This guide will list the steps to disable [and re-enable] Registry Editor on your Windows 11 PC. While the OS from the Redmond giant beholds a slew of nifty features up its sleeves, however, some of the more technical ones are hidden from normal users. This is where the role of the Registry Editor comes in handy. You could call it a powerhouse tool for tech enthusiasts, allowing them to unlock a slew of hidden tweaks and functionalities.
While it does sound great on paper, however, there could be a few instances wherein you would want to hide the Registry Editor on your PC. For instance, if you are in a professional workspace, then you might want your employees to only access the features that have been provided by the OS, and not tinker with the hidden functionalities. Likewise, if you are sharing your PC with someone else, then you wouldn’t want them to explore unchartered territory.
This is e because just a slight unintentional tweak or even an intentional one in the wrong direction might have an adverse impact on the overall functioning of the PC. Well, we have even seen instances of PC been ending up in a bricked or bootloop state and users had to re-setup it from scratch from the Windows Recovery Environment. So to avoid all these fiascos, your best bet is to put this feature back to its rightful place. And in this guide, we will show you how to do just that. Follow along.
How to Disable Registry Editor on Windows 11
There exist two different methods of getting this job done- via Command Prompt and using Group Policy Editor. We have listed both these approaches, go through them once and then try out the one that is in sync with your requirements.
Via Command Prompt
Head over to the Start menu, search Command Prompt, and launch it as an administrator. Then execute the below command and your task stands complete.
PowerShell Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System -Name DisableRegistryTools -Value 2 -Force;PowerShell Set-ItemProperty -Path HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System -Name DisableRegistryTools -Value 2 -Force
Via Group Policy Editor
- To begin with, enable Group Policy Editor on your Windows PC.
- Then launch Run via Windows+R, type in gpedit, and hit Enter.
- Then go to the following location from the left-hand menu bar:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System
- Now open the Prevent access to registry editing tools policy.
- Then select Enabled, choose YES under Options, and hit OK.
That’s it. These were the two methods to disable Registry Editor in Windows 11. Let’s make you aware of the steps to bring it back. Follow along.
How to Re-Enable Registry Editor on Windows 11
Via Command Prompt
Head over to the Start menu, search Command Prompt, and launch it as an administrator. Then execute the below command and your task stands complete.
PowerShell Remove-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System -Name DisableRegistryTools -Force;PowerShell Remove-ItemProperty -Path HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System -Name DisableRegistryTools -Force
Via Group Policy Editor
- To begin with, enable Group Policy Editor on your Windows PC.
- Then launch Run via Windows+R, type in gpedit, and hit Enter.
- Now go to the following location from the left-hand menu bar:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System
- Now open the Prevent access to registry editing tools policy.
- Select Not Configured and then click OK to save the changes.
That’s it. Registry Editor should now be up and running on your Windows 11 PC. Still, have any queries? Drop them in the comments section below and we will get back to you at the earliest.