This wikiHow teaches you how to open and use the Registry Editor, also known as "regedit." This application allows you to open and modify previously untouched system files. Editing the Registry indiscriminately can permanently damage your computer, so it is not recommended that you edit the Registry if you don't know what to edit.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Opening Registry Editor
Step 1. Open the Start menu
by clicking the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen or pressing the button Win.
In Windows 8, hover over the top or bottom right corner and click the magnifying glass icon that appears
Step 2. Enter regedit into the Start menu
The command will call the Registry Editor.
Step 3. Click the regedit icon in the form of a stack of blue boxes at the top of the Start window
Step 4. Click Yes when prompted to open the Registry Editor window
If you are not logged in as an administrator, you will not be able to open the Registry Editor
Method 2 of 4: Backing Up Registry
Step 1. Click the Computer monitor-shaped item at the top of the Registry sidebar to select it
This item is on the left side of the window.
- You may need to swipe up on the sidebar to see this icon.
- This step allows you to back up the entire Registry, but you can back up a specific folder or set of folders in the Registry.
Step 2. Click the File tab in the upper-left corner of the Registry window
You will see a drop-down menu.
Step 3. Click the Export… menu near the top of the menu
A window for exporting the Registry will appear.
Step 4. Name your backup file
It's a good idea to use an easily recognizable date or name to back up the Registry so you don't get confused when you need to restore it.
Step 5. Select the backup storage location in the list of folders on the left side of the export window
Or, click a folder in the middle of the window.
Step 6. Click the Save button at the bottom of the window to export the values, settings, and other data present in the Registry
If something bad happens to the Registry while you're editing it, you can restore this backup to resolve minor or moderate errors.
- To restore a Registry backup, click the tab File > Import, then select the Registry backup file.
- Make a full backup of the Registry before you edit it.
Method 3 of 4: Using Registry Editor
Step 1. Click the icon > next to Computers.
This icon is to the left of the icon Computer, which you click when backing up the Registry. Folders Computer will open, showing the folder it's in at the bottom of the icon.
If icon Computer has displayed several folders, the icon has been opened.
Step 2. Pay attention to the default Registry folder
Generally, you will see 5 folders inside Computer, that is:
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- HKEY_USERS
- HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
Step 3. Click the Registry folder
Once clicked, the contents of the folder will appear on the right side of the Registry Editor window.
For example, if you click HKEY_CURRENT_USER, you will see at least one icon on the right side of the page with the value (Default).
Step 4. Open the Registry folder by clicking the > button to the left of any folder
- You can also double-click a folder to open it.
- Some folders (such as HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT) has hundreds of subfolders. When opened, the left view of the window will be filled with subfolders so you may have a hard time exploring them. However, all the folders in the Registry Editor are arranged alphabetically.
Step 5. Pay attention to the item in the toolbar, which can be found at the top left of the Registry window
These items are:
- File - Contains options to import and export backup files, also print specific entries.
- Edit - Change certain aspects of the Registry, or create new items.
- View - Enable or disable address bar in Registry (not all versions of Windows 10 have this feature). Through this item, you can also view the binary data of a specific Registry item.
- Favorite - Added certain Registry items to Favorites folder.
- Help - Displays Registry help page.
Step 6. Double-click the item in the Registry folder
You will find a red icon with letters ab and label (Default) in most Registry folders. After double clicking the icon, you can see its contents.
Step 7. Click Cancel to close any open Registry items
Method 4 of 4: Creating and Deleting Items in the Registry
Step 1. Open the destination folder
Open the folder, scroll the screen until you find a subfolder, then open the subfolder. Repeat until you reach the destination folder.
Step 2. Select the destination folder by clicking on it
Once clicked, the folder will be selected. The items you create will be saved in that folder.
Step 3. Click the Edit tab near the top-left corner of the window
You will see a drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click the New option near the top of the menu
A pop-out menu will appear next to the menu.
Step 5. Select the item you want to create from the following item types:
- String Value - This item controls system functions, such as keyboard speed or icon size.
- DWORD Value - Like strings, these items control system functions.
- Key - This item is a folder.
- You may see a variety of string and DWORD values, depending on the guide you're reading.
Step 6. Enter the item name, then press Enter
The item with the name you entered will be created in the selected folder.
If you want to edit an item, double-click the item to view its contents, then adjust the item's contents to your needs
Step 7. Delete items from Registry by following these steps
However, if you're not careful, deleting items from the Registry can permanently damage your computer.
- Click an item in the Registry.
- Click Edit.
- Click Delete.
- Click OK when requested.
