How to Reset the Windows Registry to Default

The Windows Registry contains a ton of values that make your operating system (OS) run in a certain way. Many times, for cool customizations or fixes to issues, editing the Registry is the only way to make the change.

However, if you accidentally screw up when editing the Registry, you can cause some serious problems with your system.

This is why it’s a good idea to make a restore point before you make any Registry edits. You can also back up Registry entries so you have a copy to restore if the operation goes south. However, if you’ve done neither of these things and damage your system, you’re probably looking for a way to reset the Registry.

While there’s no official way to “reset” only the Registry, you can use Windows’ built-in refresh tools to get everything back to normal. Type Reset into the Start Menu and click Reset This PC to enter the appropriate menu.

You’ll find several options for getting a clean start with Windows here — the Reset This PC header is the one we’re looking for. This option lets you keep your files but reinstalls Windows with default options.

When you reinstall Windows, all system values, including the Registry, will be back to normal. Thus, a reset is your best bet if you’ve damaged the Registry beyond repair.