What is PKHeX used for?

PKHeX is a C# save file editor for the Pokémon core series games that edits, converts and validates save data and individual Pokémon files. It is a good fit for managing and backing up Pokémon save data, and converting Pokémon files between formats.

Is PKHeX open source?

Yes. PKHeX is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at kwsch/PKHeX and is written mainly in C#.

Yes. PKHeX is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.

Can I self-host PKHeX?

Yes. PKHeX can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What are some alternatives to PKHeX?

Similar open-source tools in the Games & Emulation category include Playnite, Sunshine and Proton. SaaS products in the same category include Community Binder, Pokemon GO and Amazon Luna.

Is PKHeX actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to PKHeX was on 30 September 2026, and the latest release is 26.08.26, published on 27 August 2026. The project has 5.2k stars on GitHub.

PKHeX: open-source games & emulation

About PKHeX

PKHeX is a save editor for the Pokémon core series games, written for .NET with a Windows Forms interface. It opens game save files and lets you inspect and edit their contents, including the Pokémon stored in them, and it also functions as a class library other tools can build on.

According to its README it supports main save files and memory card files from GameCube games, individual Pokémon entity files, mystery gift files with conversion to Pokémon files, GO Park imports and teams imported from decrypted 3DS battle videos. It can also transfer data from one game generation to another and convert formats along the way. Repository topics mention a legality validator and a database.

The project is open source with its license listed as 'Other' on GitHub, and the README is translated into many languages. It runs locally on your computer, and it is aimed at Pokémon fans who maintain their own saves, organize collections or work on related community tools.

Key features

Edits Pokémon core series save files
Handles individual Pokémon entity files
Mystery Gift file support and conversion
Transfers data between game generations
Legality validation tools
Reusable class library for developers

Good fit for

→Managing and backing up Pokémon save data
→Converting Pokémon files between formats

Built with: C#
Tags: pokemon; save-editor; csharp; winforms; game-tools; converter; class-library

PKHeX: questions and answers

What is PKHeX used for?: PKHeX is a C# save file editor for the Pokémon core series games that edits, converts and validates save data and individual Pokémon files. It is a good fit for managing and backing up Pokémon save data, and converting Pokémon files between formats.
Is PKHeX open source?: Yes. PKHeX is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at kwsch/PKHeX and is written mainly in C#.
Is PKHeX free?: Yes. PKHeX is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.
Can I self-host PKHeX?: Yes. PKHeX can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What are some alternatives to PKHeX?: Similar open-source tools in the Games & Emulation category include Playnite, Sunshine and Proton. SaaS products in the same category include Community Binder, Pokemon GO and Amazon Luna.
Is PKHeX actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to PKHeX was on 30 September 2026, and the latest release is 26.08.26, published on 27 August 2026. The project has 5.2k stars on GitHub.