How to create Registry backup on Windows 10

When you need to modify the Registry on Windows 10, create a backup first if something goes wrong and you need to revert the changes.

Backup Registry using System Restore on Windows 10
  • To create a backup of the Windows 10 Registry, open System Restore and click on Create.
  • The restore point will include a copy of the Registry.
  • To restore the Registry form backup, open the System Restore wizard and select the restore point.

On Windows 10, changes to the Registry can cause issues and prevent your computer from starting correctly. Even if you know your way around, a Registry backup can help restore the original settings if something goes wrong.

The Registry has been part of Windows for a long time, and it’s a hierarchical database that stores low-level settings of the operating system and those applications designed to use the Registry.

Usually, modifying this database is not a good idea, but the time may come when you’ll have to add or edit specific keys to fix something or tweak the operating system. Having a Registry backup can help restore your computer to a working condition when this day comes.

There are many ways to create a backup of the Windows Registry, but the quickest and easiest way is by using System Restore.

System Restore is a tool built-in on Windows 10 (and in older versions) to let you revert the state of your device to a previous point when everything worked correctly. When you create a restore point, the tool will make a backup of system files, installed applications, system settings, and a backup of the Registry. Then you can use the same tool to restore your device to a working condition.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to create a Registry backup on Windows 10 using System Restore and restore the database even when you can’t boot your computer.

Create Registry backup on Windows 10

To create a backup of the Registry on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Start on Windows 10.

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

  3. Under the “Protection Settings” section, select the system drive and click the Configure button.

    System Restore point settings

  4. Select the Turn on system protection option.

    Turn on system protection

  5. Click the Apply button.

  6. Click the OK button.

  7. Click the Create button.

  8. Confirm a name for the restore point. You can use any name, but make it descriptive – for example, “Before changing taskbar settings.”

  9. Click the Create button.

    Create System Restore point

  10. Click the Close button.

  11. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, you can modify the Registry, knowing that you can always revert to the previous settings.

Restore Registry backup on Windows 10

There are at least three ways to restore the Registry using the System Restore feature. If you still have access to your computer desktop, you can restore the database to its previous state using the System Restore while the operating system is loaded. If the computer doesn’t start correctly, you can use the recovery tool in Safe mode or the Advanced Startup settings.

You can follow this guide to get the instructions to boot in Safe Mode. Then you can continue with the steps below.

If you can’t boot your computer, use this guide to access the Advanced startup options on Windows 10. While in the Advanced startup options, click System Restore, and then continue with the steps below on step 4.

To restore the Registry from backup on Windows 10, 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

  4. Click the Next button.

    Restore System Files and Settings wizard

  5. Select the restore point to restore the Registry to an earlier version.

    Select available restore points

  6. Click the Next button.

  7. Click the Finish button.

You’ll also need to restart your computer to complete the process.

Using restore point won’t affect any of your files, but it will restore a previous version of the Registry; system settings and system files and applications you may have installed since the last backup will be removed.

About the author

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 14 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 20 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.