Even though this process is safe if you follow the instructions, it’s worth backing up the registry first in case you slip up along the way. With that out of the way, we can begin.
Open Registry Editor by hitting the Start key and typing regedit. In the Registry Editor, navigate to:
Under the “shell” folder, right-click and create a new key called “Open with Notepad.” Then, within that, create a key called “command”.
In the “command” key folder, double-click the “Default” string. In the Value box, type notepad.exe %1.
That’s it. Now close the Registry Editor, right-click on your desktop, and you should see “Open with Notepad” appear right there in the context menu whenever you right-click a file. We have many more Windows 10 registry hacks if you’re interested. Or, if you’re looking for a blast from the past, see our list of great Windows 10 screensavers. Yes, we know you don’t technically need a screensaver in this day and age of LCD, but they just look nice, right?
