responds instantly, since every keystroke is handled on your own machine rather than by a remote API.
Frequently asked questions
Does UTF-16 Decode a String cost anything?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Is it safe to paste sensitive or confidential data?
No data leaves your device. The whole tool is JavaScript that runs inside your browser tab, so there is no upload, no server-side processing and no log of what you did. If you disconnect from the internet after the page loads, it keeps working.
How much text can I process at once?
There is no fixed limit. Because the work happens on your own device rather than on a shared server, the practical ceiling is your machine's memory, which comfortably handles inputs far larger than typical online tools allow.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
Nothing to install and no account needed. Open the page in any up-to-date browser, including on a phone or tablet, and the tool is ready.
How do I use the result?
The output panel has a one-click copy button, and you can keep refining the input while you work; the result updates in place as you type.