Microsoft added Registry Preview Utility to its PowerToys Collection and is now available to download for Windows 11/10/8.1 and Windows 8. Here’s how to use the new PowerToys tool to view and edit registry files (.REG) and make changes to the Windows registry.
PowerToys
In case you don’t know, PowerToys is a collection of Utilities from Microsoft that includes necessary features that Windows lacks built-in by default.
For instance, one of PowerToys’ tools allows one to always keep an app window on top of another.
And, another lets you focus on the mouse cursor on wide monitors, there is PowerRename that enables you to rename files in bulk.
Like this, PowerToys comes with tools that increase user productivity.
PowerToys is available on GitHub and Microsoft Store to download.
PowerToys Registry Preview
Ever received a REG file and want to add the values to the Windows Registry? Worried about how to view its contents without running, that’s where PowerToy’s new RegistryPreview comes in handy.
It allows you to view and edit registry files and write to the registry.
Note: The registry file is available with an extension .reg. It is often created and shared for making changes to the registry without the need to open the Registry editor.
Users often come across tutorial or sites that offer REG files to apply changes to registy to undo or disable the latest changes to the application.
For instance, we recently reported a registry method to disable and remove the Bing Discover icon.
When you use the REG file for such, you can see and carefully edit the registry before applying by using PowerToys’s Registry Preview.
Note: Powertoys’s new tool is not a replacement for Registry Editor.
Using PowerToys Registry Preview
The tool is a GUI/applet designed to open Windows Registry (REG files), it displays Preview how it would like when changes are made to the registry.
Using the utility is Pretty straightforward.
- Download and install PowerToy’s latest release from GitHub.
- Open PowerToys and launch Registry Preview.
- Use the “Open file” option to navigate to REG file location and select it. Or, You can utilize the “Preview” right click menu option available on the REG file. Right-click on one such file, select “Show more options” and select “Preview”.
- The interface contains options to Edit the file, save the edited file to your device, import changes to the registry, and open the Registry editor.
The feature is enabled inside PowerToys by default, you can launch it from PowerToys Settings.
For each REG file open, Registry Preview creates a different instance as we noticed.
Note: One should always pay attention before making changes to the registry as it makes the system stop working.
How often do you use Windows Registry files? When was the last time you open a REG file? Let us know in the comments below.
Summary: Wondering or searching for an online or free tool to View.REG files look no further, Microsoft released PowerToys with Registry Preview for the same.
