On Windows 11, you can disable registry tools if you don’t need access to them. The Registry Editor tool in Windows lets you change advanced settings even when they are not directly available in the Settings or Control Panel application. It is a valuable tool for any professional or seasoned Windows user. However, depending on who and how it’s used, it can be a double-edged sword. For example, a simple misconfiguration in the registry can crash your system, make it unbootable, or cause data loss.
This tutorial shows two easy ways to disable the registry editor on Windows 11 and block users from accessing the registry tools. Whether you’re a security-conscious user or managing shared systems, this tutorial will help secure your system against unwanted or unintended registry changes. Let’s get started.
Command to Disable Registry Editor
The easiest way to disable the registry editor on Windows 11 is by running a command. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Open the Windows Terminal application as admin. You can right-click on the start icon and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
Step 2: Click the Yes option in the UAC prompt.
Step 3: Run the below command. You can copy, paste, and press Enter in the terminal window.
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
Step 4: After running the command, close the terminal window.
Step 5: Restart your computer.
Once the system has been rebooted, the registry editor is disabled on Windows 11. If you are wondering, the above command creates a couple of keys in the Registry and sets their value data to 2. This will disable registry tools on Windows 11.
Disable Registry Editor from Group Policy
Windows 11 Pro users can use the Group Policy Editor to disable Registry Editor. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Open the Run window with Win + R, and enter “gpedit.msc” in the empty field.
Step 2: Click on the OK button.
Step 3: Go to the User Configuration folder in the Group Policy Editor.
Step 4: Next, navigate to the Administrative Templates > System folder.
Step 5: On the right panel, double-click on the Prevent access to registry editing tools policy.
Step 6: Choose the Enabled radio option.
Step 7: Press the OK button to save policy changes.
Step 8: Close the policy window.
Step 9: Reboot your Windows 11 computer.
After restarting the computer, the policy change will automatically disable the Registry Editor. If anyone tries to open the registry editor, the user will get the “registry editing has been disabled by your administrator” error message.
Enable Registry Editor on Windows 11
If you want to enable the disabled registry editor follow the steps given below:
Via command
If you disabled registry tools using a command then open Windows Terminal as admin and run the below command in it.
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 the Group Policy Editor
Open the Group Policy Editor using the gpedit.msc run command or by searching for Edit Group Policy in the Start menu. Next, go to the User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System folder, double-click on the “Prevent access to registry editing tools” policy, select the “Not configured” option and click on the OK button. Finally, restart your computer.
That is it. I hope this tutorial helped you disable the registry editor on Windows 11.
If you are stuck or need help, send an email, and I will try to help as much as possible.
