What Is A Registry Cleaner?

Date First Published: 12th September 2023

Topic: Computer Systems

Subtopic: Computer Software

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 6/10

CONTENTS

Are Registry Cleaners Recommended?

Learn about what a registry cleaner is in this article.

A registry cleaner is a type of third-party utility software used to scan and remove any unneeded or outdated registry entries that the computer no longer uses. They are designed for the Windows operating system. For example, invalid references that point to a resource that no longer exists, which are often left behind when uninstalling programs, can be removed. Most registry cleaners are tools that can do a lot more than clean the registry. They may also be able to defrag the hard drive, delete temporary files, and more.

Registry cleaners often allow users to choose which categories to scan. For example, CCleaner allows users to scan for registry issues related to obsolete software, missing shared DLLs, unused file extensions, type libraries, run at startup, and more. It also allows users to choose which registry entries should be deleted from the results and whether they want to back up the registry first.

Are Registry Cleaners Recommended?

Registry cleaners are useful for keeping the Windows registry clean, which will optimise the system performance. When the registry becomes too large and cluttered, it can slow down older versions of the Windows operating system during boot time. Registry cleaners solve these issues, but there is no evidence that they make Windows run any faster.

There is no built-in registry cleaner on Windows, so you will have to find a third-party registry cleaner. If you do decide to install a registry cleaner, be very careful where you get it from. Some registry cleaners may be poorly written and improperly remove or change registry entries, which can cause issues with other programs, like crashes and freezes. At worst, it can cause Windows to stop working and require you to reinstall the operating system due to instability. Some registry cleaners available for free may also contain hidden spyware, adware, or viruses.