Skip to main content

Common Issues

Solutions to the situations users run into most often.

A Change Or Delete Is Refused​

You likely do not have permission to modify that key. This is common under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and other protected areas.

  • Start O&O RegEditor with administrator rights.
  • Check the key's permissions and adjust them if appropriate — see Manage Permissions.

A Setting Has No Effect​

  • Confirm the value has the exact name and type the application expects. A setting stored as the wrong type is often ignored. See Value Types.
  • Some settings are read only when the application or Windows starts. Restart the affected program, sign out and back in, or restart the computer.

Importing A .reg File Reports An Error​

  • The file must be a valid Windows registry file. The error message names the line that could not be interpreted; open the file in a text editor and check that line.
  • Make sure the file really is a .reg file and has not been altered so that its structure is broken.

See Import.

Dark Mode Does Not Apply​

Full dark-mode support requires Windows 10 version 1809 or later. On earlier versions the light theme is always used. See Appearance.

The Interface Language Did Not Change​

Changing the language takes full effect only after the program restarts. Accept the restart prompt, or close and reopen O&O RegEditor. See Language.

Search Returns Too Many Or Too Few Results​

  • Too many: select a more specific key before searching so the scope is smaller, and enable Whole word or Match case to narrow matches. See Finding Data.
  • Too few: make sure the right scope boxes (Keys, Values, Data) are enabled, and that Match case is not excluding results you expected.

A Setting In The Configuration File Did Not Stick​

Edit the configuration file only while O&O RegEditor is closed. The program writes the file as it runs and on exit, so changes made while it is open can be overwritten. See Settings Reference.

Still Stuck?​

Contact O&O Software support — see Technical Support.