How to open Registry Editor on Windows 11. Want to quickly access the Registry Editor on Windows 11 to make system tweaks? Here are all the ways you can get quick access to this tool.
The Windows Registry is a large database of configuration settings for the operating system and all the software on it. You can edit that database using the Registry Editor tool that comes pre-installed in Windows.
The application allows to navigate the registry and edit keys. Therefore, you can customize Windows 11 in every way with Registry Editor. But before you can customize, here are all the ways for you to quickly access the Registry Editor on Windows 11 when needed.
Some tips with Registry Editor
- A quick way to open the Run dialog box in Windows is to use the Windows + R keyboard shortcut.
- If you use Registry Editor to restore REG backup files and are unsure of the steps, read the article Simple Backup and Restore Windows Registry .
- Although you can make any changes to the Registry Editor, it’s better not to perform tasks that programs or services can do automatically. For example, do not delete registry junk entries using Registry Editor if you are unsure of what you are doing.
- The same regedit command can be done from the Command Prompt.
How to open Registry Editor on Windows 11
Open Registry Editor from Windows 11 search box
Windows 11’s search box also acts as an app launcher. With this tool, you can find and launch most of the built-in Windows tools and third-party software installed on your computer. To open the Registry Editor with the search engine, do the following:
Step 1: To launch the search tool, click the magnifying glass button on the Windows 11 taskbar.
Step 2: Type Registry Editor in the search text box to find the application.
Step 3: Then click the Registry Editor’s Run as administrator button in the search engine.
Open Registry Editor through the Run dialog box
The Run dialog box allows users to open Windows applications by entering the corresponding text commands. So Run provides another quick and easy way to open Registry Editor.
Step 1: Press Windows + R key combination.
Step 2: Type regedit in the Open text box of the Run dialog box .
Step 3: Then press the OK button , or you can press the Enter key instead.
In addition, you can also open Registry Editor and other applications, with higher permissions by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter. after entering the Run command.
Open Registry Editor from Control Panel
Windows 11’s Control Panel has a Windows Tools application inside, which includes many system tools, one of which is the Registry Editor. You can open Registry Editor from Windows Tools as follows:
Step 1: Press the Windows + S key combination . Then enter the keyword Control Panel in the search box.
Step 2: Click Control Panel to activate this tool.
Step 3: In the new window displayed, click View > Category in the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Click System and Security > Windows Tools.
Step 5: Right-click Registry Editor in Windows Tools and select Run as administrator.
Open Registry Editor from Task Manager
Task Manager includes a Run new task option that also allows opening many tools. When this option is selected, the Create new task window will appear, which is similar to the Run dialog box. This is how you can select Task Manager’s Run new task option to launch Registry Editor.
Step 1: Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete , then select the option, then select the Task Manager
Step 2: In the new window, access the menu File> Run new task.
Step 3: Enter regedit in the Open box, then click the Create this task with administrative privileges option and click the OK button button to launch the Registry Editor.
Open Registry Editor with Windows Terminal
You can use both Command Prompt and PowerShell in Windows Terminal to activate Registry Editor. So Windows Terminal provides another way to launch Registry Editor.
Step 1: Press the Windows + X key combination to display the Power User menu. Next select Windows Terminal (Admin) in the displayed menu.
Step 2: Click the Open a new tab button to select Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
Step 3: Type regedit command in Command Prompt or PowerShell and press Enter.
Open Registry Editor from the context menu
You can add a Registry Editor shortcut to the context menu when you right-click on the desktop. Once done, you can open the Registry Editor by right-clicking an empty space on the desktop and choosing from the menu that appears. To do this you need to edit the registry by .
Step 1: Open Registry Editor using one of the methods above.
Step 2: Navigate to Computer > HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > Directory > Background > shell key in a new window.
Step 3: Right-click the shell key > New > Key.
Step 4: Enter Registry Editor to name the new key. Then right-click on the newly created Registry Editor key and select New > Key.
Step 5: Enter command to name the newly created key. Then in the right pane of Registry Editor, double-click the (Default) key.
Step 6: Type “C:\Windows\regedit.exe” into the Value box as shown below.
Step 7: Click the OK button to apply the new value.
Step 8: Right-click on the desktop and select Show more options . You can then select Registry Key on the old-fashioned context menu to open it whenever needed.
Open Registry Editor with shortcut
Setting up a desktop shortcut for Registry Editor is another way to make the application more accessible. You can add a Registry Editor shortcut to your desktop by creating a quick shortcut following these steps:
Step 1: Right-click an empty area on the desktop and select New > Shortcut.
Step 2: Enter regedit in the blank box, then click Next button.
Step 3: Enter Registry Editor in the next empty box. Finally click the Finish button to finish.
Step 4: Now you can double-click the Registry Editor shortcut on the desktop to open this application whenever needed. Alternatively, right-click this shortcut and select Run as administrator.
Once you’ve added the Registry Editor icon to your desktop, you can pin this shortcut to the taskbar or Start menu for quick access. To do so, right-click the Registry Editor icon and select Show more options.
In the old-fashioned menu that displays, select one of the Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar options , respectively, to pin the app to the Start menu or taskbar.
Open Registry Editor with keyboard shortcut
Keyboard shortcuts are probably the most convenient and fastest way to activate Registry Editor when needed. If you set a Registry Editor shortcut on the desktop, you can assign a shortcut to it. You will then be able to open the Registry Editor with the Ctrl + Alt key combination.
Step 1: First, create a Registry Editor shortcut to the desktop as above.
Step 2: Right-click the Registry Editor icon and select the Properties option.
Step 3: Left click in the Shortcut key box to place the text cursor there. Then press the R key.
Step 4: Finally click Apply > OK button to save the shortcut.
Now just press Ctrl + Alt + R to bring up the Registry Editor. This shortcut will also always work as long as you don’t delete the assigned Registry Editor desktop shortcut.
So there are many different ways you can open the Registry Editor on Windows 11. You can open it through the Run dialog, Control Panel, search engine, Windows Terminal or Task Manager. In addition, you can set up a context menu, shortcut or shortcut to quickly open the Registry Editor when needed.
