Prevent access to registry editing tools: registry value DisableRegistryToolsUserHKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Policy ID: DisableRegedit
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows 2000
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: System

Registry

DisableRegistryTools

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Disable regedit from running silently?

Options
Item	Stored value
Yes	2
No	1

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]

; Options (use only one)
; Yes
"DisableRegistryTools"=dword:00000002
; No
"DisableRegistryTools"=dword:00000001

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Yes
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v "DisableRegistryTools" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: No
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v "DisableRegistryTools" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Yes
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Name 'DisableRegistryTools' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# No
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Name 'DisableRegistryTools' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null