The Windows Registry Editor will then open, allowing you to review, change or delete registry entries (Figure 1). Type 'regedit' into the search dialog in the Windows 10 taskbar, and then click the Registry Editor app that appears in the search results. You can access the registry database with the native Windows Registry Editor tool. The registry can hold hundreds of thousands of entries.

docx files, Windows would detail that selection in the registry so that it 'remembers' the default application.

For example, if a user selects an application as the default program for a specific file type, such as selecting Microsoft Word to open. It is a huge configuration file that Windows uses to detail interactions with hardware, software and users. In the simplest terms, the Windows registry is a database of settings and selections. Do not change or save any changes to a registry unless you are absolutely certain of the change. Improper changes to the registry can result in system instability and other functional problems. Warning: Before you attempt a Windows registry cleanup, it's important to note that the registry is a critical part of Windows systems. As a desktop administrator or Windows user, you should learn how the Windows registry works and review the best strategies for protecting and potentially optimizing a Windows registry.

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