Do NOT use Registry Cleaners 

Show don't tell. Not claiming you're wrong but can we at least get a case study of what actually happens to a system running a reg cleaner instead of just "Don't use it because it's bad"?

I have to wonder how many of those legacy entries are simply abandoned in place rather than being removed rather than intentionally placed there for a current need.

Man I'm so glad you said that! I've done it one time back in the day when E-machines were around. Not saying it was a an E-machine I done it on but regardless it screwed everything up. I've never done it again. What really kills me is I've been a long time user of Norton Antivirus which is fine. But now days their trying to bundle more of their stuff together and if you just have the basics. Every time you turn around when booting up or after a scan. A window pops open talking about so many Registry Errors have been found trying to get you to upgrade and pay more money for BS! So thank you for setting the record straight.

I used to run CCleaner not to clean registry but as a lazy way to disable auto starting applications, because there were so many ways in Windows to autorun on boot (start menu, msconfig, registry, ...) and Windows wouldn't let you manage them at the same place. These days you can stop most apps (at least non-malicious ones) from running using the startup apps setting.

Thank you for making this video! I know of so many people who use them. They feel "reassured" after using them when in fact they are potentially harming the stability of their operating system.

I've been using CCleaner's registry cleaner on all of my PCs for about a decade now and I've never had any noticeable issues as a result. Also, I notice that whenever I uninstall any software or games, there is ALWAYS registry entries left behind. Why not get rid of these? Though, I do understand that if you have a mid-high end PC, you're not going to experience any noticeable slowdown on your PC even if you haven't cleaned the registry in years. So I do understand that cleaning the registry is really not necessary. There really is no practical benefit from doing so if you have a decent PC. I just get a bit 'OCD'-ish with my PC and it bothers me to know that there are junk files and registry entries on my PC. Even if the registry entries and junk files are NOT causing any sort of issues or decrease in PC performance, it still bothers me just knowing that they're there.

I use soap.

I've been using Revo Uninstaller for more than a decade now and everything's fine. Sometimes the program itself does a good job of removing its own folders and registry entries, but there's a lot of programs that are terrible at removing itself from the system. I feel more confident when removing a closed-sourced program that I don't want anymore. I don't use system-wide cleaners like CCleaner though.

I use CCleaner with CCenhancer at least once a week. Been doing it for years and I have never had a problem. I also make backup images of my Windows 10 & 11 boot drives every day (just in case).

CCleaner used to be a goto for me; in the Win 7 days, I would run into system that were very slow to load the add / remove software list, and cleaning the registry would resolve this. Also lots of applications that would leave behind a ton of registry entries when uninstalling (Intuit, I'm looking at you). While never quantified, systems would often feel noticeably more responsive after a registry clean. While I almost never use registry cleaners in the Win 10/11 world, I also have never run into an issue using one. The fact that a fresh Windows install has entries that a registry cleaner says should be cleaned up doesn't inherently mean anything about the usefulness or safety of using the cleaner; isn't it possible for Microsoft to still have entries in a default install that are broken or no longer relevant? I keep hearing this advice, and while I agree that their relevance has diminished and there are reasons to stay away from the current crop of registry cleaning tools, I don't think that negates their usefulness wholesale. If there is a registry entry pointing to a dll or other resource that no longer exists on the system, does it need to stay around? Especially if it causes Windows to spend unneeded cycles trying to load something that isn't there. What I have yet to see is for someone to evaluate the changes recommended by one of these cleaners and then show how the changes are problematic to the system. So far, most of what I have seen are that they could hypothetically cause issues; which is true, but that could be said of literally every application that you install on a system.

You do understand that CCleaner is not just a registry cleaner and has other functions that are useful. He hasn't made a strong argument for not using it other than "I don't like it". Showing examples of what it cleans but gave no clear explanation to back up his claims... I've used System Mechanic 5 up until WinXP and CCleaner from 7 up to 10. Works very fine... Next time give us recreatable examples and issues that can occur and not random babble full of personal opinion.

Deleting registry entries CAN be dangerous if you don't use the programs uninstaller, but your very mistaken if you think all programs delete the registry entries that are created during that programs install. What still happens over time even in Windows 11, is all of entries that are not deleted adds to the "bloat" issue. I've used the free version of Revo Uninstaller for a few years now and I rather truly know that all registry and file remnants are truly gone, then to just "guess".

i remember using regcleaner back in the day. i still have CCleaner on my system but dont use it for reg cleaning. also not for driver updating. only to remove browser or empty folders

I use Wise Registry Cleaner as my games couldnt find dll files and after I ran it my games(including modern warfare 2019) are able to find and launch without any dll errors on windows 10. Most programs registry dont get deleted after uninstalling and you can confirm it by visiting the registry so it just depends on if the user wants it or not. Been having Wise for 4 years and no issues with PC. The things with those cleaners that will harm and break your system is the "system tune ups" so I would avoid using tune ups section.

CCleaner became almost spyware. On the other hand, I've been using Wise Registry Cleaner for years without any issues. If you only do the "safe entries" they propose, most of them are just temporary stuff that can be safely deleted and, in a long time, may clog your registry. I find your argument about "default intended" of Windows a contradiction while we use your AWESOME tool (THANK YOU! 💪) to clean the system and make it snappy, far from "default" or what MS intended. Wise Registry Cleaner have been helping with that too, if you know what you are doing with it, IMHO.

Chris I was wondering what you think about things like CCleaner or other softwares not for registry cleaning but cleaning up old files and temp data that just bloats up a hard drive. I have noticed over time the HD will just fill with crap. What can be done about this?

Wow! Good to see you Chris.👍

What's about revo uninstaller? It dose clean registry entrys for the specific program that your are uninstalling whit it.

I always examine the said checklist that is to be cleaned and uncheck the possible unknowns before commiting. I also backup the registry full tilt ahead of time before even attempting to run said registry cleaner(s). Seldom, however, do not have problems to speak of and yet, I've used registry cleaners ever since 2005. I will take the time to examine every registry entry that is called out to be removed, even if it should take me upwards into 1.5 hours worth, just because!!

yep, I remember. Uninstalling AOL was harder then getting rid of virus. That free CD was really dangerous.

if there not a problem then why are they there? can you prove your 3k entries are still useful and still serve a purpose and therefor should not be removed? how did the cleaner find it in first place if its still needed? ... I'm not necessarily doubting you but quite honestly you really didn't explain anything, you just told everyone not to do it without explaining why it was there in the list in first place and where it relates to something that may still need it ... having said all that i really don't use them anymore. i have everything setup just so that i can and clean install every 3-6 months so at that point registry gets reset so to speak ...

saw a few people mention Glary. What's your opinion when you compare it to the other two you mentioned?

nice update Chris quick question whats the best free driver updater for win 10/11 please many thanks

You should do a clone of the main VM and run a registry clean. Id be intrested to see what happens lol! My pcs windows install has been going on for years itd probably have 5k-10k "problems" with it

Im using ccleaner for years and NEVER had problems with the system🤷‍♂️

I never really felt the need to clean out the registry. Yeah, it might be a bit awkward if someone sees remnants from hundreds of eroge programs that have been run on the system, but people probably shouldn't judge when they're dumpster diving anyway.

Hi, could you please remake your debloating Windows video in 2023? I'm planning on using your tool, but it looks a bit different now than in your previous videos and I'm interested to know what every function does. Maybe a comparison between Windows 10 and 11 after debloating would be nice too? Thanks in advance.

I used to use Wise registry cleaner back in the day (probably Win7). But once I installed Win10, I really didn't feel the need as I never found it slowed down enough to warrant a clean. That being said, if there's a piece of software that was garbage I always search the registry and remove all traces where I can. Doesn't take too long with pressing F3 a few times.

I've broken Windows before using a registry cleaner (CCleaner specifically), and this was a long time ago. I can't remember what version of Windows I was on, but it was before Windows 10. I haven't trusted them since then. I'm a Linux user these days, though.

I have an old CCleaner portable version which I use once at few months but only for clean temp files, on registry cleaning was very bad even 15 years ago when I first used it. For registry just use revo uninslatter and when uninstall a program, make sure to pay attention for what you are deleting, nothing is perfect.

Interesting i used to use ccleaner back in windows 7, it was good back then, i use mint and fedora now, but its interesting to see how bad ccleaner is now.

I use CCleaner more for it's other functions, like cleaning up temp files, recycle bin and cache, but I am also guilty of cleaning the registry from time to time, I wonder if that's why my PC's ability to sleep always breaks after 1-2 years after a fresh install?

You are the best Chris thanks for everything !!!

The only "cleaner" I use and trust is BleachBit, but that is because it specifically isn't a registry cleaner. Good for cleaning VERY VIP email servers, with a cloth or something. ;)

I'd also note (with mild amusement) that Chris made a debloat tool for Windows 10, which I still use, and every subsequent version of that tool has gotten a bit more toothless, leaves more stuff alone, because taking it out will break some things for some people in some settings... I don't use his current version, I have got an older more ruthless one, which I plan to run though this latest windows 11 install, but I haven't done it yet. The Windows 10 version does work perfectly fine on Windows 11, and it rips a heap of stuff out that the newer one leaves well enough alone. I'm not saying everybody should run the older full strength Debloat tool ~ but I do. If you WANT to keep and use OneDrive, then don't click the button that says to remove it. It's not all that hard ... If you WANT to completely disable Cortana ~ click the button. If that will spoil your day ~ don't click that button ... For MOST things ~ there is a reset button, which should restore it all to standard condition, but I'm not sure that works for everything... Personally, I've never wanted to put GigaBytes of bloatware back into a copy of Windows ... But then I'm not a typical Windows user. My copy of Pro is a guest, in a VirtualBox, on a host of Linux Mint. it sits alongside (stop to count) 9 other guests, which are the most popular and talked about Linux installs. ~ Let's say the most talked-about ones... Just so I can say "I use Arch, actually." That's true on one level, i do have it, both several Arch installers like Manjaro and also a stone stock standard Arch install ~ just so I can say I have it. But those are not the dog-houses I live in ~ Mint is said to be a "beginner distro" ~ Ok, if you want to see it that way. That means it won't rip your hands off for placing them near the keyboard. It doesn't have as many random teeth as some of the others. And it isn't owned by Mister Shuttleworth who is trying to take over the world... And nor is it talking constantly to Microsoft.

What I do is use BCUninstaller (Bulk Crap Uninstaller) to remove remnants of software I no longer need, and for cleaning the registry, I normally perform a clean installation of Windows once every three months, works out pretty well.

Thanks for the PSA Chris! I know these things are still being touted to speed up your system but like you said they would do more damage than good. I am sure this will also make people think they have viruses because of the weird issues they would cause.

What about programs that DO NOT remove registry enteries when you uninstal them? I might instal tons of software, legit free stuff, to "see" how the applications; looks, feels and works. Just for fun. Now, what do I do after I get rid of them? Cheers.

Actually Glary Utilities Registry Cleaner is the least evasive one. I only run it after i made major changes to the system and I scan through before committing. Oh and I make sure the registry has been backed up via system restore and Registry Backup by Tweaking.

Good to know. I use ccleaner and used to clean regigstries only to wonder I had to do so many reconfigurations later on. I'd stick to regedit when need to specific things, from now on.

In the 2000s I was using tune up utilities when it was not part of avast, then I switched to Ccleaner and since then I have never had a single issue when cleaning the registry. I only run it on personal computers never on servers as I'm scared it will break them. But maybe I will stop using it I was not aware of this.

I still find them useful in certain cases, I wouldn't say they are always bad tbh. They are in fact particularly good if you have actually uninstalled a software(still leaves stuff behind even with Geek Uninstaller) or a piece of hardware. I agree I wouldn't touch framework or unused extensions or COM files but. I just deleted like 300 AMD/ATI entries that was still in my PC even though I'm using NVIDIA GPU now. Not sure why DDU didn't get rid of those but yeah, one small useful case.

I've ran a registry clean not too long ago on a 5 year old, messy win 10, it cleaned about 6000 entries and was totally fine afterwards. Not that I notice much difference in performance, nothing really, but I also did not notice any downside to it. Used the cleaner in Glary.

But how else do I fix old corrupted registry keys? I can't use the appx installer because it always says invalid registry key and I have some old keys preventing me from installing minecraft bedrock edition because the keys point to a now deleted user and deleting the keys does nothing as they just come back

McAfee is trying to get me to upgrade because apparently I have almost 300 "registry errors" that need to be fixed. My laptop seems to run pretty well. I dont know if buying the upgrade to get those supposed errors taken care of is necessary.

During my Windows 11 "hell month" (new Acer with W11 image factory fresh burn), I noticed a lot of the debloat hacks and tweaks involved creating new keys and values to started or implement a feature. I got zero heartburn about using an install utility that takes the leftovers out of the registry. But, I'm heading to Linux so that's all in the rear view, innt?

Any real world examples of what specific issues registry cleaner can cause? Apps crashing? Windows blue screening? Driver errors? Slow frame rates? Increased chance of ransomware? I've kept on using CCleaner to this day on multiple win 10 and 11 machines just for the hell of it. I haven't really noticed any issues. But if I do have an issue how would I know if it has anything to do with registry cleaners?

I can't believe I am just now running across this information. I've been working with PC Level computers since around 1980 and I can't remember a time that I did not want to clean the registry. I've always thought that was necessary and smart. I can't even remember how I used to do it; but, I've been using CCleaner for years for two sole reasons, delete unwanted programs and then clean up the registry. I'm actually shocked and stunned by this video. How could I not know?

Can you do a video like this about third party driver updaters next if you haven’t already done so? How do you feel about them? Are they as bad as registry cleaners?

Sometimes it seems like half the computers I repair were screwed up by registry cleaners, 3rd party "optimizers" and/or 3rd party anti-virus. One of the worst is driver updaters- they sometimes install beta BIOSes or don't get the proper update from the manufacturer's website. I've even had them install older drivers in place of newer ones because the list it used was outdated.

Would you make a video about simplewall? Its a simple firewall that i use for years to block windows telemetry and any application or service accessing to internet. So more people can know about it.

Many years ago I tested many registry cleaners, from Glary Utilities, Auslogics, CCleaner, and even the obscure one. I gotta say that CCleaner registry cleaner is one of the safest. Though, registry cleaner in general is pretty much useless.

You might be onto something, but it is worth pointing out that it could be picking up Microsoft's mistakes with Windows 11 as they dropped the balll with it in many ways.

Been using Avast for a few years now. Trying to get rid of them. It tells me I'm 100% clean, but then it also tells me that there are still some files to be cleaned?? Also, I may be wrong - my imagination - when I've said "no" to the yearly resubsciption, my computer really slows down. They wouldn't do that, would they? Lol. I was looking at using Glary, but after listening to you, maybe I will just skip cleaners altogether. I can mostly clean temp files and such myself?

What about Registery defragmenations? It's not removing any entries but sorting it.

Please make a video on Revo Uninstaller. Is it safe? Because it also cleans traces from registry

There is plenty still left behind unfortunately all Uninstallers don't get everything. Even on the fresh copy you placed, is that with updates installed? Good chance, it's old updates that wasn't removed. Good on you anyway for putting it out there, some people don't know how to wipe or fix issues and you may save them.

I used to use CCleaner back in the XP days. Quite often I used it for its ability to remove other crap, like various data created by various web browsers. I didn't use it as often to "clean" the registry. Haven't used it in forever, but I haven't really used Windows since XP either.

i have problem i hope u can help me when i point on video icon or any other icon on desktop use to be giving the details of it like size and time now its not showing any fix for this and thx for video

Using CCleaner with CCenhancer & Ashampoo Uninstaller. Yes you can break things. If you don't know what you are doing. I also use Driver Booster Pro after I do all the manual driver installs I run Driver Booster Pro & it can find some drivers newer then what I have found. Also I can delete all the attached devices I have attached but no longer will reattach them any time soon. I also run registry CCleaner. Also in the settings of СCleaner I turn off "ananymous data collection, auto update & "smart cleaner". Also by using CCleaner often you actually make your PC slower because the files that you delete some off them will reaper or be downloaded again since you deleted the precache the program has made before.

In the past, u compared CCleaner vs BleachBIT. What is your opinion regarding BleachBIT? Would you recommend it either? Im not using any of these programs btw, just curious.

Should use RevoUninstaller (I use this for work & personal)!- Any issues with that!??

Even back in the 2000's, I never suggested that a normal user use a registry cleaner. I always told them to call me and have me run it so they didn't screw up their PC's by deleting the wrong entry by mistake.

What about BCUninstaller? Whenever i uninstall a program there is an option to delete reg keys with it

So manually clean it? Like I went through it last night and it has year old software entries.

Is there an actual example of it breaking something? Or is this more of a "probably" shouldn't use it

It means we do need to care about or clean Registries in Win10/11 ?

old games and mods etc do lots of the things that these reg cleaners find, so after some time its a bit "messy".. i use the free one by auslogics (remembered them at one point from the old hdd defrag days lol) does it help? probably not (in 99% cases) does it damage? nope, never had issues

Heyo Chris, what do you think about Microsoft PC Manager?

I sparingly use registry cleaner just to remove uninstalled games or apps which leaves leftovers until i use program uninstallers or even incorrectly showing removed apps needed update.

Off topic since you mentioned FFXI, back in the day, I was wondering why I couldn't play FFXI on a thumbdrive that I carried around so I can play the game on other people's PC, it was because of all the registry that's on the C drive. WoW on the other hand did not embedded registry in the C drive and could be played on a thumbdrive.

I disagree. I think this is false flag. I used them for years and often and a) never had a problem because of them and b) sometimes they do solve problems of problematic leftovers, especially if un-installation programs are not cleaning up registry themselves. Revo Uninstaller is great for that, but sometimes it either misses something or there are programs I don't use it for because I want to do something manually and later clean up registry.

Thanks for the insight!

I used to have a problem with my registry files but then I installed a Linux distribution and never had to worry about that

hi friend, i bought your product but since i'm not very good at pc, i wanted to know how can i close the processes? I have 210 active processes

Hey man great video i just discovered your channel , i have a little question that google didnt succeed to solve for me , when im inside a game and i click or hold right click + w , it opens the windows settings or the mouse windows settings , mabye you can shine some wisdom ?

how can i revert what idid in the wise registry back to the old windows instalation?

I have been using WinAso a while back, on win7 and first year of win10. Never ever have I had any problem when it was runing registry cleaner. Just recantly had a problem with win where is just laggs or just stuters, sound and screen. Tried every thing and constantly had problem. I ran WinAso once, found like 1k problem, stuttering stoped after that. Note that this was "fresh" instal on brand new nvme but problem was on old hdd also. It didn't went with the new install only after running WinAso

I had to reinstall my Windows 10, because I broke the registry with another deep registry cleaner, but with Ccleaner, never had any problem.

On my friend's PC with Win 8.1 at the time, CCleaner and Avira Antivirus had some infighting and bricked his PC by tampering with some boot files/registries or whatever. Got it booting again, and CCleaner was thown out immediately, no problems after that. It never was installed again, and as Avira got more hideous that went flying too.

i think the last time i used a registry cleaner was in vista. cant remember doing it with 8.1.

What about uninstall apps that find all the stuff left behind after removing a program?

Speaking of breaking games, back when I used to use Ccleaner it eat stuff related to The Sim 2 complete edition, completely bricking it forcing me to do a full reinstall of the game. But now I know better then to use these anymore.

Didn't avast buy ccleaner a while ago? I remember it being somewhat decent ages ago.

Speaking of CCleaner, anybody know if the uninstaller feature does anything more than just run the packaged windows uninstaller with the app? Or does it do more like remove rogue registry entries, etc?

I have a friend that ended up a busted Windows Update application twice, no amount of troubleshooting would fix it, sfc, DISM, anything, it just wouldn't work again, both times I had to reinstall Windows 10 on his machine that had a mechanical hard drive, so basically I spent two whole friday afternoons/evenings babysitting his PC, both times I saw he had CCleaner installed, I told him "hey, stop using this crap, we're not using Windows XP anymore, you don't need it" it's never happened to him again

Yeah, well how about addressing the reasons for using a reg cleaner such as crap that's been bundled into the system like Adobe or McAfee stuff and when deleted leave a bunch of digital cholesterol in the Registry AFTER you delete them?

Now I feel much better. I've also called it CC-Cleaner for absolute ages, only recently I've heard someone call it C-Cleaner 😁

should i not have ccleaner on pc? i installed it more to clean junk...

How about Glary Utilities? It has a registry cleaner. Should I not use it as well?

How can a file extension be unused?

I’m assuming revo uninstaller is one of these?

Yeah, the times have changed for the most part. The only time I would use one is with something like Revo Uninstaller as some applications are bad about cleaning themselves up when you uninstall them to reinstall them for troubleshooting only to find out, their left over registry keys break the fresh install. That's still a thing here in the 20s, but generalized registry scans to "fix issues" like we used to back in the day...nope. Not going to touch them. My work laptop has enough BS going on with it already with the agents we have running, Microsoft breaking crap, etc. that I don't need to help Windows breaking. It's capable of doing that on its own.

I only use them to bring up entries of software I've uninstalled then delete the keys after a reboot.

I need someone to make this kind of video in my native language, cause nobody talks about it and I never can convince anyone in my family that these things don't work

i cannot blame you for worry about registry clean at all but as far as my testing and doing these things there is no harm at all from Ccleaner until now i do clean up a lot because im lazy to re install windows that clean does help a bit to make windows keep running

I have been using CCleaner for many many years and I NEVER had any problems with it. Other cleaners I had problems.

So many times CCleaner tried to remove essential files before I was like... maybe this isn't a help

Ooh, thanks for reminding me, I haven't run NTREGOPT in a while. My registry hives are almost 400MB now.

I believe it. I remember years ago, it was a thing, it was good probably years ago, maybe windows 7-8 era. CCleaner became bad I think once it was sold.