What Is Windows Registry and How to Use It the Right Way: All You Need to Know

Many experts advise beginners to treat the registry as Windows’ forbidden fruit. That’s because there’s often no going back from applying incorrect settings. Such modifications could cause dire performance issues or leave you with a bricked operating system.

That said, if you must use and edit the database, you should know everything about it and why it’s probably a good idea to listen to the experts and just let it be.

This article explains what you should know about the computer registry, how to use it, and how to maintain it.

What Is the Windows Registry?

The Windows registry is a database where low-level configurations and settings for the operating system, software programs, hardware drivers, and user profiles are stored hierarchically.

Whenever you install a new program or driver, it makes entries into the Windows registry to record new instructions and references that determine how it works and interacts with other system components.

The same thing happens whenever you uninstall programs, drivers, or updates. Only this time, entries will be removed so that the operating system does not attempt to communicate with uninstalled software.

That said, the registry contains much more than just program entries. There are entries for almost everything you can imagine, from user permissions and Windows startup behaviors to how your mouse pointer rolls across your screen.

Why Is the Windows Registry Important?

The registry is critical to the operating system because applications, drivers, services, and Windows itself rely on the database to store crucial configurations and low-level settings.

These configurations and settings are usually manipulated to effect changes when you install app, driver, and operating system updates.

The earliest version of the registry was introduced with Windows 3.1, with major changes shipping with Windows 95. The tool ensures that configurations are stored in a central database instead of maintaining the chaotic status quo that necessitated the use of independent configuration files for individual applications and services.

Common Windows Registry Use Cases

Apart from holding critical information for Windows, applications, and drivers, the registry also allows users to perform crucial optimization and performance tweaks:

1. Customization

You can customize various Windows environments however you see fit when you know the right registry entries to modify. These include configurations that are not available in Settings and Control Panel.

For example, you can use the registry to: 

• Restore Windows 10’s context menu in Windows 11.
• Prompt Windows to switch to a previous app’s window when you click its taskbar icon.
• Make Windows 10 show seconds in your time display (you can do that through Settings in Windows 11 but not Windows 10).

2. Software and hardware configurations

You can make advanced changes to software programs and hardware components to improve performance and power efficiency. Examples include increasing priority for games, tweaking your network card to reduce network throttling, and configuring Windows to focus more CPU resources on foreground applications.

3. Improve system security

The registry allows you to reshape system policies and user permissions as you see fit. You can restrict guest profiles from performing certain operations, change password and account locking policies, and modify UAC settings.

The advantage of this capability is your ability to tighten security and limit access to unauthorized parties. Conversely, making mistakes with security settings in the registry will have dire consequences. You can end up bricking your OS or weakening your system’s defenses.

4. Troubleshoot system glitches and errors

I’ve repeated that making incorrect changes to the Windows registry can break your operating system. But you’re not the only one that can apply such changes. Sometimes, a third-party application’s adjustments and additions to the registry can cause problems. Malware can also damage registry entries and introduce system glitches.

Fixing these broken registry entries and reversing incorrect changes can resolve many errors. You can do that manually by applying new changes, restoring registry backups, or using system restore points.

For example, changing the MaintenanceDisabled DWORD value to 1 in the following path is one of the effective ways to fix the REGISTRY_ERROR blue screen of death:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\Maintenance

Precautions to Take Before Modifying the Registry

If you ever intend to glance through the registry or apply changes, it is strongly recommended to take some precautions.

1. Create registry backups

The first and most important thing to do is back up the system registry. This way, you can restore the stable version if you erroneously apply changes that cause issues. Here’s how:

• Open the Start menu and type regedit.
• Click Registry Editor in the results window and select Yes when you see the UAC prompt.

• After the Registry Editor app appears, select File > Export.

• Go to the Export range section and select All. Select the folder (or drive) where you want to save the backup, enter a name, and click the Save button.

• Click File > Import and double-click the backup file to restore the saved version of your registry whenever you’re not comfortable with any change.

2. Make incremental changes

If you want to edit multiple registry entries to achieve different results, it is best to finish one configuration and restart your system before moving on to the next one. That way, you can identify whether one particular change is the cause of certain system glitches if an error occurs.

Where Are Registry Files Saved?

In modern versions of Windows (mostly from Windows XP), registry files like SOFTWARE, SECURITY, SAM, DEFAULT, and SYSTEM are stored in the System32 folder on your local hard drive.

However, Microsoft used different folders throughout Windows’ history. Older Windows versions stored registry information as DAT files in the Windows folder at C:\Windows. You can open the folder by typing %WINDIR% in the Run dialog. Windows 3.11, however, saved the entire registry to a file named REG.DAT.

How to Open the Windows Registry

Windows’ built-in app for viewing registry items is called the Registry Editor (or Regedit). The program displays the registry’s tree-like structure, where you can access values by opening their parent keys and subkeys. Each key (and subkey) is displayed as a folder that can be expanded by clicking the arrow to the left.

Here’s how to open the Registry Editor:

• Press Win + R to open Run.
• Type Regedit in the text box and click the OK button.

• Click Yes in the UAC prompt.

You can also search for regedit in the Start menu to open the program.

Navigating the Registry

Since you’ll be using the Registry Editor to view the system registry, you should know your way around the app. Our Regedit guide is a beginner-friendly manual that will teach you all the basics about the program, from moving around the window to locating and modifying registry entries.

That said, learning the following terms will show you how to navigate different registry branches when finding entries:

Registry root

The registry root serves as the starting point for the registry’s hierarchical structure. You’ll see it as Computer in the Registry Editor’s window. Like all root folders, it contains the next items on the registry tree: hives.

Hives

Registry hives are collections of keys, subkeys, and values. As hinted earlier, they are called root keys sometimes because they are at the top of the registry hierarchy. Hives typically begin with the HKEY prefix.

Hives appear as folders in the Registry Editor’s left navigation pane. You can expand or collapse them using the arrows on the left or double-clicking them.

Here’s a brief description of each hive and what it contains:

Keys and subkeys

A registry key is an item that resides within a hive. It contains registry values and other keys called subkeys. You can look at it like a folder containing subfolders and files (values).

Like hives, you can double-click or use the arrows located on the left to expand and collapse keys and subkeys.

For example, the following path contains a key and two subkeys:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ActivationBroker\Plugins

SYSTEM: Key

ActivationBroker and Plugins: Subkeys

Values

These are the registry data entries that reside within keys and subkeys. They can also appear under hives. They are akin to files that contain the configurations, settings, and records used by Windows and applications for various operations.

The common types of registry values include:

• REG_BINARY (Binary value)
• REG_DWORD (DWORD value)
• REG_QWORD (QWORD value)
• REG_SZ (String value)

Tips to Maintain the Registry

A buggy computer registry can significantly hurt system stability. Sometimes, recurring glitches and errors can be traced back to registry misconfigurations that occur due to simple oversights. You can start making efforts to keep your computer in tip-top shape by taking care of the registry.

These are the maintenance habits you can practice.

1. Registry cleanups

Registry cleaning helps you remove obsolete, outdated, and invalid entries that can cause glitches, errors, and performance issues. While it’s technically possible to find and remove these entries yourself, the process can be quite tedious and risk-laden. You may cause even more problems if you make mistakes.

2. Avoid registry tweaks as much as possible

Staying away from the registry as much as possible reduces the risk of applying wrong changes by mistake. Always look for alternative ways to implement changes through Settings, Control Panel, and Local Group Policy Editor before falling back to the Registry Editor app as a last resort.

3. Perform full uninstallations

Some applications leave registry entries behind, which may cause issues and conflicts in the future. To avoid this issue, consider using trusted third-party programs that remove remnants of uninstalled applications. Some of these tools include Auslogics BoostSpeed’s Uninstaller, Revo Uninstaller, and IObit Uninstaller. 

That said, you can manually remove entries created by removed programs through the Registry Editor. Here’s how:

1. Search for regedit in the Start menu and click Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software

Check for the name of any removed program under the Software key for each hive. Delete the app’s keys if you find them.

You should also implement changes one after the other. That is, delete entries under one Software key (after backing it up) and restart your computer before moving on to the next hive.

4. Keep malware away

Malware programs can wreak havoc in the Windows registry to set off a flurry of system errors and glitches. Keeping your system free from these malicious programs is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy registry.

You can keep your system malware-free by doing the following:

• Practice healthy data-sharing habits: Mind where you plug external drives that you use on your computer.
• Use the Internet carefully: Avoid visiting or downloading data from malicious websites. You can also use internet security apps that scan downloads, including email attachments, before they are saved to your computer.
• Use strong antivirus programs: Install powerful antivirus software tools that are frequently updated to fend off the latest malware and virus applications. Microsoft’s Windows Security is strong enough for your PC’s protection. But if you want another layer of security, consider tools like Auslogics Anti-Malware that can work alongside other antivirus suites.

5. Maintain healthy disk drives

Registry files are stored on hard drives. As such, any logical or physical damage to your drive will likely affect the system registry. If you use a hard disk drive, always ensure it is not fragmented by checking the Optimize Drives utility regularly. Type optimize or defragment in the Start menu and click Defragment and Optimize Drives to open the tool.

You can also use the tools that ship with your hard drive to check its health status, resolve issues, and install firmware updates.

6. Keep your system up to date

Windows updates are deployed to iron out issues, introduce new features, improve security, and boost performance. When installed, these updates often implement changes to the registry to achieve these results.

So, ensure your computer is set up to check for and install Windows updates whenever they become available. Just to be sure, type Updates in the Start menu and click Check for updates to confirm that you’re not missing out.

Final thoughts

Understanding the Windows registry helps you know how the operating system stores core configurations and settings. Remember to consider your computer registry off-limits if you’re uncomfortable with handling low-level and high-risk settings.

If you must edit registry entries, the cardinal rules are to create backups and carefully follow instructions from reliable sources.

FAQ