[Essential Guide] How to Fix Broken Registry Items in Windows 11?

About broken registry items in Windows 11

Are you encountering broken registry items in Windows 11 and hoping to solve the problem, like the help-seeker from the Microsoft Community in this example?

The Windows Registry holds important configuration settings for proper system and program functioning. Computer enthusiasts can modify behavior by adjusting registry entries, such as activating hidden Windows 11 themes. Due to its strong connection to system configurations, it is vulnerable to broken when editing or making changes. Besides, these reasons can also contribute to broken registry items in Windows 11:

Possible reasons of Windows 11 broken registry items

Malware and viruses

Registry fragmentation happens during software installation or upgrades, causing issues.

Unexpected PC crashes or shutdowns

Accumulated unwanted entries can congest and harm the registry.

Faulty hardware or external devices can break registry items.

Deleting or mistakenly modifying registry settings can seriously damage the operating system.

But don’t worry too much, there are effective ways to fix broken registry items in Windows 11. Here are some recommended solutions.

How to fix broken registry items in Windows 11

In this section, we will introduce 4 practical solutions to solve the problem. Follow it to learn how to fix broken registry items Windows 11 without losing data.

Fix 1. Check corrupted system files with SFC and DISM

Step 1. Open the Power User menu by pressing Win + X, select Terminal (Admin), and confirm by clicking Yes on the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.

Step 2. In the console, enter the command SFC /scannow and press Enter.

Step 3. After the SFC scan finishes, run the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

Step 4. Allow the DISM scan to complete, then restart your PC. Try reopening your apps afterward.

Fix 2. Remove junk files

Every time you remove software or drivers, they often leave behind broken registry items. These  remaining files build up over time, causing your computer to become cluttered and perform less efficiently. Therefore, it is advisable to remove these unnecessary items that can clog your PC performance.

To effectively find and remove these files, it is suggested to use AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard—a free and secure computer management tool. Its PC Cleaner feature can scan your drive, list junk files for removal, and help to fix broken registry items issue.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard, and then click "Free up" > "PC Cleaner".

Step 2. In the pop-up window, click "Start Scan" to scan for junk files.

Step 3. Wait until the scanning process completes.

Step 4. After the scan is completed, all kinds of available junk files will be listed. Then, tick the options you want to clean, then click "Clean All" to begin the cleaning process.

Step 5. When you see a correct symbol displayed in the interface, you can click "Back" to exit the Window.

If you need to, you can try the “Delete Large Files” function to filter all large files and choose some of them that you think they’re not needed to be clear.

Fix 3. Perform Windows Startup Repair

Startup Repair, or Automatic Repair, is a built-in system recovery tool in Windows 11. It's practical for identifying and fixing broken registry items.

Step 1. Right-click the Start button, select Settings, go to System, click on Recovery, and then click Restart now.

Step 2. Boot your system into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRe), where you can troubleshoot common booting issues. Then click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. The Startup Repair tool will diagnose and fix broken registry items errors.

Note:
✍ If broken registry items in Windows 11 have already led to the system being stuck on the boot screen, it is advisable to create a bootable USB for repair. Just upgrade to the AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional edition if you installed the software. Then, follow the guidance to proceed to learn how to fix broken registry items.

Step 1. On another Windows 11 PC, install and run this free disk tool. Insert a USB drive with at least 13GB capacity. Once your PC detects the USB, click "Tools" > "Make Bootable Media" in the top panel, and then click "Next" to proceed.

Step 2. Choose the “USB Boot Device” option, select the prepared USB drive, and click “Proceed” to create a WinPE bootable disk for Windows 11.

After a brief wait, you will have a WinPE bootable USB in Windows 11. You can use it to troubleshoot broken registry items in Windows 11 problem.

Fix 4. Restore the missing registry files

If you back up your registry files during the Windows 11 installation, you can restore them at any time to fix broken items. It is also advisable to back up your registry before making any significant modifications to your computer.

Step 1. Press "Win + R", type "regedit" and press Enter. If User Account Control requests permission, click "Yes."

Step 2. Right-click on "Computer" in the left pane and choose the "Export" option.

Step 3. Name your backup file and choose the storage destination. Click Save to complete the backup of your registry items.

To restore the Windows 11 broken registry items, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open the Run dialogue box, type "regedit," and press Enter. If the User Account Control window appears, click "Yes."

Step 2. Navigate to the Files menu and click "Import."

Further reading: Recover lost data when fixing broken registry items in Windows 11

Given the strong connection between broken registry items and system files, there is a risk of data loss during the fixing process as well. If you've lost important data, the simplest solution is to run AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, equipped with a "Recover Data" function to effortlessly restore your data in various scenarios.

Whether it's due to a virus attack, formatting, system crashes, or permanent deletion, AOMEI ensures the easy retrieval of your data from HDDs, SSDs, SD cards, USB drives, and more. Don't let data loss be a concern – AOMEI is here to secure and recover your important files with ease!

Step 1. Run AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. In the main interface, go to "Recover" on the top pane and then choose "Recover Data".

Step 2. Choose the targeted drive location where the data recovery process is intended to commence. Then, initiate the process by clicking "Start Scan".

Step 3. After the completion of the scan, a comprehensive display of deleted files, items from the recycle bin, and other files that were previously missing will be presented. From this selection, designate the specific photo you wish to restore, then proceed by clicking the "Recover" option.

Step 4. Then, specify a destination pathway on your personal computer where the retrieved files are to be stored.

Step 5. As the data recovery process commences, navigate to the path you initially chose. Once the recovery operation achieves success, you can see if your lost files go back there.

Conclusion

This post shares how to fix broken registry items in Windows 11. With the help of AOMEI Partition Assistant, you can effectively troubleshoot the problem without data loss as well as easy data backup or cleanup.

It is also recommended to explore powerful features like App Mover, Allocate Free Space, and Merge partitions, which are beneficial to expanding drive space. What’s more, by using it, you can fix boot issues at home without the need for costly professional technical support. If you are a Windows Server user, the software offers the AOMEI Partition Assistant Server edition.