The Registry Editor is the first thing Windows users bring up when it comes to editing the Windows Registry. However, if you don’t want to deal with a distracting GUI and too many clicks, there’s a simpler-looking tool you can use: the Command Prompt.
Although using it takes a little more know-how than the Registry Editor, our guide should be able to get you started.
How to View the List of Registry Commands in Command Prompt
There aren’t a lot of commands when it comes to editing the registry using Command Line. To view them all,open Command Prompt as an administratorand run the below command in Command Prompt:
Command Prompt will then list the commands, such asreg add,reg delete,reg copy, andreg save.
If you want to see more information about them, just add the/?switch at the end of the command. For, example, if you want to find out what thereg addcommand does, you’d enter the below command:
After you run it, you’ll get all the details on what it does and how to use it.
If you’re finding it hard the commands out on your own, don’t worry. We will simplify it for you and show you how to get started using them.
Add and Delete Keys in the Windows Registry
To add a key to the registry using Command Prompt, you need to use thereg addcommand while specifying the path to the new key and whether you want to force the operation with the/fswitch(this will bypass the need for the confirmation prompt).
As always, when it comes to editing the Windows Registry, we recommend that the first thing you do iscreate a system restore point on Windows.
Here’s an example:
In the above command, we’re adding theMyNewKeysubkey to theKHLM/Softwarekey. If you go to the Registry Editor and expand that key, you’ll be able to see theMyNewKeysubkey within it.
Deleting the key is simple as well, as you just need to replaceaddwithdeletein the above example. Here’s how:
Now theMySubKeykey will disappear in the Registry Editor.
How to Add, Modify, and Delete Values in the Windows Registry
To add or modify a value key in the registry using Command Prompt, you’ll still use thereg addcommand like above. However, this time, you’ll also have to specify the following parameters: value (/v), value type (/t), and value data (/d). Here’s an example of what the command would like:
Once you run the command, you will be able to find the value in the Registry Editor. And if the key doesn’t exist, Command Prompt will create it.
The Windows Registry uses several value types, and here’s a table of the common ones:
Value Type
Description
No value type
String value
REG_MULTI_SZ
Multi-string value
REG_EXPAND_SZ
Expanded string value
32-bit DWORD value
64-bit QWORD value
REG_BINARY
Binary value
To delete the value, you just need to use thereg deletecommand while specifying the path to the key, and the name of the value. Here’s an example of deleting the value we created earlier:
After running the above command successfully, the value should disappear from the Registry Editor.
How to Copy Registry Entries From One Key to Another
Sometimes, you might want to copy the values from one key to another in the registry. This is as easy as using thereg copycommand while specifying the key you’re copying them from and the one you’re copying them to (keep in mind that both keys have to already exist before you run the command). Here’s an example:
The/sswitch at the end tells Command Prompt that it should copy every subkey and value in the first key (MyNewKey1) into the second one (MyNewKey2).
Unfortunately, there’s no way to copy specific values from one key to another. You’ll have to use the Registry Editor for that.
How to Import Registry Entries
If you havecreated a Windows Registry fileor downloaded it elsewhere, you can import it into the registry using thereg importcommand. All you need to do is specify the path to the registry file and Command Prompt will do the rest. Here’s an example:
Once you run that command, the contents of the reg file will be merged with the registry.
How to Export Registry Entries
you’re able to export a key in the registry using thereg exportcommand while specifying the path of the key you want to export and the file you want to create. This comes in handy when you need to back up certain keys and values to restore them elsewhere. Here’s an example:
After you run the command successfully, check the location you entered, and you’ll find the key and its associated subkeys and values have been exported successfully. In our case, it will create a file calledMyRegFile.regand save it on the desktop.
You can also export a specific value using thereg querycommand and include the key, value, and path to the registry file you want to export the value to. Here’s an example.
The resulting registry file will only contain the key and the specific value you exported.
How to Save Registry Entries
If you already have a registry file or any other text file, you can add keys to it using Command Prompt and thereg savecommand, which will overwrite the file with the new information. You just need to specify the name of the key and the registry file you want to save it to. Here’s an example:
The/yswitch at the end of the command above overwrites the file you’re saving the key to without bringing up a prompt. When you open the file, you won’t be able to read the contents since it will be saved as a binary file.
How to Restore Registry Entries
So, let’s say something has happened to the keys and values within theMyNewKey2we saved in the previous section, you can use the backup file you created to restore it. You’ll need to use thereg restorecommand. Here’s how to run it:
Now theMyNewKey2key should return to the state it was in when you made the backup.
Tweak the Registry Without the Registry Editor
While Command Prompt can’t do everything the Registry Editor does, it does offer a quick way to edit the registry without opening the aforementioned tool. While using Command Prompt to tweak the registry is quite advanced, even if you’re the average user, you should be able to get by if you follow along closely.
Just don’t forget to do what we mentioned earlier to avoid permanently ruining your Windows computer and create a system restore point first
