Windows 10 Registry Editor Not Working? Here’s The Fix

The Windows 10 Registry is a database used by the operating system to store configuration settings for native programs, installed software, and hardware devices.

It serves as a central repository, making it a critical component for Windows 10. But what happens when things go wrong?

The built-in editor, known as Registry Editor, provides a graphical interface for browsing the Registry and editing its values and keys. You can fix errors and make changes that are not available through the regular Windows interface.

However, when Windows is significantly damaged even this can crash or fail to open at all. Common error messages include:

• The Registry Editor has stopped working.
• Registry editing has been disabled by your administrator.

Why does the Windows 10 Registry Editor stop working?

Registry Editor can stop working for many reasons. The most common causes include:

• Hardware issues – Issues with the hardware, such as hard drive failure or RAM problems can stop the registry editor from opening or freezing while in use.
• Issues with Windows Updates – If your PC crashes while updating Windows or the update is otherwise corrupted, this can damage the registry editor and other system files.
• Insufficient permissions – If you don’t have sufficient permissions to access the Registry Editor, the editor will not open.
• Group policy has been disabled – The Local Group Policy is a series of system settings that includes access to the registry editor. This might have accidentally been disabled.
• Malware – Some malware and viruses shut down access to important areas of Windows to prevent you from fixing it. The registry can be one such target.
• Broken Registry – When the Registry itself is significantly damaged, the editor may not work properly or fail to load altogether.

How do I fix the Windows 10 Registry Editor?

The fix you use to repair the registry editor in Windows 10 may depend on the cause. Here are the best solutions:

1. Use Administrator Permissions

If you are getting permissions errors, the obvious solution is to run the registry editor as an admin. To do this, either:

• Log out of Windows and log back in with the administrator account.
• Type regedit into the Windows search box, then right-click the Registry Editor app and select Run as administrator.

2. Enable the Group Policy

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open Run.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Go to User Configuration, then select Administrative Templates, and click on System.
4. Open the Prevent access to registry editing tools setting on the right.
5. Select the Disabled or Not configured option to turn off the prevention.

You may need to restart your computer for this to take effect.

3. Edit the Registry using Command Prompt

1. Use the Windows Search box and type cmd.
2. Right-click on the Command Prompt app and launch it as Administrator.
3. Type the following command and press Enter to run it: REG add HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem/ vDisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
4. Restart your computer.

If the registry is damaged, the key to use the editor may have been deleted. You can enable it using the Command Prompt.

4. Check the system files

1. Use the Windows Search box and type cmd.
2. Right-click on the Command Prompt app and launch as Administrator.
3. Type the following command and press the Enter key to run it: sfc /scannow
4. Wait for the process to complete then restart your PC.

When Windows system files that affect the registry are damaged, you can attempt to repair them using the System File Checker.

5. Perform a System Restore

1. Use the Windows Search box, type Restore and click on Create a restore point from the results.
2. Click on System Restore, then hit Next if you want to use the recommended restore point, or select the option below to Choose a different restore point.
3. If you use the latter, choose a date when you know the registry editor was working and go through with the restauration.

If you cannot seem to repair Windows and you do not know what’s causing the problem, a System Restore can help. This rolls back all system settings and configurations to a previous point in time.

However, for this to work you must have already made a restore point.

Automatically repair the Windows Registry Editor

Because most Windows 10 registry editor issues are caused by damaged system files or errors in the registry itself, Fortect can fix them automatically.

• Download and Install Fortect on your PC
• Launch Fortect and accept a system scan.
• Wait just a few minutes and check the results.
• Select the Broken Registry category to fix registry-related errors.
• Alternatively, click Start Repair to fix all Windows errors.
• Wait for the repair process to complete, restart your PC, and check if the Registry Editor is working.

Because Fortect solves all registry errors, you are unlikely to need the manual editor in the first place.

When the Registry Editor stops working in Windows 10, it often signals damage to the registry itself. Fortunately, there are several fixes to get things running again. In some cases, you simply haven’t enabled the right permissions.