We all love working on a computer that is fast enough to perform mid-to-high level operations at ease. However, this won’t be the case even on the most powerful processor if you skip Windows 10 checkups regularly. This is because numerous files keep piling up with time and ultimately make the operating system inoperable.
Though deleting junk files and performing SFC/DISM scans do speed up your device, these are not sufficient ones. In this tutorial, we will discuss how to clean Windows 10 registry that includes leftover files from old software installations. This is quite a simple and easy process to work upon. However, if you are not that tech-savvy, consider using third-party tools.
Tip: Make sure to create a system restore point and registry backup beforehand going to delete any entries on Windows 10 PC.
When we should clean the registry?
Whatever you do on your computer is all recorded and the related key-entries get modified inside the registry. Each and every operation that we perform has its own entries and are well-documented. A set of subkeys keep generating when users install new apps or even upgrade the Build version. As a result, Windows 10 becomes slow and insufficient to perform basic operations.
Well, these entries keep on expanding unless you think of otherwise. There might lie numerous files that you may no longer require as you have already uninstalled the program, stopped certain services, etc. In order to get rid of these useless files and make Windows 10 fast and efficient, one must clear the registry from time to time.
Create a backup of Windows 10 Registry
Since the registry is the most powerful tool in Windows 10, any incorrect configuration may drastically impact the operating system. So, before proceeding ahead, make sure to create a full backup of its current state. To do so, use these steps –
- Launch the Search window by pressing Win + S.
- Type “regedit” in the search bar, and double-click the top result.
- Once you are inside the registry editor, go to
File > Export.
- Under the Export Range, mark the checkbox – All.
- Next, browse to the folder where you want to save this file, put the desired Filename, and hit the Save button.
Note: Now that you have the required backup, follow the below guideline to clear Windows 10 registry. In case something goes wrong, right-click over the recently saved file and run it as an Administrator. Doing so will restore the registry to its original state.
What should not be done while clearing the registry?
Apart from creating a registry backup, there are certain things that you must ensure while clearing Windows 10 registries –
- Don’t make any changes to the installed programs on the computer.
- Make sure not to perform even a basic function like renaming or moving files.
How to clean Windows 10 registry
Here’s how to clean unused registry in Windows 10 –
- Press Win + X to invoke the Power menu.
- Select Run. Type “
regedit” and press Enter to launch the Run dialog.
To clear leftover files of uninstalled software on the registry, use these steps –
- Click to expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER followed by Software.
- Here, you may see a list of all programs that ever exist on your device. Look for the applications that are no longer running on your computer.
- Once located, right-click over this and hit the Delete button using your keyboard.
- If you do know about any particular program that you have recently removed, use the Ctrl + F hotkey to find such software.
- Make sure to double-check the entry that you are going to delete. Once you have pressed the delete button, there’s no going back.
After you make the necessary changes, restart your PC and see if it is running smoothly or not. If you do notice any changes, you may use the backup created earlier to access the registry. If you are not well-versed with how the registry works, you better use a third-party tool to attain this task.
