Posted by The Windows Registry is a crucial hierarchical database that stores low-level settings for the Microsoft Windows operating system and various applications. It serves as a foundation for the kernel, device drivers, services, Security Accounts Manager, and user interface, and the Windows operating system heavily depends on it. The Registry stores all the information regarding the settings, options, and values for all programs and hardware installed on the system. Whenever a program runs on a computer, it accesses the Registry file to function correctly.
It’s important to note that if the Registry becomes corrupt, it may lead to the malfunctioning of the Windows operating system. Therefore, it’s critical to back up the Registry file before making any changes to your computer’s registry.
In this article, we’ll delve into how to create backup and restore Registry keys on Windows 11/10/8/7. Having a backup of the Registry is crucial, as it enables you to revert back to the original state if anything goes wrong. There are two methods to create a backup of the Registry, which includes taking a full backup of the Registry or individual keys only.
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How to backup the whole Registry on Windows 11/10/8/7?
Step 1. Press
Step 2. Type
Step 3. Click the
Step 4. If UAC (User Account Control) prompts, click the
Step 5. Then, click ‘File > Export‘ from the menu.
Step 6. It will prompt for location and name. Select the location and type a proper name for backup that can be remembered later, e.g., Full Registry Backup.
Note: Under Export range, leave the default option All selected.
Step 7. Finally, click the
Now, in a few seconds (depending on the Registry size), you will have a Registry backup on your PC.
How to restore the complete Registry on Windows 11/10/8/7?
If you have made some changes in Windows Registry and want to restore from the backup, you can do the following:-
Step 1. Press
Step 2. Type
Step 3. Click the
Step 4. If UAC (User Account Control) prompts, click the
Step 5. Click ‘File > Import‘ from the menu.
Step 6. Locate the Registry Backup File and click the
Now you can see the progress of Registry importing.
You can follow the steps outlined earlier to back up or restore the entire Registry. However, if you only need to back up or restore specific keys, that’s also achievable.
How to backup individual Registry keys on Windows 11/10/8/7?
Step 1. Press
Step 2. Type
Step 3. Click the
Step 4. If UAC (User Account Control) prompts, click the
Step 5. Navigate to the Registry file location which you want to backup.
Step 6. From the menu, select ‘File > Export.’
Step 7. It will prompt for the file name, write a helpful word that serves the purpose.
Note: Under the Export range, leave it to default to the Selected branch.
Step 8. Finally, click on the
How to restore individual Registry keys on Windows 11/10/8/7?
Step 1. Press
Step 2. Type
Step 3. Click the
Step 4. If UAC (User Account Control) prompts, click the
Step 5. Click ‘File > Import‘ from the menu.
Step 6. Locate the Registry Backup File and click the
Step 7. Now, you will get a prompt on the screen, “The keys and values contained in ……………….. .reg have been successfully added to the registry.”
That’s all! Now, you have successfully restored the registry backup file to its original location.
