An untidy or cluttered Registry, that is, the registry directory within the Windows system, can lead to slow computer operation. A damaged registry hive may result after a power outage or another unforeseen shutdown while files are being saved. When you remove apps that include malware and viruses, such as those for unlicensed games or bookies (you will not experience these issues if you install apps from online betting sites in Japan), the Windows registry can become corrupted. To fix the registry issue, empty data blocks and invalid entries must be removed to clean your windows registry.
Since most of us do not enter the Registry Editor very often, probably because of all this, the registry directories remain cluttered, which can lead to various problems.
However, over time, your registry accumulates invalid, outdated, or even missing registry keys, which impair your computer’s performance. You may even get the occasional error message. With the use of Windows tools and some third-party tools, you can quickly and very easily clean the Windows registry. The methods we will describe below work on Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems, and can help you fix Windows issues and optimize system performance.
What Causes Errors within the Registry?
If you do not have any problems right now, you may not think that cleaning the registry is important. But as you install and uninstall applications and hardware, new registry entries are created. This includes Windows updates. However, they are not always completely removed when you uninstall applications and hardware or make other system changes.
This causes your computer to look for hardware and applications that go with these entries. The more it builds up, the more likely you are to have problems. Cleaning your registry every few months helps prevent problems.
It Is Always a Good Idea to Create a Backup before Cleaning the Registry
Before you perform the task to clean your windows registry, it is always a good idea to back up the registry, just in case something goes wrong. While the methods on this list are usually safe, it is better to be careful, especially if you opt for the manual method.
- Press Win + R and type “regedit” to open the registry editor.
- Select the “File” menu and select “Export”.
- Choose a location and name for your file. Also, select “All” for your export range to back up the entire registry. If you change a certain part, you can easily make a backup copy of that part.
It is a good idea to store a backup on a flash drive or external hard drive just in case something goes wrong during the cleanup. If you need to restore a backup, open the Registry Editor again and select “Import” from the File menu. Select your file and you are done.
Use Disk Cleanup
The easiest way to clean the Windows registry is to use the built-in Disk Cleanup utility, which is also great for cleaning up excess files from your hard drive. It is not for the registry, but it can complete the removal of leftovers from applications and drivers. When he removes these files, the corresponding registry entries are often deleted as well.
Open Start and type “Disk cleanup”. Select the Disk Cleanup tool result that appears.
The tool automatically starts the scan. When done, click “Clean up system files”. The tool runs a second time, giving you some additional scanning options. Check all the options you want. You can actually check them all out. Just make sure you do not have anything in the trash that you want to keep first. Press OK to clean up the system.
Use DISM
DISM, which stands for “Deployment Image Servicing and Management”, is a built-in Windows tool used to fix updates and system errors. It can also help fix problems related to broken registry entries. Although it is not a complete registry cleaner, it can improve the health of your registry.
- Open Start and type cmd. Select “Run as administrator” under Command Prompt or “Command Prompt”.
- Enter the following: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
- The scan finds and cleans errors. All of this will not be associated with your registry. The good part is that it can help your computer run better by fixing problems you didn’t even know you had.
Use CCleaner
CCleaner has been a popular computer cleaner for years. From clearing cookies and temporary files to help you manage startup options, it does a little bit of everything, including cleaning your registry. Even better, you can back up your registry before cleaning, which is a good idea.
Use Wise Registry Cleaner
Wise Registry Cleaner is a free, resource-friendly Windows registry cleaner. It offers three modes, although Quick Scan usually works best for most users.
There is a premium version available, but the free version handles almost everything you need. The premium version offers scheduled cleaning. If you are sticking with the free version, just make a note that you will be using it every few months.
Use the Auslogics Registry Cleaner Tool
Auslogics Registry Cleaner has a long history of efficiently cleaning the registry directory inside Windows computers. The free version provides a basic scan, which is often enough for most users. However, you can upgrade to the premium version for notifications and deeper scanning and cleaning. You can preview all entries before deleting anything, giving you complete control. However, the tool will only select safe entries for deletion.
Manually Deleting the Registry Directory within Windows
If you know how to use the registry and know exactly what you need to remove, you may not need a registry cleaner tool or application. Manually removing entries is a good option if you have installed several different programs or apps to try and want to make sure they don’t leave traces in your registry.
- Open the registry editor by pressing Win + R and type “regedit”. Confirm that you want to open the Registry Editor.
- Either go to the key or entry you want to delete or search for related keys by right-clicking on any file and selecting “Find”. You will typically find keys related to apps and programs in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, and HKEY_USERS files.
- Right-click on any key or file and select “Delete” when you find what you need to remove. The exact keys and files will vary greatly depending on what you are trying to clean up. Remember, this is final and you can’t get back what you deleted without recreating the key. Consider taking screenshots of what you are deleting, in case you ever want to restore your entry keys.
Are Registry Cleaners Safe to Use?
In general, registry cleaners are safe but only use reputable and well-known cleaning tools. Some are just malware in disguise or promise to speed up your PC only to slow it down, just like phone cleaner/booster apps. If you are not sure if the registry cleaner is safe, scan the app’s download URL with VirusTotal. You can also use your favorite search engine to search for “is cleanername safe” to see what other users think about it.
