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Manage Permissions

Registry keys are protected by permissions, just like files and folders. O&O RegEditor lets you review and change which users and groups may read or modify a key.

Assign Permissions For A Key

  1. Select the key whose permissions you want to change.
  2. Open the Edit menu and choose Permissions.
  3. Under Group or user names, select the user or group you want to configure.
  4. In the permissions list below, set the access level:

The Permissions dialog

Figure: The Permissions dialog for a key.

To allow the user to...Enable Allow for...
open, edit, and take ownership of the keyFull Control
read the contents of the key but not change or save itRead
use special, fine-grained privilegesclick Advanced (see Advanced Security Settings)
  1. Apply the change.

Inheritance

Permissions can be inherited from a parent key. If you assign permissions on a subkey and want the permissions of a main key to apply to that subkey as well, enable the option to inherit the parent's permission entries that apply to child objects, then apply.

Permissions affect access, not just editing

Removing your own access to a key can lock you out of it. Changing permissions on system keys can prevent Windows or applications from working correctly. Change permissions deliberately, and note what you changed.

Administrator Rights

Changing permissions — especially on keys under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE — generally requires administrator rights. If a change is refused, start O&O RegEditor with the necessary privileges.