When we work with our Windows– based computer , most of the time what we want is to be able to use it in the most fluid way possible. This will help us gain productivity and thus be more effective in our work. For this we can make use of the many functionalities that the same system puts at our disposal, as is the case.
For this we have, by default, a good number of Windows elements that have been with us for many years. Things like the Desktop we use so much, the toolbar, the File Explorer , the context menu, etc. come into play here. All of this allows us to access a multitude of functions and features in a much more direct way, without having to navigate through endless menus. At the same time, these elements, together with the Start menu, allow us to anchor applications in order to be more productive and faster in their execution.
The importance of the Windows context menu
As we say, many of these elements integrated into the operating system, in addition to others that we have not mentioned, are very helpful to us. In fact, sometimes we only miss them when, for whatever reason, we cannot access them. Well, in these same lines we want to focus on one of them that you surely use daily, with almost no data counts. Specifically, here we refer to the Windows contextual menu that presents so many accesses and functions from the outset.
For those of you who do not know it, we will tell you that this contextual menu to which we refer, is the small list of options that appears when you right-click anywhere in Windows 10 . This is something that we usually do when pointing to a program icon, any folder, on the Desktop itself, etc. As you know, this gives way, depending on the type of element marked, to a series of direct actions and functions.
In fact, the options that appear in this section will change as we click with the right mouse button on a file, folder or an empty space. But of course, as with most Windows sections, this is something that we can customize. For example, in the case that concerns us here, it is enough that we make some adjustments in the editor of the system registry. In this way, what we can do is increase the options available in the contextual menu that we are talking about. Thus, in this case we are going to add an option that allows us to open any file with Notepad .
Windows Notepad, the multipurpose editor
Surely many of you have already known it for a long time, when we talk about Notepad, we mean a simple edit integrated into Windows. As its name suggests, it allows us to write small text documents, such as notes. But at the same time it helps us to open and edit larger files if we need it.
Therefore, what we are about to do is that you can open any type of file, directly in Windows Notepad . In addition, we are going to achieve all this from the aforementioned context menu when clicking on a file with the right mouse button. As we mentioned before, for this we only have to make a small modification in the Windows registry and we are going to show it to you.
Add the Open with Notepad option
For this, it is enough that you follow the instructions that we are going to give you here. Of course, first of all and as is usual in these cases, we recommend making a backup copy of the registry itself, just in case. Well, the first thing we do is access this element by typing the regedit command in the search box. This will lead us to a new window that corresponds to the editor we are referring to.
Next, what we have to do is go to the path TeamHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT * shell of it. Once here and clicking on the folder called Shell, we click with the right mouse button and create a new key called “Open with Notepad”. After that and within it, we create a new key called Command.
Edit the Windows registry
Now, by clicking here, is when we have to look at the right panel, where we will see an entry called Default, where we click twice. Thus, in the new window that appears, specifically in the Value information field, we write notepad.exe% 1.
And that’s all, now we will no longer have to close the Registry Editor, also without the need to restart the PC for the changes to take effect. Thus, from now on, every time we click with the right mouse button on a file, we will see that the option to Open with Notepad appears . We see this together with the rest of the alternatives that appeared until now. It is also worth noting that this is effective when clicking on a file on the desktop, or from the File Explorer.
In this way, as we mentioned before, you will have the possibility to open any file directly from this app implemented in the system. Of course, it is also important to know that we must open text files , which are compatible with this program that we are discussing. And is that if we try to do this with an executable or a video, for example, it will open, but its content will be unreadable.