6 ways to clean up the Windows Registry

You may have heard that you should not damage the registry, but sometimes it is still necessary to clean the Windows Registry. Over time, the registry will collect damaged, outdated and even missing registry keys that affect PC performance. You may even receive occasional error messages. With built-in and third-party tools, fix any registry problems.

1. Use the Disk Cleanup feature

The simplest way to clean up the Windows Registry is to use the built-in Disk Cleanup utility. This utility is also great for cleaning excess files from your hard drive. It is not for the registry but it can complete the removal of leftovers from applications and drivers. When it removes these files, the corresponding registry entries are usually also deleted.

Open Start, type disk cleanup and select the Disk Cleanup result .

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After the tool runs a scan, click Clean Up System Files . There will be some additional options available after the tool runs a second time.

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Check any options you want or select them all. Just make sure there isn't anything in the Recycle Bin that you want to keep. Click OK to clean up the system.

2. Use DISM

DISM, short for Deployment Image Servicing and Management, is a built-in Windows tool used to repair system and update errors. It can also help repair problems related to corrupt registry entries. Although not a full Registry cleaner, it can improve the health of the Registry.

Open Start and type cmd . Select Run as administrator in Command Prompt.

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Enter the following information at the command prompt:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

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The scanning process finds and cleans up errors. All of this will have nothing to do with the Registry. This can help your PC run better by fixing problems encountered.

3. Clean up the Windows Registry manually

If you don't mind digging into the Registry, clean the Registry manually without using any other tools. When using this method, always have a backup first.

Press Win + R and type regedit to open Registry Editor. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software . Search for any uninstalled software/apps. If you see a folder containing software, right-click it and select Delete .

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Once done, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software . Repeat the process of deleting folders of uninstalled software.

4. Use CCleaner

CCleaner has been a popular PC cleaner for many years. From deleting cookies and temporary files to helping manage startup options, it does a number of things, such as cleaning up the Windows Registry. It can also make a Registry backup before cleaning, which is a good idea.

Open CCleaner, select Registry , then click Scan for Issues . Select Review selected Issues > Yes to back up the Registry and delete individual or all entries.

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While there are premium options available, the free version is all that is needed. The tool can be run by right-clicking on the Recycle Bin or opening it through the Start menu.

5. Clean with Wise Register Cleaner

Wise Registry Cleaner is a free, lightweight tool to clean the Windows Registry. Just select Registry Cleaner > Scan . You will be prompted to back up the Registry for the first time.

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There is a premium version available, but the free version handles almost everything needed. The premium version has a scheduled cleaning feature. If using the free version, make a note to use it every few months.

6. Use Auslogics Register Cleaner

Auslogics Register Cleaner has a long history of helping users clean up the Windows Registry. The free version offers basic scanning functionality, which is usually enough for most users. However, it is possible to upgrade to the premium version to receive notifications as well as deeper scanning and cleaning. Select Scan Now at the bottom to start scanning for errors.

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