How to Disable Access to Windows Registry

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Written By Larious

Larious is the Executive Editor of LowkeyTech. He is a tech enthusiast and a content writer. 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated on September 26, 2020 by Larious


Although, we have shared lots of tweaks on Registry files, playing with Registry without any knowledge can invite lots of problems. Messing around in the Windows registry can cause all kinds of issues, and it’s not something a beginner should be playing with.

If your laptop is used by others as well, then it would be best to disable access to the Windows registry. So, if you don’t want others to change settings on your Windows 10 device, then you need to block the registry access.

How to Disable Access to Windows Registry

In this article, we are going to share a working method that would help to prevent users from accessing the Registry. So, let’s check out how to disable access to the Windows registry.

1. Using Registry Editor

If you are using Windows 10 Pro edition, then you need to add a DisableRegistryTool key manually into the registry. Follow, some of the simple steps given below to disable access to the Windows registry.

Before getting started, make sure to make these changes first:

1) If you are going to disable registry access of a standard account, then temporarily change the account type to an administrator.

Change account type
Change account type
  • Head to the Settings > Accounts.
  • Click on the Family & other users.
  • Under the Your Family or Other User, select the user account.
  • Click on the ‘Change Account Type’ button and select ‘Administrator’
  • Once done, click on the ‘Ok’ button.

2) Sign in to the user account in which you want to make the changes.

After making the above changes, you will be ready to edit the Regedit value. Follow some of the simple steps given below to disable access to the Windows Registry.

Editing The Registry

Once done with the above steps, you need to make a few changes to the Windows registry. Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1. First of all, open Windows search and search for ‘Regedit’. Press Enter to open the Registry editor.

Open Windows RegistryOpen Windows Registry
Open Windows Registry

Step 2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path –

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem

Navigate to the given pathNavigate to the given path
Navigate to the given path

Step 3. Now right click on the black space, and select New > DWORD (32-bit).

Step 4. Name the new value ‘DisableRegistryTools’

Select New > DWORD (32-bit) and name it 'DisableRegistryTools'Select New > DWORD (32-bit) and name it 'DisableRegistryTools'
Select New > DWORD (32-bit) and name it ‘DisableRegistryTools’

Step 5. Double click on the newly created key, and set the ‘Value Data’ to “1”. Once done, click on the ‘Ok’ button.

Set the 'Value Data' to "1"Set the 'Value Data' to "1"
Set the ‘Value Data’ to “1”

That’s it! You are done. This is how you can disable access to the Windows registry.

2. Using Local Group Policy Editor

To disable access to the Windows registry, users need to use the Local Group Policy Editor. However, users can only use this option if they are using Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. So, let’s check out how to prevent users from accessing the Windows Registry.

Step 1. First of all, Press Windows Key + R to open the Run Dialog box.

Open the Run Dialog boxOpen the Run Dialog box
Open the Run Dialog box

Step 2. On the RUN Dialog box, type in gpedit.msc and hit Enter.

Enter gpedit.mscEnter gpedit.msc
Enter gpedit.msc

Step 3. This will open up the Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 4. Now on the Local Group Policy Editor, head to the User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System. Then double-click on the ‘Prevent access to registry editing tools’

Double-click on the 'Prevent access to registry editing tools'Double-click on the 'Prevent access to registry editing tools'
Double-click on the ‘Prevent access to registry editing tools’

Step 5. In the next pop up, you need to select ‘Enable’ and then click on ‘Apply’ then on ‘Ok’

Select 'Enable' and then click on 'Apply'Select 'Enable' and then click on 'Apply'
Select ‘Enable’ and then click on ‘Apply’

That’s it; you are done! Now if anyone tries to access the Windows Registry, they will get an error message ‘Registry editing has been disabled by your administrator’.

Conclusion

By following the above methods, one can easily disable access to Windows Registry. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends also. If you have any doubts related to this, let us know in the comment box below.

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