Navigating Regedit: What Is the Windows Registry Editor and How to Use It

Navigating the Registry Editor environment can be daunting for most users due to its somewhat intimidating and dated interface. However, finding your way around shouldn’t be an issue if you know what to do. 

So, whether you’re using Windows 10 or 11, this guide will teach you everything you need to know to become familiar with it.

What Is the Windows Registry Editor?

The Registry Editor, also called “regedit,” is a Windows application where administrators and authorized users can manage and configure the Windows registry. The registry is a database that holds low-level Windows settings, which is another name for configurations and settings that affect the operating system’s core functionality.

Registry settings essentially tell Windows how to behave, communicate with hardware and software components, and allocate system resources.

Main Features of the Windows Registry Editor Every User Should Know

The Registry Editor environment resembles the File Explorer interface because it has a navigation panel, menu tab, and address bar. Keys and values can also be likened to folders and files. However, they have completely different functionalities.

These are the main features you should know about:

• Navigation: The Registry Editor’s navigation pane displays the registry’s hierarchical structure in a tree-like environment. This is where you get to expand the five main keys to locate various registry keys, subkeys, strings, and other entries.
• Backup and restore: Registry Editor allows you to back up the entire registry or specific keys and import them later. That way, you can preserve core Windows settings to recover them if you make mistakes.

• Registry management: Registry Editor’s toolbar and context menus include options that allow you to create new registry items, such as keys and values (string, DWORD, binary, and QWORD). You can also rename and delete these keys.
• Editing keys and values: Apart from renaming registry keys and values, you can also change their data. Each key contains different types of values (more on that below) that can be edited to change various Windows settings.
• Searching the registry: The Registry Editor window has a Find dialog that allows you to find specific keys using search inputs.

• Permission management: You cannot edit certain Windows registry entries unless you have permission. If you’re on your system’s administrator account, Registry Editor allows you to change permission settings so you can edit these restricted items.

Key Terms You Need to Know in Windows Registry Editor

When following instructions on how to access and edit registry entries, you’ll come across the following terms:

How to Enter the Windows Registry Editor

You can open the Registry Editor using the Run dialog window or the Start menu. The Start menu is the easiest option. Here’s how to use it:

• Tap the Windows key or click the Start button in your taskbar. You can also click the search bar or press Win + S.
• Type regedit once the Start menu or search box appears.
• Click Registry Editor.

You should now see the User Account Control pop up menu asking for permission. Click the Yes button.

Here’s how to use the Run dialog:

1. Press the Win + R keyboard shortcut or right-click the Start menu and select Run.
2. Type regedit into the Run text field and hit the Enter keyboard button or click OK.
3. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.

How to Use the Registry Editor on Windows 11 and 10: Basics

Understanding the registry hierarchy

As mentioned earlier, the registry includes the root level, hives (also called root keys), keys, subkeys, and values.

Hives are groups of keys that hold different categories of configurations. For example, HKEY_CURRENT_USER contains configurations for Windows, drivers, and third-party applications specific to the user currently logged in. Hives primarily contain keys, but can also contain values. Keys contain subkeys and values. Values contain configuration data.

Locating registry keys and values

You can use the navigation pane on the left side or the address bar to locate registry keys and values.

Using the navigation pane involves expanding hives and keys, the entries that have folder icons. Click the arrow beside each key to expand it and access subkeys. You can also double-click a key to reveal its subkeys. The same process applies to subkeys.

Selecting a key displays its values on the right side of the Registry Editor window.

For example, navigating to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows involves doing the following:

• Click the arrow next to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive.
• Expand the SOFTWARE key.
• Open the Policies key by clicking its arrow.

• Double-click the Microsoft key.
• Now, select the Windows key.

To access each key’s values, go to the right side of the window.

To use the address bar, you can type the path to the registry key and hit the Enter button on your keyboard. You can also copy and paste the path into the address bar and then hit Enter.

Creating new registry entries

You can create new keys and values through the toolbar and different Registry editor context menus. The easiest method involves right-clicking the key where you want to create the entry and selecting the New option. From there, you can select Key or any type of registry value.

You can also right-click the space on the right after selecting a key, choose New, and select the type of entry you want to create.

Additionally, you can go through the toolbar. Here’s how:

• Select the key where you want to create the new item. It could be a hive, key, or subkey.
• Click the Edit menu in the toolbar.
• Now, click New and select the entry you want to create.

Each new item is named new by default. For example, a new key will be named New Key #1, while a new value will be named New Value #1. You must rename the key or value to reflect the configuration you want to execute as indicated by the instructions you’re following.

Editing existing registry values

The editing process involves double-clicking the value you want to edit or right-clicking it and selecting Modify from the context menu.

You can also click the registry value, click Edit in the toolbar, and select Modify from the menu. You should now see a small Edit dialog box.

The next step involves entering the required data into the Value data text box. Registry Editor allows you to enter data in hexadecimal and decimal formats within the Edit dialog box.

Points to note:

• Confirm the base value within the instructions you’re following. If nothing is specified, use the hexadecimal base, especially when the value is 1 or 0, as they are the same in decimal. In most cases, instructors don’t specify which base to use because you’re expected to use the default base in the Edit dialog.
• The changes you made will only be applied after you sign out and sign in or restart your computer.
• Save your backed-up registry keys to a different drive for better safekeeping.

Example: Now, let’s locate a key, create a new DWORD value, and edit the value to force Windows to always skip the lock screen and go straight to the sign-in page:

• Go to the following location using the methods explained earlier:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

• Expand the Windows key and select its Personalization subkey. If you don’t see the subkey, right-click the Windows key, select New, and click Key. After the key is created, rename it to Personalization.
• The next step involves creating a new registry value called NoLockScreen. Right-click the Personalization key, select New, and click DWORD (32-bit) Value.

• Change the name of the new DWORD you created to NoLockScreen.
• Now, we have to modify the NoLockScreen data. Double-click the DWORD value or right-click it and select Modify. Choose Hexadecimal under Base, type 1 in the Value data text box, and click OK.

• Restart your computer or sign out and sign into your user account to effect the changes.

Add a registry key as a favorite

Adding registry items as favorites is a smart way to track your changes and access the keys and values you use often. For example, if you created a key that stops Windows Updates, you may want to revisit it to reverse your settings when you want updates again. Adding the key as a favorite means you can get to it in a few clicks.

Here’s how to create a favorite:

• Go to the intended key and select it.
• Head to the toolbar and click Favorites.
• Select Add to Favorites.

• Enter a name for the key. You can use a name that best describes what the key does.

• Click the OK button.
• You can also remove favorites. Here’s how:

• Select the key you want to remove.
• Click the OK button.

Deleting unwanted entries

You can delete an entry you created to revert to your previous settings. In some cases, you can locate registry keys and values left behind by uninstalled applications and delete them.

Deleting an item involves right-clicking it and selecting Delete in the context menu.

You can also select the item and press the Delete button on your keyboard or click the Edit menu and choose Delete.

A dialog will ask if you’re sure about deleting the item. Click the Yes button if you’re sure you want to delete the item.

How to Use the Registry Editor: Advanced

I consider the registry an advanced-users-only arena. However, basic operations like adding new keys and values pale in comparison to changing permissions and editing complex binary values.

Changing permissions

Here’s how to change a key’s permission:

• Right-click the key and select Permissions.

• When the key’s Permissions dialog window opens, select your user account under Group or user names and tick the box for Full Control under the Permissions box. You can restrict access for other users on the computer here by unchecking and checking the boxes you see fit.

• If you still don’t have access, click the Advanced button.
• Now, click Change next to Owner.
• Click the Advanced button once the Select User or Group dialog appears.

• Click Find Now.
• Scroll through the Search results box, select your user account, and click OK.

• Click OK in other open dialog boxes and grant Full Control to the user account.

Editing Binary Values

Editing a Binary Value can be quite tricky. It is one of those registry items that can easily cause you to make mistakes and break your system. It is always best to avoid it if you find it too confusing.

When editing complex figures in the Value data field, ensure the numbers within each row and column match the ones in your instructions.

Best Practices for Using the Windows Registry Editor on Windows 10 and 11

This point cannot be stressed enough. Skipping out on backups means you have no way to return to your previous configuration if:

• You make a mistake that causes glitches and fatal errors
• You followed instructions from an unreliable source
• Your version of Windows does not support the changes you’re implementing
• You don’t have a system restore point
• You have not backed up your operating system

It is also advisable to backup the parent keys of the registry entries you intend to edit or create. That way, you can restore the registry without overwriting new critical data elsewhere.

You don’t always have to tweak your system using the registry. If you can apply changes through the Settings app or Control Panel, avoid using the Registry Editor. For example, you can increase CPU priority for specific apps through the Task Manager instead of going through the registry.

Always use regedit commands from reliable websites and blogs. While forums like Reddit, Quora, and the Microsoft community are valuable resources, always double-check registry hacks and recommendations from other trusted sources.

Always check and check again before restarting your computer to avoid mistakes. Glance over your registry path one more time to confirm that you’re in the right hive.

Keep detailed notes on your registry changes, especially when making multiple adjustments. Here’s what you should do:

• Your records should cover the registry path where you made changes, the keys and values you edited (or added), and the reason for the modifications.
• Detail when you applied those changes
• Use descriptive file names for your backups. That way, you’ll know the settings you’re reversing.

Windows restricts permissions to sensitive keys that can easily cause issues when edited. Avoid changing permissions for these keys unless you need them and are confident about what you want to do.

Instead of experimenting with your primary machine, consider practicing on your backup Windows computer or another system you don’t always use. That way, you can confirm that a configuration is safe and effective before applying it to your main computer.

When you remove applications, updates, and drivers, some of these components leave registry keys behind. These leftover keys can accumulate over time and cause problems in the future. You can clean up your registry by going to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE and deleting keys for uninstalled applications. However, keys could be scattered under other hives and parent keys.

The best way to clear them is by using dedicated registry cleaners like Auslogics Registry Cleaner. The tool is created to find and remove keys related to removed apps and other junk registry entries.

Useful Tools to Complement the Windows Registry Editor

There are other tools you can use instead of Registry Cleaner to improve your system’s performance, clean the registry, or change advanced settings. Let’s cover the top 3.

Microsoft PC Manager

Microsoft PC Manager is a small but helpful tool that integrates many existing Windows utilities into one package and provides extra PC maintenance functions. You can use it to free up hard drive space, check for updates, manage startup applications, and launch Windows’ built-in antivirus.

The homepage sports a Boost button that automatically clears temporary files, frees up memory, and attempts to repair system glitches. The sidebar contains other maintenance tools like app and process management.

The bottom line is that it offers performance boosts that you may be seeking through the registry.

Auslogics Registry Cleaner

Auslogics Registry Cleaner is an easy-to-use and lightweight application designed to keep the registry as decluttered as possible. It can help you run scans to identify keys that may have been left over by uninstalled programs and drivers. You can also use it to find and remove broken registry keys to avoid future issues.

The tool has a search feature that allows you to easily find registry keys. This function comes in handy if you consider Registry Editor’s Find utility too confusing. Auslogics Registry Cleaner also provides detailed reports on the keys marked for removal, giving you veto powers to spare some entries.

Winaero Tweaker

Winaero tweaker is a freeware created by Sergey Tkachenko. It is designed to help users tweak almost every part of their operating system to their liking (within the limits of the app of course). You can apply basic appearance settings like themes, animations, and accents or use advanced options like changing menu options, icons, system font, window borders, and even title bars.

But where the program gets interesting is its ability to help users tweak even low-level settings. These include initiating automatic registry backups, disabling Windows smartscreen, changing your restore point frequency, and hundreds of other settings.

The developer also provides a link to each tweak for further explanations.

While the tool is pretty useful, it still adjusts your registry whenever you enable advanced tweaks. So, you should be careful and stick to the settings you’re sure you want to change. You should also keep track of your changes (the tool can help with that), so you can reverse anything that causes glitches.

Use the Registry Editor Responsibly

As mentioned, always ensure you’ve exhausted other alternatives before launching Registry Editor to adjust any low-level setting. If you must use the tool, back up the parent key before clicking Modify.

Let us know how frequently you use the Registry Editor and if you’ve ever faced any issue.

FAQ