.reg files

Common questions

How do I open a .reg file?

On Windows use Notepad (built in — right-click > Edit to read it safely); on macOS use Any text editor (to read — no effect on macOS); on Linux use Any text editor (to read — no effect on Linux). A text file that writes settings into the Windows registry when you double-click it.

What is a .reg file?

Windows Registry File. A .reg file lists registry keys and values, and double-clicking it merges them into your registry after one confirmation prompt — it changes system configuration immediately. Always right-click and choose Edit to read it in Notepad first, because a malicious or wrong .reg can break Windows.

Can I convert a .reg file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .txt, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

Related pages

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• .json — JavaScript Object Notation The standard text format for structured data on the web and in config files.
• .xml — Extensible Markup Language A tag-based text format for structured data, still everywhere in enterprise syst
• .yaml — YAML Data File An indentation-based configuration format, readable but unforgiving about whites
• .log — Log File A plain-text record of what a program did, newest events usually at the bottom.
• .torrent — BitTorrent Metainfo File A few kilobytes of metadata describing what to download and from whom — not the
• .dat — Generic Data File A meaningless extension — .dat says only that some program stored data here.
• .vcf — vCard Contact File One or more contacts as plain text — the standard way to move an address book.
• .sql — SQL Script A text file of database commands — often a full database dump.
• .ics — iCalendar Event A calendar invitation or event feed in a plain-text standard format.
• .sqlite — SQLite Database A complete relational database in a single file — the most deployed database in
• .db — Generic Database File An extension many programs use for their data — it does not identify one format.