How to Edit the Windows Registry

Making a Registry Backup

Make a backup of the Windows Registry. Do this before you edit it so you can revert to the pre-edited version if necessary.

Press ⊞ Win+r. The Run window opens.

Type "regedit" without the quotes and press ↵ Enter. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes to open the Registry Editor.

Right-click the Computer icon in the left pane.

Click Export.

Choose a location and type a name for the backup.

Click Save.

Editing the Registry

Edit the Registry. The Registry contains two basic elements: keys and values. If you know the key you want to edit, press Control+f to open the Find dialog box.

Type the key name and click Find Next.

Edit the key's value data. When you find the key, double-click it to edit the value data.

Click OK to save your edits. Some edits may require a Windows restart to take effect.

Restoring a Registry Backup

If necessary, you can restore your Registry backup. Keep track of your edits so you can return them to their original value if desired. If you make multiple unsatisfactory edits, you may want to restore your entire Registry backup rather than correct each edit.

Open the Registry Editor.

In the File menu click Import.

Locate the backup file you saved and click Open.