How to manually create a Registry backup on Windows 11

Windows 11 provides multiple ways to backup the Registry database, and here's how.

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@Pureinfotech
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Windows 11 Registry backup
Windows 11 Registry backup
  • To create an entire Registry backup on Windows 11, open System Protection, select the “C” drive, and click “Create.”
  • To manually create a backup of specific Registry keys, open the Registry Editor, select “Computer,” click “File,“ and select “Export.”

UPDATED 3/8/2024: If you are not careful when editing the Registry on Windows 11, many problems could occur, so it is critical to create a backup of the entire Registry.

The Registry is an essential component of Windows 11. It’s a hierarchical database that stores the operating system’s low-level settings and applications designed to use this database. You should never make changes to the system database. However, sometimes, modifying the database to fix problems or tweak settings you couldn’t do otherwise might be necessary.

If you plan to make system changes (that being to remove the Gallery page File Explorer, restore the legacy context menu, disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus, run programs during startup, etc.), Windows 11 includes at least two ways to create a backup and restore the Registry using System Restore and Registry Editor.

In this guide, I will explain how to create a backup of the Windows Registry and how to restore it.

Backup registry using System Restore on Windows 11

To create a backup of the Registry on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start on Windows 11.

  2. Search for Create a restore point and click the top result to open the app.

  3. Choose the system drive (C) and click the Configure button under the “Protection Settings” section.

    Protection settings on Windows 11

  4. Select the “Turn on system protection” option.

    Enable system protection

  5. Click the Apply button.

  6. Click the OK button.

  7. Click the Create button.

    Create Registry backup

  8. Confirm a name for the Windows 11 Registry backup.

  9. Click the Create button.

  10. Click the Close button.

Once you complete the steps, the system will create a restore point that includes system files, installed applications, system settings, and, more importantly, a backup of the entire Registry database. Then, you can use the same tool to restore your computer to a working condition.

Restore registry backup using System Restore on Windows 11

System Restore offers multiple ways to recover the Registry on Windows 11. If you can access the desktop, you can restore the database to its previous state using the System Restore app. If you don’t have access to the desktop, you can use the recovery tools to boot in Safe Mode or Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

You can use these steps to start the computer in Safe Mode and then continue with the steps below. If you can’t start the device, use these instructions to access the Advanced startup environment. Then go to  Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore, and continue with step 4 below.

To restore the Registry from a previous backup, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for Create a restore point and click the top result to open the app.

  3. Click the System Restore button.

    System Restore recovery

  4. Click the Next button.

  5. Select the restore point to restore the Registry on Windows 11.

    Select Registry backup

  6. Click the Next button.

  7. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, the computer may need a reboot to finish restoring the backup.

Backup Registry using Registry Editor on Windows 11

To create a backup by exporting the Registry database on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the app.

  3. Click on Computer on the left side.

  4. Click the File menu and select the Export option.

    Registry export to file

  5. Confirm a name for the Registry backup.

    Save Registry backup

  6. Click the Save button.

Once you complete the steps, you will have a “.reg” file containing the Registry backup.

Restore Registry backup using Registry Editor on Windows 11

To restore the Registry database on Windows 11 to fix problems, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the app.

  3. Click on Computer on the left side.

  4. Click the File menu and select the Import option.

    Import Registry from backup file

  5. Select the registry backup file.

  6. Click the Open button.

    Select Registry backup

  7. Restart the computer.

After you complete the steps, the backup will be restored, replacing the current database on Windows 11.

Update March 8, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].