Intro

IDA Pro is a disassembler and debugger that is used to reverse engineer software. It is a powerful tool that can be used to analyze binary files and understand how they work. IDA Pro has a Python scripting interface that allows users to write scripts to automate tasks and extend the functionality of the software.

ida version

However, there is an issue with IDA Pro v8.3 when we start the program, it shows an error message in the output window idapython3_64.dll: can't load file. This error occurs because IDA Pro v8.3 is looking for the idapython3_64.dll file in the wrong location. Although the file is present in the plugins directory, IDA Pro v8.3 is not able to find it. This error also causes another error message Python3TargetDLL in the output window.

idapython3_64.dll

Steps

  1. Install Python 3.11.3 (64-bit) from the official website .

    ⓘ NOTE
    Why Python 3.11.3? I found that IDA Pro v8.3 is compatible with Python 3.11.3. You can try other versions of Python 3.x, but I recommend using Python 3.11.3. Python 3.12 is working fine with IDA Pro v8.3, but the error still occurs. Idk why this happens.

    My Python installation settings:

    python installation python installation python installation python installation

    Then check the Python installation:

    python version

  2. Fix the default Python for IDA Pro v8.3

    We fixed the idapython3_64.dll but the Python3TargetDLL error still occurs.

    Python3TargetDLL

    To fix this, we need to set the default Python for IDA Pro v8.3. To do this we use the built-in idapyswitch.exe utility that comes with IDA Pro.

    • Open the command prompt as an administrator.

    • Navigate to the IDA Pro installation directory. For example, cd "c:\Program Files\IDA Pro 8.3".

    • Locate python3.dll in the Python installation directory. For example, C:\Users\hiiruki\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\python3.dll.

    • Run the following command to set the default Python for IDA Pro v8.3:

      idapyswitch.exe -s "C:\Users\hiiruki\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\python3.dll""

    • Check the settings by running the idapyswitch.exe

    idapyswitch.exe

  3. Restart IDA Pro v8.3

    After setting the default Python for IDA Pro v8.3, restart the program. The error message Python3TargetDLL should no longer appear in the output window.

    output_solved

    Now you can use IDA Pro v8.3 without any issues.

“Who’s cleverer, you or him?”
“Well… if the malware author uses all of his obfuscation techniques, he might give me a little trouble.”
“But would you lose?”

nah ida win

References