Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a small commission if you make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. For more information, please visit our Disclaimer Page.
If you share your PC with others, they can access the registry system and may cause problems in your computer, especially if the person does not know how to handle the registry files. It is therefore essential to disable this access. So, how do you disable network access to the windows registry?
Search for MSC and press enter for the program to run. Click the Group Policy Editor, then click the User Configuration, then Administrative Template, and finally system. Double click the option saying “Prevent access to registry editing tools” and adjust the radio button to “enabled”.
Disabling network access to the windows registry may differ depending on the windows in your computer. But first, you need to understand what a widow’s registry is. Also, what are the reasons for disabling it, and which is the best way to do it? I will take you through this.
Table of Contents
What is a Windows Registry?
A Windows registry is a group of databases for software and hardware information, options, and settings, usually in Microsoft Windows operating systems. Windows registry is available in nearly all Microsoft Windows versions such as Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
When you install a program in your windows, it will create a new subkey in the registry containing settings that relate to the program. Such settings may include its location of programs, primary executable, and files with which the windows registry allows for easy interaction.
Typically, the Windows registry replicates the DNA for the Windows operating system. It stores the information of the software, the hardware devices, operating system, and other settings of the computer.
It ensures that all computer applications are running well by monitoring the information and settings of the software programs and hardware devices. It supports the operating system and user preferences.
Usually, not all versions of windows use the Windows registry to store their information. Some use other files such as the XML, while others store in executable files since they are portable.
The past Windows versions, such as Windows 3.1.1, used .ini files to preserve the Windows configurations, settings, and the windows themselves. Some computers still use the .ini files, but some rely on the windows registry settings that arise after the installation of the windows registry.
To access and configure the windows registry, use the Registry Editor Program, a default registry editing utility available in all Windows versions.
You do not need to download the registry editor, but you can access it at the run box from the start key or implement Regedit at the Command Prompt. The registry editor identifies and makes changes in the registry, therefore, acting as the face of the registry.
The Windows registry contains a set of instructions in the registry keys, all in the folders that subdivide the data in the registry using subfolders. If you adjust the information in these folders using the registry editor, it will alter the layout of the registry value controls.
The windows and other computer settings depend on the registry to function, and therefore, any change you make on the windows will also affect the registry parts.
Windows registry is an essential part of your computer, and at times, you may not realize that there are changes until you decide to reboot the computer.
It is vital to back up the parts of the windows registry before changing anything to avoid losing your domain. Once you back up the files, they automatically save them as REG files.
Should you Disable Network Access to the Windows Registry?
The Windows Registry contains basic settings for your PC that require protection. It also contains the applications that you install on the computer, which people may tamper with when sharing the PC.
The registry usually requires editing, which is one way to ensure that the files are safe, but you need to be sure of how to edit the registry before doing it.
If unsure, some guides can direct you on how to do it, or you can ask for help from someone who knows the procedure.
Editing the registry is an integral part of ensuring that it works well, but only if you do it well. Usually, it is not a threat to the computer, but one may create issues when editing it.
To avoid such issues, ensure that they are not using the same network as you on your computer. Through this, you will limit access to your registry so that no one changes the registry files.
How to Disable Network Access To Windows Registry
I hate sharing my PC with anyone, and when I do, I have to ensure that all my files are safe so that no one messes up with them.
The Windows registry has vital information, and if a person with no experience uses the computer, they may cause issues, and the system may fail. For this reason, I find it crucial to immobilize the network’s access to it.
Before I take you through the process, it is essential to note that the process may differ depending on the Windows version. However, before starting with any of the processes, it is necessary to create a backup.
The backup will help you restore the registry to its initial working condition in case of a problem. Now lets us look at the procedure for disabling network access to the Windows registry.
Disabling Network Access to the Windows Registry in Windows 7 or 8
Step 1: Set the User as the administrator
You will be making changes in the Windows registry, so you need to set it as the administrator for the period you will carry out the process. Do this through your administrator account.
Step 2: Edit the registry
Once you set up the administrator account, log in through it to edit the registry. You should then log out of it and adjust the settings back to normal by setting your main account as the administrator.
Step 3: Run the program
Start the screen, then search the MSC and click the run program icon. The Group Policy Editor window should appear on the left side of the screen. On it, move to the User configuration, then administrative templates, and finally, navigate to the system.
Step 4: Disable the Windows registry
First, navigate to your right panel, then double click the “prevent access to registry editing tools” option. On the radio toggle, please change it to Enabled and click Ok.
Step 5: Close the Registry Editor
The group policy editor can now be closed, and you can be sure that you have successfully disabled the Windows registry. To close, click option X, which is on the upper right corner of your screen.
You can also close it by navigating to the File then Exit option. If the registry editor is disabled, anyone trying to access the registry will receive an error message telling them that they cannot access the registry.
Step 6: Adjust to a standard account
Remember, in the beginning, and I adjusted the administrator account settings. Once you disable the registry, change the account settings to a standard account.
Usually, the Local Group Policy Editor works better if you are using the Pro or the Enterprise Windows edition.
Disabling Network Access to Windows Registry in Windows 10
Step 1: Backup the system
Ensure that you backup your computer before disabling the registry. If the backup is intact, you can return the registry editor to its normal state if things go wrong. You can check this article on creating a backup for your computer.
Step 2: Run the Registry Editor
Start by looking for the “Regedit” file on your computer. You can type “Regedit” on the search bar, then click enter on it, and the registry editor will open.
In some PCs, you may require to press Windows + R to run the Windows registry. After opening it, write the command regedit to open the registry editor.
Step 3: Create a Disable tools registry file
To do this, start by keying in “HKEY_CURRENT_USER on the left panel of the Registry Editor. Then navigate to the system and right-click it.
You should be able to see several options there. Choose the DWORD (32 bit). Finally, go to the option saying create new value. You should name it “Disable Registry Tools.”
Step 4: Adjust the Value Data
Click on the file “ Disable Registry Tools,” which should show you its properties. From here, you should be able to change the value data option from 0 to 1, then click Ok. You are now thriving in disabling the registry editor.
Step 5: Change their account to a Standard account
When Signing in to the PC, you do so as the administrator since you want to restrict the outside parties from accessing the registry. When you finish the disabling, revert the account to a standard account.
For a successful process when disabling the network access, it is essential to know what you are doing with the registry; otherwise, you may mess things up.
It only takes a few minutes to disable network access, but if you tamper with your computer too much, reverting the changes can be challenging. So take your time and make sure the settings are what you want them to be.
Also, after you finish carrying out the procedure, it is essential to test the settings before going live. Ensure that you do comprehensive tests on the computer parts that impact the change.
Try restarting the computer several times and checking whether other applications are usually working.
Conclusion
Disabling network access to the windows registry is always essential, especially when you know someone else might use your PC. It will restrict incompetent users from reaching the files in the registry and altering them.
The windows registry carries one of the essential things in your computers, such as configuration settings relating to the hardware and software.
Therefore, it is essential to back up the registry before disabling network access to it so that you can get access to all your data once the process is over.
