Always Back up the Registry before making changes.
Force a Word document to open in edit mode from an email link Ms Word Registry Key
This report details the significance, locations, and procedures for managing Microsoft Word registry keys, specifically focusing on the ms-word: protocol and general application settings. Always Back up the Registry before making changes
A specific registry key, ms-word: , is used to define how the system handles links to Word documents. This is particularly useful for suppressing when opening email links. Ms Word Registry Key
Deleting the or Options subkeys under this path is a common "factory reset" troubleshooting step to fix corrupted ribbons or global templates without reinstalling the entire suite.