Microsoft built a native WinUI Registry Editor that makes Windows 11’s regedit look like Windows 95, and I tried it
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Windows Latest discovered a native WinUI 3 version of the Registry Editor in Microsoft’s open‑source Microsoft.UI.Reactor repository, compiled it, and ran it on a Windows 11 PC. The sample app reads the actual Windows Registry and retains the classic two‑pane layout while applying modern WinUI controls, fluid animations, and a Mica backdrop. Built with Reactor—a C# framework that brings the Model‑View‑Update pattern to WinUI—the editor replaces XAML with React‑style hooks such as UseState and UseEffect, yet performs real read/write operations via Microsoft.Win32 APIs. On build 26340.9882 the app launched quickly, displayed a brief “Loading…” placeholder for large hives, and handled permissions gracefully. Microsoft has only hinted at a registry editor in an October blog post and has not announced any plan to replace the legacy regedit in Windows 11.
💡 Why It Matters
- · It demonstrates that Microsoft’s experimental Reactor framework can modernize core system tools without sacrificing functionality, hinting at a future where legacy utilities get refreshed UI while staying fully native.
