How to clean the Windows 10 Registry

• In order to keep Windows 10 PCs running smooth, you have to do regular maintenance.
• One of the ways you can do this is to clean the Windows 10 registry with a third-party tool.
• If you want to learn how to clean registry Windows 10 manually use the regedit command.
• You should also create a restore point before starting to revert to the original state of the registry.

We all know that in order to keep our Windows 10 computers running smooth and fast, we have to do regular maintenance and clean the files that are left from old software installations.

Today we’re looking at cleaning the Windows 10 registry of these leftovers. We highly recommend you use a third-party tool if you want to clean the Windows 10 registry.

These tools have been created with this purpose in mind, and they evaluate the registry keys and only delete the ones which are no longer in use.

Also, keep in mind that some registry entries that are still in use can get damaged, and a third-party software can sometimes fix them, so there is one advantage of using this method.

There are two ways in which you can do this: with the default Windows 10 tools or with third-party software that is dedicated to cleaning the registry of your computer.

Before we begin explaining how to clean your Windows 10 registry, a word of advice: be very careful if you delete anything.

If you don’t know what you are doing, then there is a big possibility that your programs and the operating system will no longer work properly. Follow these guidelines at your own risk.

We recommend creating a Restore Point before beginning and also, create a backup of your registry as it is before you start deleting entries.

How do I clean the Windows 10 Registry?

1. Use a third-party registry cleaner

2. Cleaning the Windows 10 registry with Registry Editor

1. Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit.
   
2. Now press Enter or click OK.
   

Alternatively, you can just use the Search bar by doing the following:

1. Click the Search bar and enter regedit. You can also open the Search bar by using the Windows Key + S shortcut.
   
2. Select regedit from the list of results.
   

Before you clean your registry, it’s advised to back it up. Removing certain entries from the registry can cause various problems to appear, therefore be sure to back up your registry beforehand. To do that, you need to follow these steps:

1. Go to File > Export.
   
2. Now select All as Export range. Enter the desired file name, choose a safe location and click on Save.
   

If any issues occur after you modify your registry, you can simply run the file you just created in order to restore the registry to its original state.

The best way to do this is to search for registry entries of software that you have uninstalled. Using the left side navigation panel, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER and then to Software.

Here, you will find a list of everything that is installed on your PC. Look for programs that you’ve uninstalled.

If you find any, simply select them and hit the Delete button on your keyboard. Also, you can use the Ctrl+F shortcut to search for a specific entry.

If you decide to go down this road, then you have to be very careful, as once you’ve deleted a registry entry, it’s gone.

There is no undo option here, so be very careful. If something does go wrong, you can back up the registry with the file that you created before you begin.

The Registry Editor is the Windows default tool for viewing and modifying the registry. However, this manual search is very time-consuming and filtering through the thousands of entries can be quite hard.

This is why we recommend using a third-party tool to clean the registry, as these will create a backup of the Windows registry before starting the cleaning process.

Why do we have to clean the registry

Registry entries are the footprints of everything you do on your computer. Every installed program, every webpage opened, every change you make creates a registry entry.

You can imagine how many of these registry entries exist if you consider that each and every operation you do on your computer makes its own registry entry.

While registry keys occupy next to nothing on hard drives, they do, however, make up for it in sheer numbers.

After some time of running Windows 10 and installing and uninstalling programs and apps, you end up with hundreds or thousands of registry entries that are completely useless.

The operating system still filters through all of them, even if they are not used anymore, and this process burdens it, as I’m sure every one of you has seen at one point when you open a folder that has hundreds of files, or when you copy multiple files.

We can clearly see that even with all the upgrades and improvements, Windows 10 can’t manage file systems that have a huge number of entries.

This is probably due more to hardware limitations than to the software, but even so, we can make it better.

Before you begin cleaning your Windows 10 registry

Make sure that there are no running programs on your computer. Close everything except the registry cleaning utility before you begin.

Active programs create and modify registry entries, so they might interfere with the scan, or they might even become damaged.

Also, while the scan or the repair process is running, don’t interfere in any way with the computer. Even a simple rename of a folder or a moved shortcut creates a registry entry and might compromise the entire process.

Some registry cleaning programs assess the risk of each registry and tell which of them are safe to modify or clean.

Keep in mind to select only those that the program says, and do not select any of the registry entries that are marked as risky to modify.

Also, if the registry utility that you use has an auto-delete feature, be sure to disable it. It is better that you have control over what entries should be deleted.

After the scan is complete, everything should be running smoothly, but if this isn’t the case, and certain software doesn’t work anymore, you should immediately restore the registry as it was before you modified it.

If the problem persists, you should use the restore point you created before starting to revert to the original state of the registry.

7 best registry cleaner tools for Windows 10 [2021 Guide]

• Using your PC on a daily basis can eventually lead to a build-up of residual files, so a registry cleaner is recommended.
• You may choose a registry cleaner for Windows 10 from our list to efficiently deal with residual data.
• Some of them are even available as portable software, so installing these tools isn’t a must. Take a look below if you like this idea.
• The best registry cleaners like the ones from our list optimize your PC with ease, so waste no more time.

1. Download Restoro PC Repair Tool that comes with Patented Technologies (patent available here).
2. Click Start Scan to find Windows issues that could be causing PC problems.
3. Click Repair All to fix issues affecting your computer’s security and performance

• Restoro has been downloaded by 0 readers this month.

Windows is a complicated operating system, but it is complicated only because of how customizable it is in terms of its behavior.

You can practically change everything in Windows – that’s also why it falls prone to so many attacks. So where does Windows store all these settings? In the registry.

What is a Windows Registry?

In simple terms, Windows Registry is a database that exists within the Windows 10 operating system, and it is the place where all of the most important information is stored.

This includes, but is not limited to, information, user settings, and a variety of other parameters that affect both the hardware components and the software installed on your PC.

However, there’s nothing to gain about knowing what a Windows Registry is if you have no idea how to access it.

In order for your system to run impeccably, you need to make sure you aren’t dealing with broken registry items.

What is a broken registry item?

In simple terms, broken registry items are basically corrupted or deleted registries that affect the way your PC works.

Their existence can lead to a variety of problems, including frequent errors, the inability to open apps, driver issues and hardware unresponsiveness, BSoD errors, and more.

Broken registry items can be caused by frequent installs and uninstalls of software on your PC, or even tampering by those with not enough experience.

Fortunately enough, there are ways of tracking any changes that occur with your registries, and this can be done with the help of dedicated registry monitoring tools.

Alternatively, there are even ways through which you can undo registry changes altogether, and while these usually involve a certain degree of skill and experience, we laid the steps out for you in this step-by-step guide.

But when you have so many things to keep track of, the registry can get pretty messy after a while and you’ll end up having to clean up your registry.

Alternatively, if you feel like you might damage your PC more that you could do it any good, you can also employ the use of a registry cleaner.

What is a registry cleaner?

A registry cleaner is a third party software tool that helps you fix any damages that may occur to your registry database.

Most registry cleaners work by comparing your PC’s current registries to an online template or database of its own, and it basically replaces whichever entries it deems to be broken, missing, or of an incorrect value.

Our list will take you through some of the best Windows 10 registry cleaners out there. You can also read our post in which we show how to fix a corrupt registry on Windows 10.

Since you’ll be using third-party tools to change the registry files of your PC, make sure you know how to restore your registries by yourself in case something goes wrong, even without a backup.

20 BEST Free Registry Cleaners in 2021

Registry cleaner software cleans up your Windows registry. It removes redundant registry entries, which increase your PC’s speed so that it runs faster and without any errors.

Following is a handpicked list of Top Registry Cleaner tool with popular features and website links. The list contains both open-source (free) and commercial (paid) software.

1) Advanced SystemCare

IObit Advanced SystemCare is simple and easy-to-use software. It helps you to clean, speed up, optimize, and protect your system. It also allows you to protect your online privacy. This tool also helps you to free up your disk space by cleaning junk files.

Features:

• It manages startup items to boost computer startup.
• IObit Advanced SystemCare increase system security and refresh your web browsing.
• Drive Error Resolver & Repair windows
• Fix windows issues
• Single Click Removal of Software Leftovers.

2) Iolo System Mechanic

Iolo System Mechanic supports a personalized report detailing problems and list of recommended fixe. This tool improves PC boot time, Internet download speed, CPU performance, drivers, and RAM.

Features:

• It automatically increases the speed of CPU, hard drive, and RAM.
• Finds an unwanted startup program that slows down your computer.
• It detects and repairs more than 30,000 various problems.
• Optimizes hidden Internet settings for faster page loads
• Safely wipes browsing history and patches windows security vulnerabilities, which may harm your computer.
• Removes over 50 various junk files and free up disk space.

3) Restoro

Restoro is a software that helps you to clean your registry with no hassle. This application can stop the computer from freezing and crashing. It can quickly secure and safely repairs your computer to an optimized state.

Features:

• Restoro can fix error messages.
• It allows you to repair damages made by the virus.
• Provides convenient PC repair at any time.
• This application can repair and rebuild Windows OS
• It can restore and replace DLL files.
• Detects dangerous websites
• Free precious disk space
• It can find threatening apps before they damage your PC.

4) CCleaner

CCleaner clears your online tracks, frees up space, and helps you manage your machine, so it runs faster. It is a simple tool to clean the registry and maintain your PC.

Features:

• It provides standard privacy protection.
• The software product optimizes your Internet speed and your computer.
• This tool faster startup and provide better performance.
• Customize cleaning according to your business needs
• Boost security and stay compliant

5) AVG TuneUp

AVG TuneUp is a free registry cleaner software that speedup and cleans your computer. This tool helps you to update your software, fix annoying problems, and removes bloatware.

Features:

• The tool removes broken shortcuts.
• It removes your registry.
• Avast cleanup automatically updates your applications.
• It provides a quick overview of computer health.
• It detects and removes unwanted third-party toolbars and ads.
• The patented tuneup method puts all resource-draining applications in sleep mode.

6) WiseCleaner

Easy pc optimizer is easy to use system maintenance tool that securely cleans up unusable files boost your computer speed up the performance. It also provides many custom selection options that allow you to clean up files they do not need.

Features:

• Cleans Internet History and Other Traces on available your computer, so it protects your privacy.
• Increase computer performance by defragging and rearranging files on your hard disk.
• It scheduled automatic disk cleaning.
• Automatically update software.

7) Defencebyte

Defencebyte Computer Optimizer is a Registry Cleaner tool that encapsulates comprehensive technologies. It helps you to examine computer glitches and registry malfunctions. The tool also helps you to block all unwanted URLs.

Features:

• Systematize scan scheduling.
• It remarkably cleans up the PC’s registry to free hardware space.
• Remove invalid paths/programs.
• Delete useless file extensions.
• Empty registry keys.

8) CleanMyPC

CleanMyPC software product keeps your PC clean and running like a new one. It scans your computer system to boost its speed, clean up junk files, and increase its performance.

Features:

• With a few clicks, you can find useless files and removes them securely.
• It allows the user to clean the registry on your computer.
• Uninstall the Windows apps in the right way along with their leftovers.
• This tool provides an easy way to speed up computer startup.
• It identifies add-ons that are not needed and turn them off.
• CleanMyPC maintains your online privacy.
• You can easily get rid of the hibernation files.

9) WinUtilities

WinUtilities Pro is a system utility software. It is easy to use and provides an effective solution to improve your computer’s performance. It cleans disks from information that reduces the performance of your system.

Features:

• This tool deletes all traces of activity on your PC.
• You can add a password to protects your executable files.
• Effectively manage the memory of windows.
• It manages your Windows settings.
• Boosts PC speed and fixes frustrating errors, crashes, and freezes
• Protects your privacy and wipe sensitive internet and chat history.
• With this software, you can schedule the cleaning task.

10) SlimCleaner Free

SlimCleaner is a PC optimization tool that enables your PC to increase better program response time. It helps you to manage more space and fewer unwanted programs. It has a performance mode and power management mode to optimize your computer.

Features:

• Slimware Cleaner provides up to date information, ratings, and recommendations from users.
• You can remove unnecessary junkware and files which take up space and compromise your privacy.
• It helps you to scan your PC with just one click.
• The tool has a power management mode to manage power occupied by your computer efficiently.
• It has a performance boost mode to improve the performance of a computer.
• SlimCleaner provides unwanted startup items alert.

11) jv16 PowerTools

Jv16 PowerTools is a software that works by cleaning the Windows registry, unwanted files, and data. This tool helps you to fix system error automatically and applies optimization to your PC. The tool enables you to uninstall any software and remove its leftovers.

Features:

• It speeds up computer startup.
• The tool scans your Windows registry and all your hard drives for data related to currently installed software.
• It is designed to scan your computer for temporary files, leftover files from the software you have already uninstalled.
• It can be used in various languages like English, Dutch, Deutsch, Francis, etc.

12) JetClean

JetClean is a lightweight and easy to use registry cleaner tool. The software helps you to removes system junk files and improves your PC performance. The tool helps you to clean your unwanted damaged file history in a fast and reliable way.

Features:

• Cleans junk files and unneeded registry entries
• Improves PC performance
• You need very little space in your computer
• Helps speed up PC startup by rearranging applications
• Reduces system errors and crashes

13) Argente Utilities

Argente registry cleaner supervises your computer and continuously searching problems in your system. This tool also allows you to remove e files and applications.

Features:

• Schedule tasks without your intervention.
• Remove malware and clean your traces.
• It offers higher speed and stability.
• It helps you establish a better configuration.

14) Auslogics Registry Cleaner

Auslogics Registry Cleaner is a tool that checks your entire system and locates junk files. It also reduces speed as well as limits software crashes. The tool allows you to clear junk files, temporary files, unused error logs, web browser cache.

Features:

• You can clean It adjusts internet connection settings for smooth browsing and faster downloads.
• It eliminates traces of your activity and protects your sensitive information.
• Detects and removes issues in real-time and keeps your system running at top speed.
• Automatic memory and processor management

15) Registry Repair

Glarysoft registry cleaner analyzes more than a dozen of different areas in your registry. It can identify various kinds of system and registry errors. The tool also creates a backup copy every time you repair the registry.

Features:

• Highly intelligent engine when finds invalid registry entries.
• High scanning speed with detailed results.
• Create backups of any registry change made.
• Improve system performance and stability.

16) EasyCleaner

EasyCleaner is a multi-featured system maintenance software that cleans your Windows’ registry for entries that points nowhere.

Features:

• Multi-Feature system maintenance app
• It helps you boost the performance of your computer
• Keeps a Backup File of All Your Deleted Registry
• Easy to Use and Customizable

17) TweakNow RegCleaner

TweakNow is free to use RegCleaner. It is the fastest and the most reliable registry cleaner program. It is recommended to clean your Windows registry periodically.

Features:

• RegCleaner helps you to scans your registry to find obsolete entries.
• This tool accurately identifies obsolete entries.
• It helps you to creates a backup file before deleting obsolete entries from your registry.
• Added support for Windows 10.

18) REGISTRY LIFE

Registry Life is a PC cleaner tool that allows you to correct errors in the registry and optimizes it. It is a compact, simple to use, and FREE solution for servicing your system registry.

Features:

• Free and open-source tool registry cleaner tool
• Repairing Registry Errors with Registry Life
• The tool also offers utility to defragment and compress the registry

19) Vit Registry Fix

Vit Registry Fix is a free to use system cleaner programming for cleaning the registry from errors. The tool helps you to find and remove junk files on disks and clear history list.

Features:

• A powerful automatic search of errors
• Manual cleaning program settings
• Helps you to create a full backup and before removing errors
• Optimizing files of the registry
• Managing Windows Startup and uninstall software
• Working in a portable mode on removable drives and others

❓ What are registry cleaner tools?

Registry cleaner tools are applications used to remove duplicate items from the Windows registry.

⚡ Why use registry cleaner?

Registry cleaner software cleans up your Windows registry. It removes redundant registry entries, which increase your PC’s speed so that it runs faster and without any errors.

❗ What are the general features of registry cleaners?

The general features of registry cleaners are:

• Fix windows issues
• It helps you to reduce system crashes.
• Removes over 50 various junk files and free up disk space.
• It helps you to scan your PC with just one click.