Top 10 Registry Hacks for Windows 10

Windows is a customizable operating system and registry editor allows you to extend that power to a next level. There are many tweaks which you can perform with registry editor to make Windows more optimized according to your need. One thing you should keep in mind that registry editor is not a toy to play with. You have to be very much sure about everything and know the consequences of it. We recommend to backup your registry entries and cleanup registry in case of problems.

Here, we are going to show 10 Registry Hack which allows you to customize Windows.

10 Registry Hacks for Windows 10

Given below is the list of registry hacks which can be useful to you.

1. Remove OneDrive Option
2. Dark Mode
3. Clean Context Menu
4. Open Last Window in Taskbar
5. Disable Shaking
6. Remove Action Center
7. Add Apps to Context Menu
8. Change the Registered Owner
9. Set Border Width
10. Confirm File Delete Dialog

1. Remove OneDrive Option

OneDrive is cloud service from Microsoft and you probably not be using it to sync/upload/store your files. The reason could be that they provide very less free space to their users. This means that if you are not a regular user of the OneDrive service in Windows, then why not to delete it?

To delete this option from the File Explorer, follow the instructions given below:

• Go to ‘Start’ menu and type ‘Regedit’. Hit the ‘Enter’ key to open it. Otherwise press ‘Win + R’ keys to open Run command and open regedit from there.

• Paste this path “Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}” (Without double-quotes) in the registry editor. Press ‘Enter’ key.

• Double-click on “System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree”, enter the ‘0’ in value data field.

• Click on ‘OK’.

This will delete the option of OneDrive from the File Explorer. In case, you want it back then follow the step again and put the ‘1’ in the value data.

2. Dark Mode

There is dark mode tweak in registry editor which allows you to set a black/dark background in the ‘Settings’ app.

• Copy and paste this path “Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize” in your registry editor. Hit the ‘Enter’ key to open it.
• In the empty space, right-click then select ‘New > DWORD (32-bit) value’.
• Give it a name “AppsUseLightTheme” and press the ‘Enter’ key. Restart the PC now.

Open the settings app and you’ll see that the background will be changed in the dark mode.

3. Clean Context Menu

Whenever you right click to choose options, there are many options you don’t even need. To clean your context menu:

• Copy and paste this path in your registry editor “Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers”. Press ‘Enter’ key.
• From the right-hand side navigation pane, delete all the folders except ‘New’ and ‘Workfolders’. You’ll see an increase in speed of right-clicking and getting the options fast.

4. Open Last Window in Taskbar

Windows 10 registry hack allows you to open the last active window from on your taskbar. This will be very much useful if you accidentally close the tabs/windows of that app. You can open them back by a single click. To do this:

• Copy and paste this path ” Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced ” in your registry editor and press ‘Enter’ key.
• Right-click and select ‘New > DWORD’. Give it a name ‘LastActiveClick’.
• Double-click and enter ‘1’ in the value data field. Click ‘OK’.

5. Disable Shaking

This feature (Aero Shake) allows you to minimize the other window by shaking nearby it. You can disable it too.

• Go to address bar in registry editor and paste this path “Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced”.
• Right-click in the empty area and add DWORD property to it. Give it a name “DisallowShaking”.
• Double-click on it and give a value data ‘1’ then click ‘OK’.

6. Remove Action Center

Action center is the place where all your ignored notifications are shown. It also offers handy quick access buttons which are at the bottom of it. Sometimes, people don’t need and use it. To disable it:

• Copy-paste this “Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell” and press ‘Enter’ key.
• Double-click on the ‘UseActionCenterExperience’ and change its value to ‘0’. Click ‘OK’ and it’s gone.

7. Add Apps to Context Menu

Windows gives you all full control of the context menu and you can customize it fully. You can add/remove any sort of apps or options in it. To add an app to it:

• Open your registry editor and copy and paste this path “Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellComputer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell” in the bar at the top. Press ‘Enter’ key to open the last folder.
• Right-click on the folder ‘Shell’ and add ‘Key’ to it. Name it ‘Notepad’.
• Then right-click on the ‘Notepad’ folder and add a new ‘Key’ again to it. Name it ‘Command’ this time.
• Inside the command folder, there will be a ‘Default’ file, right-click on it and choose the ‘Modify’ option. Write ‘Notepad.exe’ in the ‘Value’ field and click ‘OK’.

Now, Right-click at the desktop and you’ll see a ‘Notepad’ option right there.

8. Change the Registered Owner

There is a command ‘Winver’ which allows you to check the ‘RegisteredOwner’ of the Windows. Just type it in the start menu and hit the enter key. There you can be able to see the owner name. To change it:

• Go to registry editor and copy-paste this “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion” path in the field at the top.
• You’ll see a ‘RegisteredOwner’ file there. If there is not you can create a ‘String value’ of it and modify the ‘Value data’ field with your name.
• If there is already one, then simply change the ‘Value data’ field of it.

9. Border Width

You can also increase the current border width of the Windows tabs. Windows provide a default amount of tiny border around the tabs or explorer windows. But, personally that is ‘OK’ and fine. To change it:

• Go to this “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics” path in your registry editor.
• Find the key file name ‘BorderWidth’.
• Change its value data between ‘0 to 50’ and can experience the change in it.

10. Confirm File Delete Dialog

If you always want Windows to ask you confirmation on file deletion, then this dialog hack is for you. This confirm dialog box actually helps in safe deletion of a file. This prompt asks/confirms for the deletion of the file. Either you can delete the file or simply close this box. Sometimes, Windows prompt it but sometimes it’s not. So, to get this:

• Navigate or copy-paste this “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies” path in your registry editor.
• Create a new ‘Key’ under Policies and name it ‘Explorer’.
• In the ‘Explorer’ folder, add a ‘DWORD’ value and name it ‘ConfirmFileDelete’. Change its value data to ‘1’ by double-clicking on it.

From now on, whenever you will be deleting any file from the Windows, it will prompt up this dialog box for confirmation.