Nervously thinking of tweaking Windows settings directly in the registry? Since the registry is at the heart of a Windows installation, creating a backup before is key, of course. Find out here how to save a backup copy of the registry on Windows ⤓ (in parts or as a whole).
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How to Back Up the Windows Registry (All or in Parts)
Creating a Backup Copy of the Entire Windows Registry
Time needed: 3 minutes
To create a backup copy of your entire registry in Windows:
- Open Registry Editor.
No background changes: It’s a good idea to close all applications before you open Registry Editor so that not too many changes will happen as you back up the registry.
- Pick File | Export… from the menu.
- Select All under Export range.
- Navigate to the folder where you want to save the copy of your Windows Registry.
Online storage: Select an online drive location such as OneDrive, iCloud Drive or Google Drive for an instant remote backup and the possibility to easily open the created backup on another computer.
- Type the desired file name for the registry backup under File name:.
- Make sure Registration Files (*.reg) is selected under Save as type:.
- Click Save.
Windows keyboard shortcut: You can also press Enter, of course.
Their word: Microsoft include information on saving the registry in Windows help.
As an alternative to backing up the registry individually, you can also create a system restore point; this will include a copy of the Windows registry’s current state.
Registry safely backed up?
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Backing up a Specific Key
To back up a specific part of the Windows registry:
- Launch Registry Editor.
- Find the key you want to back up and make sure it is highlighted.
The hierarchy: Your backup will include the selected key as well as all keys nested below it. - Select File | Export… from the menu.
- Make sure Selected branch is selected under Export range.
- Now go to the folder where you want to save the copy of your reg branch and key.
- Make sure Registration Files (*.reg) the active selection under Save as type:.
- Click Save.
Backing up a Specific Value
To save as a backup just the data for one registry value:
- Create a backup for the key that contains the value you want to back. (See above.)
- Click the "*.reg" file you just created with the right mouse button.
- Select Edit from the context menu that has appeared.
- Find the key listed between square brackets ([]).
Example: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionDateTimeServers]. - Delete all value and data pairs under it you do not want in the backup.
Note: The values are listed between quotation marks (""); the data follows = and the data type.
Example: A value could look like "2"="time.nist.gov". - Select File | Save to save the changes to the "*.reg" file.
Keyboard shortcut: For saving, you can also press Ctrl S.
How to Back Up the Windows Registry: FAQ
Can I restore the Windows registry from a backup?
Yes.
Importing .reg files to restore the Windows registry to a backed-up state or to change settings swiftly is easy.
Where should I store the registry backup copy?
To be safe, do store the exported .reg file both on a separate physical disk locally (a USB stick or flash drive perhaps) and in a trusted online storage solution (such as Google Drive, OneDrive or iCloud).
(Tested with Windows 11 Version 22H2–25H2 and Windows 10 Version 1909; first published June 2018, last updated July 2026)