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Open and edit Windows registry in Windows 11 or 10

Stefan
Stefan
November 17 2023
Open and edit Windows registry in Windows 11

The Windows Registry is an advanced database that stores all configuration settings of the Windows operating system in a hierarchical structure. This database contains settings not only of the operating system itself, but also of most applications installed on the computer.

The registry allows users to perform various tasks, including diagnosing and repairing system errors, personalizing user settings and features, and optimizing the overall performance of the Windows system. Because of its complexity and centrality to the functioning of Windows, the registry is a powerful but potentially risky tool. Incorrect changes can lead to system instability or other serious problems. Therefore, it is recommended that only experienced users or professionals make changes to the registry.

For those interested in learning how to use the Windows registry, there are several steps that can be followed. These steps include safely accessing and navigating the registry, understanding its structure and functioning, and learning how to view, edit, and, if necessary, safely delete registry values. It is crucial to remember that caution is needed when working with the Windows registry, and it is recommended that you use a backup the registry before any changes are made.

Open and edit Windows registry in Windows 11

Open registry

To get started, you need to know how to open the Windows registry. Right-click on the start button. Click Run in the menu. In the run window type:

regedit.exe

Open regedit in Windows 11

The Windows registry will now open. You can open a certain structure in the Windows registry.

Read also
Measure hard drive temperature in Windows 11 or 10

Navigate registry

You can do this by clicking open the folders on the left one by one. You can also copy and paste an entire structure directly into the navigation field.

Windows registry

Once you reach the location folder, within the key or folder string you will find value keys. These individual values ​​are the actual settings that Windows uses to change its behavior.

Change registry value

Once you are in a registry key or folder, you can edit or delete the values. To edit a value, simply double-click the name of the value you want to edit.

A window will then open where you can change the value of the string.

Adjust register values

If you want to add a registry value, click in the right free space and choose new and then the value from the menu.

You can create the following values: Key, string value, binary value, dword (32-bit) value, dword (64-bit) value, multi-string value, and expandable string values.

Create registry values

Delete registry value

Then, to delete a registry value or delete a key, right-click on the value and click delete from the menu.

Delete Windows registry value

Also read: Clean Windows 11 registry? This is how!

I hope this helped you. Thank you for reading!


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15 comments

  1. Hallo,

    In Win 11 with Chrome browser.
    Why is it that my browser history always appears when I search for something in Google?
    Tried many things, nothing worked.
    Grt

    To answer

        1. Hello, I suspect from your answer that this is data that Google stores. This is stored in web activity. You can manage these here:
          https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/54068?hl=nl&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
          Success!

          To answer

  2. I don't see SecurityHealth anywhere in the registry editor. Every time I start a DVD I get that annoying Microsoft Store on the screen, and I want to get rid of that. What can I do?

    To answer

    1. Hello, here is a solution:
      https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/microsoft-store-opens-when-i-insert-a-dvd/69ecc6a0-7c4d-4a5d-a6ff-f2f3d852b9e8
      Success!

      To answer

  3. I have lost my battery indicator on the taskbar since the third last update. Whatever I'm looking for, I wouldn't know how to conjure it up.

    My time is no longer in sync with the Microsoft server.
    what could be the cause of that?

    To answer

  4. When making a backup with SyncBackFree, I get the error message Failed: Check the log. There it is indicated \Dumstack.log.tmp
    Copy from Source: file (5) cannot be copied Access Denied Failed.

    To answer
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