The change in the familiar work environment in Windows 8 and 8.1 has resulted in the fact that some actions that were never difficult in Windows 7 and XP began to cause problems for users. So, due to the lack of the usual Start menu, not everyone understands how to open the system registry. However, there are no fewer ways to launch the registry editor in the G8 - there are even more of them than there were in the G7. Here are five of the easiest ones.
Five Ways to Open the Registry Editor in Windows 8
Using the Run app
There are two ways to launch the Run program:
- through the context menu of the Start button in Windows 8.1;
- by pressing a combination Windows keys+R.
In the "Open" line of the window that appears, enter the command regedit and click OK.
The result of its execution will be the launch of the registry editor:
Using the command line
In Windows 8.1, Command Prompt is also opened from the context menu of the Start button.
In the console window, enter the already familiar command regedit and press Enter.
The Registry Editor will open.
Via Windows Explorer
You can open the registry editor in the same way as any other program - just by running its file.
From your desktop, open any folder, navigate to the C:Windows directory and double-click on the file regedit.exe.
Through search
You can access Search in Windows 8 and 8.1 from the following locations:
- context menu of the “Start” button (“Find” item);
- the Charms sidebar, which appears on the screen if you move the cursor to the lower or upper right corner and move it a little.
- start screen (magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner).
Enter in the search bar regedit, press Enter and run the found application.
With a shortcut
If you make frequent changes to the registry, you will find it convenient to launch regedit.exe using a shortcut. To create a shortcut on the desktop, enter the directory where the program is located (C:Windows), open the context menu of this file and select the "Create Shortcut" item.
Confirm your consent to place it on your desktop.
Now the registry editor will be launched by double clicking on the shortcut.
Using tiles on the home screen
From the same context menu that we called to create a shortcut, select the command “Pin to home screen”.
After that, a regedit.exe tile will be created on the start screen, clicking on which will open the program we need.
Third party programs for working with the registry
There are a lot of applications for editing the system registry. They differ from the built-in regedit utility in Windows 8 with registry optimization functions that are necessary to maintain high system performance. And this is the main purpose of such programs. Let's consider some of them.
Reg Organizer
Reg Organizer is a multifunctional operating system maintenance utility. Allows you to clean and defragment the system registry, manage startup programs, remove applications along with their remnants in the registry and on disks, apply various fine tuning etc.
One of the sections Reg Organizer resembles the regedit system utility - through it you can edit the registry manually.
This application can be used as a replacement for the built-in Registry Editor, but some of its features, if used incorrectly, can break the functionality of the system and programs. Therefore, Reg Organizer should be recommended only to experienced users.
Registry Booster
Registry Booster is another application that allows you to optimize your system registry for faster startup and Windows work. The program has only three main functions - checking, cleaning and defragmenting the registry, but everything, except for checking, works only after purchasing a license.
Registry Booster is designed for any user, including beginners. Fixes found problems automatically and does not allow you to manage this process manually.
RegScanner
Nir Soft's RegScanner utility is a handy replacement for the built-in registry editor, aimed exclusively at advanced users. Designed to search for data in the registry by a variety of parameters, including length and date last change. Found entries can be deleted immediately by first making them backup.
RegScanner is useful for cleaning the system after a virus infection and searching for remnants of uninstalled programs. Exists in 32- and 64-bit versions. Free.
Registrar Registry Manager
Registrar Registry Manager is an application similar to the built-in Windows Registry Editor, but far beyond its capabilities. It allows you to keep the registry in order on local and remote machines throughout the network. It has the functions of backing up and restoring data (both individual branches and the entire registry), cleaning, defragmenting, comparing registry keys and monitoring all changes.
Designed for advanced users and system administrators.
The Windows registry is a repository for all operating system settings on which the correct and correct operation of all software depends. All changes made are saved in it and often to solve many problems or to fight viruses you need to manually find desired parameter and change its settings.
It should be remembered that all changes made can drastically affect the further operation of your computer, and therefore they should be done only when you are confident in your actions.
To enter the registry to change Windows settings, you need to open a window with its directory tree. There are two options here, the first is to click "Start" - "Run" or the second, the key combination "Win + R". A small command line window will open on the screen, in it you need to register the following command - “regedit”. Then press Enter or OK.
Next, a registry will open in front of you, or rather a window in which you can search for software and system support and carry out, if necessary, changes in the settings of its work. 
Let's start with the latest Windows 10, and consider two options for accessing the registry.
Launching the Registry Editor - Method 1 for Windows 10
Click the "Start" button with the left mouse button (or the "Windows" key on the keyboard);
When the Start menu opens, type "regedit" (without quotes) on your keyboard;
At the top of the search menu, under the inscription "Best match", the item "REGEDIT - Run command" will appear, click on this item with the left mouse button;
If a confirmation window for starting the registry editor appears, click "Yes";
You will see the "Registry Editor" window, in which you can make changes to the registry itself.
How to open the registry in Windows 10
Launching the Registry Editor - Method 2 for Windows 10
Click the Start button with the right mouse button (or the keyboard shortcut Win + X);
In the menu that appears, select the "Run" item (these two steps can be replaced with one Win + R key combination);
In the Run window that appears, type "regedit" (without quotes) and click the "OK" button;
In the launch confirmation window, click "Yes";
The "Registry Editor" window will appear, and you can proceed to make changes.
You can clearly see how to enter the Windows 10 registry in this video:
How to open the registry in Windows 8/8.1
To launch the registry editor in Windows 8, you need to follow the same steps as in Windows 10, if you have version 8 and not 8.1, then you don’t have a Start button, so in the first step of the first method, press the Windows key and then follow the instructions above.
Detailed video instruction on how to enter the Windows 8 (8.1) Registry Editor:
How to open the registry in Windows 7
To open the Registry Editor in Windows 7, you need to follow similar steps:
Launching the Registry Editor - Method 1 for Windows 7
Type the command "regedit" (without quotes);
Click at the top of the menu, under the inscription "Programs" on the inscription "regedit";
Select “Yes” to the prompt to confirm the launch.
Launching the Registry Editor - Method 2 for Windows 7
Press the key combination Win + R on the keyboard (hold down the Windows key and, without releasing it, press the R key);
In the "Run" window, type the command "regedit" (without quotes) and click the "OK" button;
Confirm the launch of the registry editor with the "Yes" button.
Both ways to enter the Windows 7 registry editor can be seen in this video:
How to open the registry in Windows XP
In Windows XP, opening the Registry Editor is slightly different:
Launching the Registry Editor - Method 1 for Windows XP
Click on "Start" with the left mouse button;
In the right column, find the item "Run" (both steps can be replaced with a combination of Win + R)
In the "Start the program" window, write the command "regedit" (without quotes) and click the "OK" button;
Opening the registry in XP
Launching the Registry Editor - Method 2 for Windows XP (and not only)
Open File Explorer (you can use the keyboard shortcut Win + X);
Go to drive "C:";
Open the Windows folder;
Find the "regedit" file and run it.
And, of course, a video version of opening the registry editor in Windows XP:
The second method is suitable for all listed versions of Windows. Moreover, you can cheat a little:
Once you get to the "regedit" file, you can create a shortcut on your desktop and make it much easier to access the Registry Editor in the future.
Launching the editor There are at least 4 ways to invoke this utility:
Through the Explorer.
Search
Through the Run service. command line. It is not necessary to describe them all, since some require a certain level of knowledge and skills to use, but it would be inappropriate not to mention them. So let's get started.
Through Explorer
Open "My Computer", go to system disk(often it is C) and in the search bar we enter: regedit. After some time, which the machine needs to search, the same editor will be offered in the main part of the window. It remains only to open it and begin to perform the required actions. to content.
Through search
We move the mouse cursor to the right panel, where we select "Search" and set the same command as in the previous paragraph: regedit. Then double click Let's activate the application. The utility itself looks like this: READ ALSO What is virtual machine for Windows 8 and how to run it to the content.
Through the "Run" command
This option involves calling an intermediate component. We use the + [R] combination on the keyboard, after which we enter the already familiar Regedit.exe or without the “.exe” extension into the field and press .
1. Launching the registry editor using the "Run" utility.
I will not tire of repeating that the Run utility is one of the most convenient in Windows, with it you can easily and quickly launch the vast majority of system Windows utilities. In this case, this is done in two three steps:
1. Clamp Win keys+R
2. We write in the opened command regedit
We write in the opened command regedit
3. Click the OK button. Everything, the registry editor is running.
2. Using the search in the start menu
Here the complexity depends on the operating system, so in Windows 10 the search is right on the taskbar, just write regedit and open the search result.
In Windows 7, you need to open the Start menu and enter the same request at the bottom of it.
In Windows 8.x, open the start menu and click on the magnifying glass in the upper right corner.
And then we enter the search query. And launch the registry editor.
3. Using Windows Explorer
There is also nothing complicated here, open the explorer and go to the folder.
Scroll down and look for the regedit.exe file with your eyes. When found - we launch.
Using Task Manager
Here the principle is the same as in the first method, but more actions need to be done. We launch the "Task Manager". For example, right-click on the taskbar. And select "File" → "Run a new task".
In the window that opens, enter regedit and click OK.
5. Using the command line
We already know how to launch the command line, in our context it will be easiest to use the method through the context menu of the Start corner. And in the window that opens, enter regedit
The result of any of the five methods will be the launch of the Windows Registry Editor window.
In my articles, tips, and notes, I often refer the reader to the Windows Registry Editor. Many of them involve intensive work with registry keys and values. I suddenly realized that not all of my readers got their hands on working with this program, and some of them had never launched the Registry Editor at all. Therefore, I decided to write a small guide to this program.
Table of contents:
What is Registry Editor
The Registry Editor was historically created as a tool for users who need to change Windows settings that do not appear in user interface. The main function of this program is to view and change settings in the system registry, that is, in a set of special binary files that contain information about Windows configuration, and about almost all programs that are installed on your computer. Windows OS and many programs (with the exception of those that are so-called "portable", portable, in other words - do not require installation) store their settings in the registry.
How to start the Registry Editor
Method 1
Regardless Windows versions installed on your computer, this method will work:
Method 2
The Registry Editor executable is located in C:\Windows, which means that you can open this folder in Explorer and run the regedit.exe file with a mouse click.
Alternatively, you can create a shortcut to Regedit.exe and place it in the start menu/list Windows applications 8.x, to a folder
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
This will make Registry Editor visible in the results Windows Search, and will also allow you to launch the application with one click of the mouse.
General view of the Registry Editor
The registry editor looks like this:
As you can see in the picture above, it consists of two panels:
- the left one displays a hierarchical representation of the data structure, it is called sections (or keys);
- the right panel displays parameters. They are pairs name = data and are stored inside the keys.
What does Registry Editor show?
As I mentioned above, the editor shows us sections and options.
Sections are a virtual representation of data from several files that form registry database. You can see exactly which files represent the registry on your computer if you go to this section:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\hivelist
Here you can find a list of files on your hard drive that store registry data. The data inside them, as mentioned above, has a hierarchical structure, and the registry editor shows them in the form of a "tree". The roots of the tree (master keys) in the general case represent a specific file, to the data of which access is granted.
However, there are also virtual keys that appear in the registry editor as regular files, but in reality they are a representation of several files or even separate registry branches. They exist, as a rule, for backward compatibility. For example, HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG is a virtual view, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT is also a virtual view that combines the registry keys of the current user and system partitions.
Please note that some registry files do not appear in the Registry Editor window. For example, you will never see what is stored inside a SAM (Security Accounts Manager) file. In the registry editor, it is represented by the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SAM\SAM branch and is supposedly empty there. This is done for security reasons.
Registry settings used by Windows and many third party applications to store various configuration settings and some user data. Parameter values are various types, but in general they are text values/strings, numeric values, or binary values.
How to create a new registry key
To create a new key, right-click on the parent partition in the left pane and select Create -> Section from the context menu.
You must give the newly created section a name according to the requirements of the program for which you are creating it.
How to create a new setting
To create new parameter, you need to right-click
- on the current section on the left
or - in the empty space in the right pane.
Select suitable type for the new parameter and enter its name. Double click on the parameter name to set its value.
How to become the owner of a section and get full access to it
Just as the concepts of "permissions" and "ownership" apply to files and folders in file system NTFS, they also exist for registry keys. From the era of Windows Vista to the present day, most of the registry keys that store OS settings are protected by access control so that they cannot be easily removed or changed by the user. Sometimes you may need to change the data in such partitions, and for this you need to be able to change the owner of the partition and gain full access to it. To do this is quite simple.
How to restore TrustedInstaller as partition owner
Almost all system registry keys in Windows Vista, 7 and 8 have the TrustedInstaller account as their owner. After editing permissions on a partition, you must return ownership for this account, otherwise the operating system may not work correctly. To restore the TrustedInstaller property in Windows Vista, 7 and 8, type NT Service\TrustedInstaller in the "Enter the names of the objects to select" box. Click OK.
How to change permissions on a registry key
After changing the owner of a registry key, you almost always have to change the access rights, without this you will not be able to change the parameter values. To do this, you must switch to the Permissions tab in the Advanced Security Options dialog box.
Subsections may have so-called inherited permissions from its parent section. Alternatively, subkeys can also have explicit permissions other than the parent key.
In the first case, that is, if the permissions are inherited from the parent key, you must disable inheritance and copy the parent partition's permissions to the current key in order to be able to change them. To do this in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP, uncheck "Add permissions inherited from parent objects" and click the "Add" button in the confirmation dialog box.
After disabling inheritance, select the appropriate account user and click Change to change access rights.
Windows 8 has a dedicated button to disable inheritance:
Permissions can be set in two ways: after disabling inheritance, you can set them only on the current partition, or you can set permissions on the current key and then apply them to all of its subkeys. To do this, check the box Replace all permission entries of a child object with those inherited from this object. This action will push the permissions you set down the key hierarchy for all subkeys.
Registry Editor command line switches
Jump to the desired registry key with one click
Option number 1
Some time ago, I created a RegOwnershipEx utility that allows you to get full access to a registry key with one click. In addition, it allows you to go to the desired registry key. I recommend that you take a look at it. 
RegOwnershipEx allows the following:
- become the owner and get full access to the selected registry key. There is a registry browser window for easy key selection.
- favorites - for quick access to your favorite registry keys. It is integrated with the "Favorites" menu of the Registry Editor.
- restore the permissions and ownership that you changed earlier. those. The program allows you to return the rights to their original state.
- function "open in regedit" - you can open the selected key in the registry editor. This is a very handy option to quickly navigate to a section by simply copying its name.
- shortcuts for root partitions - you can use HKCU instead of HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKLM instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and so on.
- getting the registry path from the windows clipboard.
- command line argument "/j" to extract the path to the registry key from the Windows clipboard and quickly switch to the registry editor.
It's all damn convenient!
Option 2
I wrote a simple script that will get the contents of the clipboard, write it to the registry and open the registry editor. The following scenario is assumed: You are reading an article, it says - "go to the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion". You highlight the path to the section, press CTRL+C and run the script. Registry Editor opens in the right place. .
The Windows registry is a database of operating system settings that contains information and settings for all computer components: PC hardware, software, system parameters. In many cases, when working on a computer, the user needs to open Windows registry to perform operating system settings, change OS settings or installed applications.
The system registry, or Windows registry, contains all the necessary data to manage system settings and settings. Depends on the state of the registry normal functioning Windows operating system.
After making modifications to the registry settings, the configuration and settings of the system or programs installed on the computer are changed. To make changes or correct some settings, you must enter the registry of the operating system. The question arises: how to open the registry editor on a computer? How to enter the Windows registry?
In the operating room Windows system there is a special application Registry Editor (regedit.exe) for working with registry data. The built-in tool of the system, the Registry Editor program, is well suited for working with registry branches (the registry has a tree form). Separate files registers have different locations in operating system. Therefore, to make changes to the system registry, you should run the Windows Registry Editor on your computer.
Note:
- Incorrect or incorrect modification of registry settings can lead to malfunctions of the operating system. Because of this, the user will have to perform a system restore or reinstall Windows. Before editing the registry, follow the steps to return the system to working capacity in case of unsuccessful actions: backup the registry, create a system restore point, run backup system partition.
How to open the registry editor in different versions Windows operating system? There are several universal ways to enter the Windows Registry Editor in the same way in all versions of the operating system. In the article, we will additionally analyze how to enter the Windows 10 registry, how to enter the Windows 8.1 (Windows 8) registry, how to open the Windows 7 registry editor, for each system.
You can open the registry editor in Windows in the same way for different versions of the operating system using 5 ways:
- login using the Run dialog box
- launching the "regedit" file from the "Windows" folder in Explorer
- opening with command prompt or Windows PowerShell
- find the application using search on the taskbar or from the start menu
- launching the registry editor using a pre-created shortcut
First, consider the universal methods applicable to different Windows versions, and then look separately at additional methods for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7.
How to enter the system registry from the "Run" dialog box
Using the Run dialog to launch the Registry Editor works on all modern versions of the operating system: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
On the Windows operating system, do the following:
- Press the "Win" + "R" keys on your keyboard at the same time.
- In the "Run" window, in the "Open" field, enter the expression: "regedit" (without quotes), and then click on the "OK" button.
After that, the Registry Editor application window will open on the computer.
How to enter the registry on a computer from the Windows folder
Another way to enter the registry editor is to launch the application directly from system folder Windows on a computer. This method can be used in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
The only caveat: you need to be careful in your actions, as you will enter the folder with the operating system. Be careful what you do.
Follow these sequential steps:
- Open File Explorer on your computer.
- Go to the "C:" drive, open the "Windows" folder.
- Find and then double-click the left mouse button on the "regedit" application.
The system Registry Editor will open on your computer.
How to open the registry using the command line
You can start the registry editor from the command line.
Do the following:
- Run command prompt as administrator.
- In the command line interpreter window, type: "regedit" (without quotes), and then press the "Enter" key.
How to Enter the Registry Editor Using Windows PowerShell
The Registry Editor is launched from Windows PowerShell like this:
- Run Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
- In the PowerShell window, type: "regedit" (without quotes) and then press "Enter".
Create a shortcut to launch the Windows Registry Editor
If the user is not ready to take several steps each time to launch system application can make this task easier. To do this, you need to create a shortcut with which the registry editor will be launched on the computer.
Take the following steps:
- Run file manager Windows Explorer.
- open local disk"C:".
- Enter the Windows folder.
- Find the "regedit" application, right click on it.
- From the context menu, first select "Send to" and then "Desktop (create shortcut)".
- A shortcut will appear on the desktop of the computer to launch the Registry Editor system tool.
Now, you can easily open the registry editor by double-clicking the left mouse button on the application shortcut.
How to open the registry in Windows 10
Let's see how to enter the Windows 10 registry in a different way, using search. First we will find the application on the computer and then we will run the system tool.
To open the Registry Editor in Windows 10, do the following:
- On the taskbar, click on the search icon, or left-click on the Start menu.
- Enter on the keyboard the expression: "regedit" (without quotes), and then execute the command.
The Windows 10 Registry Editor is open and ready to make changes to the appropriate keys.
How to enter the registry Windows 8.1 (Windows 8)
Windows 8.1 (original) and Windows 8 do not have a Start menu, so some users find it difficult to search desired application on PC.
Windows 8.1 Update 1 has a built-in Start menu, so you can start searching for the registry editor on your computer in this way:
- Right click on the start menu.
- Select "Find".
- In the Search box, type "regedit" (without quotes).
- Launch the application.
Another universal way for Windows 8.1 and Windows 8:
- Move your mouse cursor down from the top right of the screen.
- In the sidebar that opens, click on the "Search" icon.
- In the search field, enter the expression: "regedit".
- Execute the command.
As a result, the Windows 8.1 (Windows 8) Registry Editor will launch on the computer.
How to open the registry in Windows 7
Now we will try to enter the Windows 7 registry. In the seven, in addition to the universal methods described above, there is another way to enter the registry editor.
In the Windows 7 operating system, to open the registry editor, do the following:
- Enter the start menu.
- In the "Search files and programs" box, type "regedit" (without the quotes).
- Launch the Registry Editor application.
Conclusion
If necessary, the user can enter the Windows Registry Editor to make changes to the system registry settings. There are several ways to enter the Windows Registry: using the Run dialog box, launching a system tool from a previously created application shortcut, opening the registry editor in the command line or in the Windows PowerShell entry, launching an application from the Windows system folder, searching for and launching the editor registry in different versions of the operating system.
Today the topic is dedicated to the eight. As is already known, the graphical interface has been greatly changed in this OS, and it was difficult for even experienced users to find familiar elements. For example, due to the redesign of the start menu, not everyone could, and there were many such situations. To make things easier for users, let's take a closer look at how to access registry windows 8 in several ways.
Remember, any changes made through the registry editor may adversely affect stable work your computer. Before editing, make a system restore point through which, in case of an error, you will return the PC to a working state. You can also make a copy of the registry key that you edit. After all the preparations, you can start running regedit.
Ways to open the registry editor in Windows 8
The first method uses a search. Press start, then you will be taken to the home screen. In this area, move all the way to the right, then click the magnifying glass icon, which is located next to the power control (shutdown) button.
Note: You don't have to go to the start screen, just press Win + W where you are now.
A panel with a search form will appear in front of you, where you will need to enter regedit.exe. After successful entry, press the Enter key or select Registry Editor from the list below.
If you see the UAC window, click yes. Thus, you can enter the registry on Windows 8.
In order not to enter the name of the editor file each time, I propose to make a shortcut to the regedit file in visible places. While typing the file name, when regedit appears in the list, right-click on it and select one of the following options:
- Pin to Home Screen - Editor Windows registry 8 is attached in the form of a tile on work area start screen.
- Pin to taskbar - The most productive of these two methods, the registry shortcut is placed on the taskbar.
The second method is to click on the context menu item. Windows 7 does not provide this feature, so in the previous article we added this item manually. Right-click on an empty spot on your desktop. IN open menu select the item called "registry editor".
In the third way it is necessary. This is done by pressing the Windows + R key combination, after which the familiar regedit.exe construct is entered into the line, then Enter or OK is pressed.
After completing 1 of 3 recommendations, you can enter the Windows 8 registry in a convenient way for you. All of the recommendations described can be used equally, and there is no clear leader here. Sometimes a picture emerges that after trying all the steps, the Windows 8 registry editor does not open, showing an error that, follow the link to fix the problem.