How to backup (and restore) the Windows 11 registry?

classic35mm · Apr 23, 2024

I'm new to Windows 11 (I'm running 23H2, 22631.3447).

I'm thinking about downloading and installing Winaero Tweaker, a third-party customization tool that I think makes changes to the Windows 11 registry.

I would like to backup the Windows 11 registry before I install Winaero Tweaker, in case it makes registry changes that cause problems. How do I backup the registry? And how can I restore that registry in case something goes wrong?

I see a tutorial on how to enable automatic backup of system registry upon restart, but how do I perform a one-time backup of the registry?

Ghot · Apr 23, 2024

classic35mm said:
but how do I perform a one-time backup of the registry?

You open regedit.exe and right click "Computer" and choose: Export.
Save this as a .reg file.

To import this, if needed... just double click the previously exported .reg file

x BlueRobot · Apr 23, 2024

It depends on which hive you intend to backup, the registry isn't one hive, it consists of multiple which are usually part of the %systemroot%\System32\config directory. The easiest option is just do a complete image backup using something like Macrium or install that software in a test virtual machine.

classic35mm · Apr 23, 2024

x BlueRobot said:
The easiest option is just do a complete image backup using something like Macrium or install that software in a test virtual machine.

Thank you for the input! How do you recommend I create a test virtual machine? (I consider myself a decent Windows user, but I'm not a power user, and I don't work in IT.)

classic35mm · Apr 23, 2024

Ghot said:
You open regedit.exe and right click "Computer" and choose: Export.
Save this as a .reg file.

Thanks for your help. Does this method export all registry hives or just specific ones?

Wisewiz · Apr 23, 2024

classic35mm said:
Does this method export all registry hives or just specific ones?

The whole registry.
Just do exactly what @Ghot said.

andrew129260 · Apr 23, 2024

classic35mm said:
Thank you for the input! How do you recommend I create a test virtual machine? (I consider myself a decent Windows user, but I'm not a power user, and I don't work in IT.)

If you have windows 11 pro, you can use windows sandbox or hyper v to create a virtual machine.

If you dont have windows 11 pro, you can use the free vmware player or virtualbox to create a windows virtual machine and play around with the software. You would need to download a windows 11 iso from here to create a virtual machine. If you like tweaking and want to mess with stuff further in the future, try it in a virtual machine instead of your own. It is a great way to learn.

Having said that, winaero tweaker is pretty safe and has a backup function built into the program you can use under settings. So you can backup the changes that have not been made and then restore to the point before you changed anything.

You can also create a system restore point before installing the program or changing settings.

Create System Restore Point in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to manually create a restore point in Windows 11. Turning on system protection for a drive allows System Restore to include the drive when restore points are created so you can undo undesired system changes by reverting to a previous point in time. System...

www.elevenforum.com

Or you can go with @Ghot Suggestion on post 2

Ghot · Apr 23, 2024

classic35mm said:
Thanks for your help. Does this method export all registry hives or just specific ones?

It exports whatever item you right click.
Computer does the whole registry.
You can also right click on a Hive, and a Key as well.

But like others have mentioned... 3rd party backup software is really the best option.
Anything that backs up Windows, backs up the entire registry as well.

I have this in a text file called: NEW Guy stuff.

Here's some other things that may help...

Quickie Eleven Forum Setup Guide for new Members

Quickie Interface tour... Quickie set up... At the top right, click on your name, then choose "Preferences". Then go through everything on the left side. Quickie navigation... Click Forums and choose a subforum, OR... Click Forums, then New Posts or What's New Ranks, Trophies...

www.elevenforum.com

Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper and Hasleo Backup Suite - GUIDES

How to use backup software... 1. When everything is working perfectly... make a full Windows backup. 2. Then, if something breaks... restore from the latest backup. 3. Then... try "whatever you were doing" a different way. If it still breaks Windows, then... go to step #2. 4. Repeat...

www.elevenforum.com

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials section. Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are...

www.elevenforum.com

FreeBooter · Apr 23, 2024

You can backup registry with attached bath script it will create a C:\Registry_Backups folder to backup registry hives but only way to restore these hives are from Recovery Environment using Copy command.

SIW2 · Apr 23, 2024

regbak

freeware from acelogix https://www.acelogix.com/downloads/regbak.exe

SIW2 · Apr 23, 2024

Flashorn · Apr 24, 2024

Just to add my 2 cents, If you are to use System Restore at any time and for whatever reason.
make Sure to exit or deactivate any security software or suite you have installed. Restore is
partial to this and will fail if not done.

zbook · Apr 24, 2024

classic35mm said:
How do I backup the registry? And how can I restore that registry in case something goes wrong?

This link may be useful:

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support

Explains how to back up the registry for restoration in case it gets corrupted in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, or Windows 7.

support.microsoft.com

SIW2 · Apr 24, 2024

To restore the hives, boot into another os or winpe and run the regres.cmd

x BlueRobot · Apr 24, 2024

The one caveat with the reg export method is that it will only backup the hives which have been loaded into Regedit. It won't backup any hives which are loaded when required such as COMPONENTS, DRIVERS and SMI. Those three are all used by Windows Update to an extent.

garioch7 · Apr 24, 2024

Another free option is the Tweaking.com Registry Backup program, available at Bleeping Computer. I have been using that for years, as well as doing weekly System Restores and full Macrium system images. Someone said you can never have TOO MANY BACKUPS!

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

How to backup (and restore) the Windows 11 registry?

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