Windows Registry is a database in the hierarchical form that stores crucial data and information about settings, hardware, and applications that use the registry. It plays a significant role in the Windows 10 system’s smooth functioning and is accessed by device drivers, Windows services, user interface, and Kernel. Therefore, one must know how to fix registry errors in Windows 10, in case of registry damages and issues.

Windows 10 operating system keeps on looking for registry whenever new software is installed, or an existing software is updated. If there are registry errors in Windows 10, you can experience issues like blue screen of death (BSOD), booting issues, and some function failures.

Note: Many reasons can cause registry errors in Windows 10. The section below highlights some of them. If you are only looking for how to fix registry errors in Windows 10, you can skip to the next section.

Reasons for Registry Errors in Windows 10

If the registry is not maintained correctly, one can land into unwanted registry errors in Windows 10. Sometimes, the damage is done accidentally by users, and other times some apps or viruses can cause broken registry items.

Many Windows 10 errors and issues are fixed by modifying registry values, but it is always recommended to back up the registry before making any changes. As some unwanted changes can damage the registry, and you won’t be able to boot Windows normally after that.

The virus and malware residing in your system can alter the registry and damage it. The registry errors can also be caused by orphaned registry entries caused by the leftover entry of uninstalled apps or software. Software update and uninstallation can cause duplicate registry keys and fragmented issues, resulting in registry errors.

If the system shutdowns abruptly, there can be issues with the registry. These are the common reasons one can experience registry errors in Windows 10. The below list of fixes can help you fix registry errors in Windows 10.

How to Fix Registry Errors in Windows 10

The registry errors can be easily fixed with the solutions mentioned below. If you can log in to the system, it is recommended to backup your Windows 10 device before moving onto solutions. And if you cannot boot the Windows system, you can perform the said steps to fix the registry error.

1. Use SFC Utility

You can fix corrupt system files and registry entries with SFC utility. You can use this utility by executing the command in the command prompt terminal.

Open the command prompt as administrator and execute sfc /scannow command there.

sfc scannow command on how to fix registry errors windows 10
Run sfc /scannow command in the command prompt

If you cannot boot the Windows system normally, you can start Windows in safe mode and then run the mentioned command. Once the command is executed, check if your registry is accessible and registry error is fixed. If not, check other ways on how to fix registry errors in Windows 10.

2. Run DISM Command

If SFC didn’t repair the Windows registry, you could try using the DISM command. As many times, the corrupt registry and Windows files which are missed by the SFC scan can be fixed by the DISM scan.

Search for the command prompt in the start menu. Right-click on the command prompt from the search results and then click on ‘Run as administrator.’

Once the command prompt launches, type the dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

command and press Enter to execute it.

dism command for how to fix registry errors windows 10
Run DISM command

After the command is executed, exit the command prompt and check if this has fixed the broken registry items.

3. Import Registry from Backup

You can import the registry if you have a saved backup. This is one of the best ways on how to fix registry errors in Windows 10. It is a simple way to get a registry without any errors, and you won’t lose any personal data in the process.

Open the registry editor by typing regedit in the Run or start menu. In the registry editor, navigate to the File from the menu bar and click on Import.

Import registry files from backup
Click on Import to import the registry files

Now, navigate to the location where the backup is saved and click on the backup file, followed by Open.

Open the Registry Backup file for how to fix registry errors windows 10
Open the backup file

You will now have a registry without any errors and this will also fix corrupt registry keys for you. If you have never backed up the registry, you may have to use the system restore point to fix registry errors in Windows 10.

4. System Restore

One of the best ways on how to fix registry errors in Windows 10 is to perform a system restore. The process will restore your Windows system to a point where the broken registry items will be fixed. All the apps and software installed after the restore point was created will be removed from your computer.

Your personal files and data won’t be deleted, so you don’t need to worry about them. System Restore will fix corrupt registry in Windows 10. However, if you don’t have any restore point saved on your system, check out other solutions from the list as system restore cannot be performed without a restore point.

5. Run Automatic Repair

The automatic repair or startup repair can help you understand how to fix registry errors in Windows 10 for you. There are two ways to run automatic repair, and it depends on whether you can log in to your Windows 10 system or not. You can refer to the below sub section accordingly.

Able to log in to Windows 10 Device

If you can boot Windows 10 normally, launch the Settings app from the start menu and click on Update & Security.

In Update & Security, go to Recovery from the left frame. Next, click on Restart now button under Advanced startup.

Run startup repair from Settings
Click on Restart now button

When the computer restarts, click on Troubleshoot and then on Advanced options. Next, click on the Startup Repair option.

Click on Startup Repair for how to fix registry errors windows 10
Click on Startup Repair

You may be asked to enter your credentials in between. And then, the startup repair may start on its own and fix the registry errors.

Unable to log in to Windows 10 System

If you are stuck outside the Windows computer because of broken registry items, you can try another way of running startup repair. Press the physical power button on your laptop or CPU to turn on your computer. Once you see the startup logo, press the power button again to turn off your system. Repeat this step until you see a black screen with ‘Preparing Automatic Repair’ on it.

Preparing Automatic Repair
Preparing Automatic Repair

On the next black screen, there will be ‘Diagnosing your PC,’ wait until you see the Automatic Repair screen.

Then click on Advanced options.

Advanced options for how to fix registry errors windows 10
Select Advanced options

Next, navigate to Troubleshoot ➜ Advanced options, and lastly, click on Startup Repair to start with the repair process.

Once the repair is completed, check if you can boot Windows computer as before, and your registry errors are fixed.

6. Reset or Refresh Windows 10

The reset or refresh is done to fix many errors in Windows10. The reset or refresh in Windows 10 reinstalls it without using any installation disks. There is a slight difference between the reset and refresh process.

To refresh your system is to reinstall Windows without deleting personal files, settings, and apps. You will have all the apps present in your system after the refresh as well; the one that came inbuilt in your system and the ones you installed from Microsoft all will be available.

In reset, the Windows is reinstalled, and your files, settings, and apps installed from Microsoft store are deleted. The only thing that is not removed from the system is the apps/software that came installed in your Windows 10 device.

You can either refresh or reset your system based on your choice. After it is done, checking the registry to make sure the folders and key values are accessible in the registry editor is recommended.

7. Use a Third-Party Software to Fix Registry Errors in Windows 10

You can use a third-party registry checker and cleaner to help you maintain and repair registry files when the need arises. There are so many options for registry cleaners out there that you can download and install on your Windows 10 system.

However, make sure you install the software that can actually maintain your registry and not just eat up space on your computer. One of the best third-party software that can maintain your computer and the registry is Iolo System Mechanic.

Iolo System Mechanic for how to fix registry errors windows 10
Iolo System Mechanic

The Iolo System Mechanic has a Registry Tuner function to clean and repair your registry. It helps you to remove invalid and unwanted data references to clean the registry. You can enable the Automatic registry repair function so that Iolo System Mechanic can repair your registry entries when it finds errors or broken items in it.

If you feel any unwanted changes are made to your registry by this software, you can roll back or undo the action. You can purchase the Iolo System Mechanic for 39.96 USD.

Get Iolo System Mechanic

Conclusion

Anyone can end up having broken items in their registry due to software updates or uninstallation and along with many other reasons. Sometimes, the registry errors only stop you from accessing the registry editor, while other times, you experience issues with some Windows functionalities or booting your system. This depends on how severe your registry error is and what has caused it.

You can know how to fix registry errors in Windows 10 by going through the solutions. The list of solutions mentioned above can help any user to fix the broken registry items irrespective of severity and reason.