Registry Editor not opening or crashing in Windows, while uncommon, does happen to Windows users. When it does, you should see Registry Editor has stopped working error message.
Even though risky, the Registry Editor can fix many problems and works best when you already have a backup in place. In this post, we will offer solutions that can help you resolve the problem on Windows 11 and Windows 10 PC.
Why The Registry Editor Is Not Opening Or Crashing
The most common cause of this problem is when the Registry and its associated system files have corrupted. It is fairly common for system files to become corrupted, resulting in these errors. If the maximum length of your Registry key is set to 255 bytes, this may also cause a problem. It occurs because the Registry Editor continues to look for it, resulting in an endless loop leading up to a point where it crashes due to one specific key.
Fix: Registry Editor Not Opening Or Crashing In Windows
Now, we’ll discuss methods by which we can get rid of these error messages immediately. As we’ve already stated earlier, if your Registry Editor is not opening or crashing with the error stating “Registry Editor has stopped working”, there are five primary methods by which this issue can be resolved. We’ll discuss each way, including the steps to perform them correctly.
- Use The SFC Command
- Replacing The Registry Editor Executable
- Using The Group Policy Editor
- Manually Enabling The Registry Editor
- Resetting The PC
Let’s now try to understand each of these methods in detail.
1. Use the SFC command
SFC Scan can be very helpful if this issue happens because of the corrupted files. Even in any circumstances, if there’s an issue with the Registry Editor, first, you should perform a System File Checker Scan. Here’s the instruction on how you can run an SFC Scan:
- Open the Power User Menu by pressing the Windows + X keys together.
- Choose Windows Terminal (Admin) from the given list.
- When the Command Prompt opens, type SFC /scannow and press the Enter key.
- The scanning process will begin; wait till the scan is completed.
- Restart your computer after the completion of the scan.
Check to see if Regedit is working correctly; you can continue with your work if it is. If it’s still not working correctly and the problem persists, scroll down the list to see more advanced solutions.
2. Replacing The Registry Editor Executable
One of the best ways to solve this problem is to replace the Registry Editor executable. In this method, we’ll replace the existing Registry Editor with a functional one to see how we can fix the Registry Editor. This method is not very complex and can be easily performed with the steps given below:
- Go to another PC where the registry editor is working.
- Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows + E key, and go to the following address.
C:\Windows
- Copy the file on a USB drive, and copy it to the computer you have issues with.
- Now, open the Windows Terminal (admin), write the commands below, and press Enter.
takeown /f "C\Windows\regedit.exe" icacls "C:\Windows\regedit.exe" /grant "%username%: F
- Again, open Windows Explorer and go to the location C:\Windows
- Search regedit.exe
- After finding that, right-click on it.
- Select Rename, and finally, rename it to regeditOLD.exe
- Next, copy the regedit executable from the desktop and paste it into the original location, i.e., C:\Windows
- Restart your computer, and your Registry Editor should work perfectly fine for the final part.
This method may appear complicated, but the steps are not difficult to follow. As previously stated, this is one of the most effective ways to treat this problem. However, if you’re still having trouble, you can move on to the third method, which we’ll review now.
3. Using The Group Policy Editor
This method is especially for those facing the issue where the Registry Editor is not opening or somehow disabled. By using the Group Policy Editor, we can enable it again. Here’s how you can perform this action:
- Go to the Search box, write gpedit.msc, open the Group Policy Editor.
- Go to the following path.
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System
-
- There, find Prevent access to registry editing tools and open it.
- Check if it is Enabled. If it is, then set it to Disabled or Not Configured.
- Finally, restart your computer.
It can potentially fix the issue if the Registry Editor is disabled in the Group Policy Editor. However, if it wasn’t disabled, check further for more methods.
4. Manually Enabling Regedit
We can also tweak the Registry Editor so it can function correctly. You can even perform registry tweaks without even opening the Registry Editor in the first place. Here’s you you can do that:
- Open the Run utility by pressing Windows + R keys together.
- Copy and paste the following command:
REG add HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
- Press the Enter key.
- Attempt to open the Registry Editor again; hopefully, the problem will be fixed.
As simple as this method might look to you, it sure can fix your issue. Unfortunately, if you’re still stuck with your case, a final method will fix this issue permanently.
5. Resetting the PC
This method is for you if none of the preceding measures worked for you. Remember that this method should only be used if the previous methods have failed. Don’t try this method unless you’ve already tried the other methods mentioned. This method ensures the fix because when you completely reset your PC, you will have a fresh copy; thus, all errors regarding the Registry Editor will be fixed instantly. Here’s how you can reset your system safely:
- Open Windows Settings using Win + I
- In Windows 10: Go to Update & Security. There, choose Recovery
- In Windows 11: Go to System > Recovery
- Click on the option that says, Get Started under the Reset this PC, or Click on the Reset PC button
- Finally, please choose the option Keep my Files.
This method will completely reset your system while also safeguarding your essential data. This method should be sufficient for resolving the issue, but if the problem persists, you can completely reinstall the system. However, before taking drastic measures, ensure that your data is secure, as one wrong click can create havoc on your computer.
Conclusion
This article focused on resolving problems with the Registry Editor, such as when it fails to open or crashes while working on it. We’ve also listed the causes of this problem. We’ve also discussed a variety of solutions to this problem. Make sure to follow our methods in sequential order, starting with method one and working your way up to the final approach, as the complexity and severity of those measures vary. We hope this article was helpful to you and that your issue is fixed.
What Is Registry Editor Used For In Windows?
Registry in Windows is generally used for storing all the preferences and data relating to how each function or software is designated to work in Windows. The Registry Editor is used to tweak the information, often for troubleshooting or making changes to a Windows PC that cannot be made from the system settings.
Is It Safe To Use Registry Editor For Troubleshooting Issues On My Windows PC?
Yes, it is generally safe to use Registry Editor to troubleshoot issues with your Windows PC. However, one should do it cautiously since the Registry editor stores crucial information that can lead to more problems on your Windows computer if tampered with incorrectly.