How to Enable the Auto Backup of System Registry After a Restart in Windows 10

Having PCs that automatically backup the system registry gives your organization a strong layer of protection against data loss and operational nightmares. Your Windows Registry stores important system settings, and though the feature to “autosave” after the restart was deactivated, turning it on is still possible.

Learn how to re-enable the automatic backup of your Windows 10 Registry and common troubleshooting solutions in our article below.

How to enable automatic registry backups via the registry editor

⚠️This process requires administrator privileges and involves modifying Registry key values. Before proceeding, create a backup of your Windows Registry.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Use the Registry Editor’s address bar to navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Configuration Manager

3. In the right-hand pane, double-click on EnablePeriodicBackup DWORD value.
4. In the Value field:
   1. Type 1 to enable automatic Registry backups on restart.
   2. Leave it blank to disable automatic Registry backups on restart.
5. Press Apply, then OK.
6. Restart the PC to apply changes.

Where are the backups stored?

The auto backups of the Windows Registry are stored in the RegBack folder (C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack) which was used by RegIdleBackup task before build 17134 was released. Now, the files within are normally kept at 0kb size to reduce disk space usage and get faster boot-ups.

After you enable auto-backup, you can use the files in the RegBack folder to confirm whether the registry hives (e.g., SECURITY, SOFTWARE, SAM, etc.) are being saved.

How to restore the registry from backup (advanced)

Follow these steps if you’re unable to boot Windows or have a corrupted Registry (this process requires administrator privileges):

1. Boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) by either:
   1. Booting into a Windows 10 installation media (DVD/USB)
   2. Booting up your PC and turning it off as soon as the Windows logo appears (do this process two times)
2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
3. Type the following command line to access the config directory and hit Enter.
   C:\Windows\System32\config 
4. Type the following command to look for the backup files and hit Enter.
   dir RegBack
5. To back up the current (possibly corrupted) registry, run:
   mkdir backup copy . backup\
6. You can now restore the backup files with the following command:
   copy RegBack\*.* .\
7. If asked to confirm overwrites, type A and press Enter.
8. Wait for the files to be copied over.
9. Type exit to close the Command Prompt.
10. Click Continue to restart your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Does this impact system performance?

A: The auto backup system registry process is an idle task that runs in the background whenever you restart a Windows 10 PC. The backup files are only a few hundred MB, making disk space usage minimal.

Q: Why is my regback folder still empty?

A: Ensure that the EnablePeriodicBackup registry value is set to 1. Past that, it might take a couple of restarts before RegIdleBackup starts generating backup files.

Q: Is a system restore the same as a registry backup?

A: No, a System Restore creates a snapshot of your system files, installed apps, and system settings in addition to your Windows Registry, which is especially important when your system gets compromised.

Q: Can I schedule backups more frequently?

A: Yes, you can use the Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc) to set more regular intervals for the RegIdleBackup task. Here’s how:

1. Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Using the folders on the left pane, navigate to Microsoft > Windows > Registry.
3. Double-click on the listed RegIdleBackup task in the center pane.
4. Go to the Triggers tab and set the frequency of your backup system registry process.
5. Go to the General tab and ensure the task is enabled and set to run whether user is logged in or not.
6. Click OK.
7. Restart the PC to apply changes.

Q: What is Windows RegBack?

A: RegBack is the folder used to store Windows Registry backup files when it was still being saved automatically before the version 1803 update.

Troubleshooting common issues

Issue: No RegBack folder

There may be instances when you won’t see the RegBack folder in the directory because it was removed after a Windows update. To solve this, manually create the folder at C:\Windows\System32\config\. The RegIdleBackup task should be able to recognize it and store backup data once the auto backup of the system registry is enabled.

Issue: Backups still not appearing after enabling auto backup

If you’re not seeing backup files in the RegBack folder, verify that you’ve properly enabled the auto backup in Registry Editor. Afterward, try restarting your device multiple times and see if backups appear.

Issue: Permission errors when restoring

If you’re encountering permission issues, you’ll need to sign in with a local user account that has administrator rights. You should be able to smoothly backup your system registry after you get elevated permissions.

Backup your system registry automatically after each restart

Re-enabling automated Registry backups on Windows 10 is a proactive measure that prevents data loss and protects company property. This simple process only requires a small tweak in your organization’s Registry, but once applied, it grants a lightweight recovery option that can bolster your cybersecurity for years to come.

With that in mind, always exercise caution when modifying your Registry values and back up important data beforehand.