If you don’t know, the Windows Registry is a centralized, hierarchical database used by the Windows operating system to store low-level settings for the kernel. It also keeps system settings, hardware configurations, user preferences, device drivers, services, Security Accounts Manager, user interfaces, etc.
Windows administrators or power users often use Registry Editor to change their operating system or fix a bug or tweak a configuration setting. However, Microsoft has not made many changes to the Registry Editor over the years to modernize the application, and many valuable features are missing that people may want. For instance, when turning on dark mode for your Windows 11 operating system, Registry Editor still uses a light theme. To use dark mode in this application, click on the Options menu and select Dark Mode.
Registry Explorer for Windows 11/10
The Registry Explorer is a freeware application that aims to modernize the registry editor with a handful of new features. It is a portable app which means there is no need to install it on your computer. After downloading, just double-click on the executable file to launch it. Once you run Registry Explorer, you will be greeted with a view of all the Registry hives, and you can expand to see their subkeys and values, just like the standard Windows Registry editor.
Here is the complete list of features in Registry Explorer:-
- Show the actual Registry (not just the standard one)
- Sort list view by any column
- Key icons for hives, inaccessible keys, and links
- Key details: last write time and number of keys/values
- Displays MUI and REG_EXPAND_SZ expanded values
- Full search (Find All / Ctrl+Shift+F)
- Enhanced hex editor for binary values
- Undo/redo
- Copy/paste of keys/values
When you open Registry Explorer, it starts in “Read Only Mode,” which prevents you from making changes until this mode is turned off. Since any wrong modification to the Registry could potentially cause your Windows system to be inoperable; hence we always recommend you back up the registry and create a system restore point.
In the Registry Explorer tool, you can use the search feature, which is more advanced than the standard Registry Editor, to find and display all search results in a single dialog box. Double-click the entry to automatically open a registry key or value from the search results.
Furthermore, if you prefer Registry Explorer to replace Windows Registry Editor as the default file handler for the .reg file, click Options on the menu bar and select Replace RegEdit.exe from the context menu.
Download Registry Explorer
You can download the latest version of Registry Explorer from GitHub.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the Windows Registry Editor is an essential tool for Windows administrators or power users, it lacks the modern features and customizability that many people may want. That is where Registry Explorer comes in, a freeware application that aims to modernize the registry editor with new features. With the ability to show the actual registry, sort list views, and use a more advanced search function, Registry Explorer is a useful addition to any Windows user’s toolkit. However, as with any registry editing tool, caution is always advised, and users should back up the registry and create a system restore point before making any modifications. You can download Registry Explorer from GitHub and take advantage of its features today.
