What is a .REG file?
A .reg file is an exported chunk of the Windows Registry that can be merged back in. Created by Registry Editor.
- Did you know
- Double-clicking a .reg file writes its keys straight into the Windows Registry.
- Modern Windows writes .reg files as UTF-16 under the header “Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00”, replacing the older ANSI “REGEDIT4” format.
- A .REG file is plain text, so you can open and edit it in any text editor.
- What Analyser reads
- Inspect security and crypto files: PEM private/public keys (RSA/EC/Ed25519, PKCS#1 vs PKCS#8, encryption), OpenSSH .pub with SHA-256 fingerprint, PuTTY .ppk, PKCS#10 CSR, X.509 CRL, PKCS#7 bundles, OpenVPN/WireGuard configs, Java KeyStores, Apple .mobileconfig/.mobileprovision, Windows .reg (with autorun flagging), and pcap/pcapng captures - warning when a private key or secret is present.
- Depth of analysis
- .REG is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
- Open a .REG file
- Drag a .REG file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.