{"id":239219,"date":"2021-04-28T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-to-read-a-reg-file-and-check-if-its-safe\/"},"modified":"2021-04-28T15:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T12:00:00","slug":"how-to-read-a-reg-file-and-check-if-its-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-read-a-reg-file-and-check-if-its-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"#How to Read a REG File and Check If It\u2019s Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2fce0b46bfe\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2fce0b46bfe\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-read-a-reg-file-and-check-if-its-safe\/#What_Is_a_REG_File\" >What Is a REG File?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-read-a-reg-file-and-check-if-its-safe\/#Why_REG_Files_Can_Be_Dangerous\" >Why REG Files Can Be Dangerous<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-read-a-reg-file-and-check-if-its-safe\/#How_to_View_a_REG_Files_Contents\" >How to View a REG File\u2019s Contents<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-read-a-reg-file-and-check-if-its-safe\/#How_to_Read_a_REG_File\" >How to Read a REG File<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-read-a-reg-file-and-check-if-its-safe\/#How_to_Know_If_a_REG_File_Is_Safe\" >How to Know If a REG File Is Safe<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#How to Read a REG File and Check If It\u2019s Safe&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage alignnone wp-image-724612 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/reg-file.png?width=1200&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"The REG file icon on a Windows 10 desktop.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"555\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>On Windows, a .reg file contains a list of changes to the Windows Registry. These files are a quick way to make simple changes\u2014but they can also be dangerous. Here\u2019s how to see what a REG file does before you run it.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_REG_File\"><\/span>What Is a REG File?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Windows Registry is a database where Windows and some third-party <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>lications store settings and other data.<\/p>\n<p>Many options on Windows 10 can only be changed in the Windows Registry. Some options can also be changed in Group Policy\u2014but only Professional, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 10 have access to that.<\/p>\n<p>We cover a lot of \u201cregistry hacks\u201d\u2014changes to the Windows Registry\u2014here at How-To Geek.<\/p>\n<p>You can change these settings yourself using the Registry Editor, but it takes some clicking. To speed things up, we also offer downloadable REG files you can run to make these changes.<\/p>\n<p>REG files can be created in several ways\u2014you can use the \u201cExport\u201d option in the Registry Editor or write the REG file by hand in a text editor like Notepad.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-724616 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/windows-registry-editor.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"The Registry Editor on Windows 10.\" width=\"650\" height=\"293\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Make Your Own Windows Registry Hacks<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_REG_Files_Can_Be_Dangerous\"><\/span>Why REG Files Can Be Dangerous<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>REG files just contain a list of Registry changes. When you double-click the REG file, Windows will make the changes specified in the file.<\/p>\n<p>If the REG file is from a trustworthy source and doesn\u2019t have any mistakes in it, that\u2019s fine. For example, you can write your own REG file to quickly make your favorite changes to any new Windows PC.<\/p>\n<p>However, a REG file can also do bad things. It can mess up various settings or delete parts of the Windows Registry when you run it.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_View_a_REG_Files_Contents\"><\/span>How to View a REG File\u2019s Contents<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before running a REG file, we recommend examining its contents. We\u2019ll demonstrate how to do this, using our \u201cLastActiveClick\u201d registry hack, which makes a single click on a taskbar icon activate the last window you used from that program\u2014no multiple clicks necessary.<\/p>\n<p>To view the contents of a REG file, right-click it in File Explorer and select \u201cEdit.\u201d This will open it in Notepad.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_note\"><p><strong>Note:<\/strong> If you don\u2019t see the \u201cEdit\u201d option, the REG file may be inside a ZIP archive. You may need to extract the REG file from the ZIP archive before continuing. You can just copy-and-paste or drag-and-drop it to another folder.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-724614 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/edit-reg.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Right-click a REG file and select &quot;Edit&quot; in File Explorer.\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>You will see a warning before you open the file if you downloaded it from the web. As long as you clicked \u201cEdit,\u201d you can click \u201cRun\u201d to continue. It\u2019s safe\u2014you\u2019re just opening a text file in Notepad.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_note\"><p><strong>Note:<\/strong> If you accidentally click \u201cMerge\u201d instead\u2014or if you double-click the file\u2014you will see a User Account Control window after clicking \u201cRun.\u201d Click \u201cNo\u201d to the prompt if you\u2019re not ready to add the contents of the file to your registry yet.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-724613 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/warning.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Click &quot;Run&quot; to open the file in Notepad.\" width=\"650\" height=\"369\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Make Your Taskbar Buttons Always Switch to the Last Active Window<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Read_a_REG_File\"><\/span>How to Read a REG File<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You\u2019ll see the contents of the REG file displayed in Notepad. If it\u2019s a simple registry hack, you should just see a few lines. Here\u2019s what our Last Active Click registry hack looks like:<\/p>\n<pre>Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00&#13;\n&#13;\n; created by Walter Glenn&#13;\n; for How-To Geek&#13;\n; article: https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/281522\/how-to-make-your-taskbar-buttons-always-switch-to-the-last-active-window\/&#13;\n&#13;\n[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced]&#13;\n\"LastActiveClick\"=dword:00000001<\/pre>\n<p>The first line, \u201cWindows Registry Editor Version 5.00\u201d, just lets you know what type of file this is.<\/p>\n<p>In this file, lines two through four begin with a \u201c;\u201d character. This means they are \u201ccomments.\u201d They don\u2019t actually do anything when they run the file\u2014they\u2019re just here to be human-readable to any humans reading the file.<\/p>\n<p>The fifth and sixth lines are the meat of this particular file. The fifth line tells Windows to make a change at the following location, or \u201ckey,\u201d in the registry:<\/p>\n<pre>HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced<\/pre>\n<p>The sixth line tells Windows to create a DWORD value named \u201cLastActiveClick\u201d and set its value to \u201c1\u201d. (If the value already exists, Windows will set its value to \u201c1\u201d.)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-724615 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/reg-file-contents.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"311\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>We also have a registry file that undoes these changes. It differs by having this text instead:<\/p>\n<pre>[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced]&#13;\n\"LastActiveClick\"=-<\/pre>\n<p>The minus sign (\u201c-\u201c) tells Windows to delete the LastActiveClick value.<\/p>\n<p>REG files can continue many lines of changes, but they\u2019ll all be in a similar format.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Know_If_a_REG_File_Is_Safe\"><\/span>How to Know If a REG File Is Safe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p> At How-To Geek, we pair downloadable REG files with instructions for changing the setting on your own in the registry. If you would be comfortable making a change in the registry by hand, you should be comfortable with running a REG file that makes the same change.<br \/>\nIf you don\u2019t understand what the REG file does\u2014and especially if you don\u2019t trust its source\u2014then don\u2019t run it.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_tip\"><p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> We don\u2019t recommend you just trust us, either! Please, feel free to check our work: When you download a REG file from us, check its contents and ensure you\u2019re comfortable with them before you run the file. It\u2019s good to get in the habit of double-checking all REG files before you run them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>If you do trust the file, just double-click it\u2014or right-click it and select \u201cMerge.\u201d Windows will ask you if you want to let the Registry Editor make changes to your computer. Agree and the contents of the registry file will be merged with your PC\u2019s registry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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These files are a quick way to make simple changes\u2014but they can also be dangerous. Here\u2019s how to see what a REG file does before you run it. What Is&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":239220,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/reg-file.png?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-239219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/239220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=239219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=239219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}