The Windows registry is a database that contains important information about your computer — users, preferences, applications, attached devices and much more. The Windows operating system constantly refers to the registry; for example, to open a program, install new software or change your hardware, Windows must check the values of certain registry keys.
Once you’ve been running the Windows OS for some time — installing and uninstalling programs or swapping in different keyboards and mice — you end up with hundreds or thousands of registry entries that are completely useless. Each one uses very little hard drive space, but the operating system still has to run through all of them, which slows it down over time. By cleaning the registry, you can get rid of those unwanted entries and make your system run faster.
Sometimes, however, it is necessary to fix registry issues instead of just performing cleanup. For example, if you have ever encountered a piece of malware, you know that it can completely mess up your registry and disrupt your work.
You can change the values of registry keys manually using the built-in Windows Registry editor (regedit). But you need to know what you’re doing with this utility or you risk doing serious damage. This article explores how to fix registry issues in Windows 10/11.
Common Windows 10/11 Registry Errors Requiring Windows Registry Repair
First, let’s explore the most common issues with the Windows 10/11 registry and which ones are worth worrying about.
- Orphaned entries. Orphaned entries are small fragments of registry entries that can be left behind when you uninstall software. Registry cleaner software will often claim these are an immediate issue, but in reality, they just use up a few kilobytes of free space on your disk.
- Duplicate keys. Duplicate keys can be made when you reinstall, upgrade or update software on your machine, including the operating system. Registry cleaner software may state that your programs will be confused by the duplicate entries, slowing machine performance, but that is not true.
- Fragmented registry. The registry can become fragmented when software is uninstalled, upgraded or updated. Missing and orphaned files can cause errors.
- System shutdown errors. Each time your Windows 10/11 computer shuts down properly, a copy of the registry is saved to system memory. But if your computer is turned off or crashes without going through the normal shutdown routine, you could experience issues in the future. However, this is unlikely.
- Malware. Many types of malware modify the registry. In particular, by changing the values of startup keys, malware can ensure it is activated each time you restart the machine. Changes to the registry by malware require immediate attention.
- Accumulated junk, temporary files and system files. A registry disk cleanup removes these files to free up space and can potentially repair registry issues, so it’s worth doing on a regular basis.
Important: Back Up the Windows Registry!
Before beginning any registry errors fix, be sure you know what you are doing — and always start by making a registry backup. That way, you can revert to the old version if something goes wrong.
There are several methods for backing up your Windows registry:
How to Uncover and Repair Windows Registry Issues
To uncover issues with your registry that might be affecting your computer, perform a Windows registry scan using the Windows Registry Checker tool. The process will provide detailed data on all the registry errors discovered and how to fix registry errors.
There are several different ways to repair the Windows 10/11registry. Common ways for how to repair Windows 10 registry entries include the following:
- Use automatic repair — Automatic repair will kick in when it experiences an unexpected error that results in your system shutting down. You don’t have to initiate this repair option.
- Restore the Windows registry from Safe Mode — Use this method if you can’t start Windows in normal mode.
- Restore the registry from the command prompt — Reboot in advanced startup mode to restore the registry from its “secret” backup through the command prompt. You can access the command prompt from Safe Mode as well.
- Fix Windows registry errors with System restore — You can use System restore to roll back your system to a time when you didn’t have registry errors. But remember you will lose any changes and new files made since the backup was created.
- Fix broken registry items with System File Checker (SFC) — If you run your antivirus software or other file checker tool and discover you have broken registry items, you can use this method to repair them and get them working correctly again.
- Restore your computer with Reset this PC — Reset this PC is used to repair damaged Windows installations. It can help remove bloatware, which is unneeded software that is pre-installed with Windows. Using it is also a way to permanently remove most types of malware. Using Reset this PC restores Windows to the factory-default settings.
- Repair the registry with the DISM command — If you have problems with images on your computer, use the DISM command to service them.
- Reinstall Windows from scratch — If you can’t get Windows to load without errors or can’t open Safe Mode, reinstalling Windows from scratch may help correct registry issues.
- Use third-party backup and recovery tools — You have the option of using third-party tools to back up and restore your registry. The section below offers some options. It’s wise to choose only Microsoft-approved tools.
Third-Party Software Designed for Cleaning and Fixing Registries
Common registry issues Windows 10 users deal with can be frustrating and lead to a slowcomputer. It’s possible to use apps to clean and repair your Windows registry following a Windows registry scan.
Here are a few registry cleaner and registry repair tools you may want to check out:
- CCleaner
- Auslogics Registry Cleaner
- Wise Registry Cleaner
- Argente Utilities
- Glarysoft Registry Repair
- RegSofts Free Window Registry Repair
Editing Your Windows Registry for a Quick Windows 10 Registry Fix
Another option for dealing with a corrupt registry is to edit it directly. Log in as an administrator and then follow these steps for a quick Windows registry fix:
- Press the Ctrl and F keys simultaneously to open the Find dialog. Type the name of the key you want to edit.
- Click Find Next until you locate the key you want. Double-click it.
- Edit the key’s value.
- Click OK to save your changes. Some edits require a Windows restart to take effect.
Alternatively, you can edit the registry with PowerShell.
Cleaning the Windows 10/11 Registry Using the Registry Editor
Most people find that they’re able to clean their registry with automatic functions or third-party programs. However, you can perform registry cleanup manually using the Windows Registry editor.
It’s worth repeating: Before you begin, make sure you create a registry backup. Making mistakes in the registry can lead to the system becoming corrupted.
Then take the followingsteps:
- Click the Start button and then select Run...
- Type regedit in the text box and select Registry editor from the results.
- Delete the keys from applications that have already been uninstalled:
3a. Expand the HKEY_CURRENT_USER section and then expand the Software section.
3b. Look for keys based on the name or vendor of the uninstalled applications and delete them.
4. Remove any duplicate keys that the uninstalled applications might have left behind:
4a. Press Ctrl+F to open the Find dialog box.
4b. Enter the name of the uninstalled application and click OK to search. Each matching key or value will be highlighted.
4c. Remove the highlighted key.
4d. Press F3 to find the next match and delete it. Repeat this step until you have reviewed all highlighted items.
5. Remove unwanted start-up items from the registry:
5a. Navigate to the following location:
My ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrent Version
5b. Click Run to list shortcuts to all the executable files that run at startup.
5c. Delete any applications that you don’t want to run at Windows startup. Do an online search to investigate any that are unfamiliar.
5d. Repeat the same task for the following key paths as well:
• HKLMSOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindows CurrentVersionRun
• HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftActive SetupInstalled Components
• HKLMSOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftActive SetupInstalled ComponentsConclusion: When and How to Fix Windows Registry Issues
Editing your registry is not likely to improve system speed or PC performance. However, you should make regular backups so you can restore if the installation of a program or device causes issues the computer can’t process.
It is also important to track changes to your registry. In particular, malware often changes registry startup keys so it will start automatically after each reboot. You can learn more in this guide about detecting modifications to startup items in the Windows registry.
How Netwrix Can Help
Netwrix Auditor for Windows Server empowers you with comprehensive visibility and tools you need to safeguard your crucial infrastructure. You can:
- Detect and respond to threats: You can monitor all security and configuration changes across your Windows Servers, including changes to the registry. The solution even provides video recording of user activity to help with investigations.
- Streamline compliance: Simplify audit preparation with built-in reports aligned with PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOX and many other mandates. Use the interactive search to swiftly answer questions from auditors, demonstrating your commitment to compliance.
- Enhance efficiency: Elevate your IT team’s productivity through automated change control and reporting on OS versions, antivirus status, file shares and more.
