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Behavior of 64-bit Application Creating Registry Key Directly Under WOW6432Node

Amal Krishna Jk 25 Reputation points
2025-04-24T05:44:56.9933333+00:00

Hi,

I have a question regarding registry behavior on a 64-bit Windows system. If a 64-bit application explicitly creates a registry key under: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\...

Will the key be created successfully, or is this action restricted by the system?

If the key is created by the 64-bit app, what will happen when a 32-bit application tries to access the same path? Will it be able to read/write to that key as expected, or will redirection cause any issues?

I’m trying to understand how registry redirection works in this case and whether direct access to WOW6432Node by a 64-bit process is considered best practice or not.

Thanks in advance for any clarification.

Windows API - Win32
Windows API - Win32
A core set of Windows application programming interfaces (APIs) for desktop and server applications. Previously known as Win32 API.
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  1. RLWA32 48,416 Reputation points
    2025-04-24T07:12:11.5533333+00:00

    Microsoft's guidance on registry redirection and directly accessing Wow6432node is stated at Registry Redirector which says -

    "Redirected keys are mapped to physical locations under Wow6432Node. For example, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software is redirected to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node. However, the physical location of redirected keys should be considered reserved by the system. Applications should not access a key's physical location directly, because this location may change."

    The guidance links to Accessing an Alternate Registry View which also contains a cautionary note about not using direct access.

    Will the key be created successfully, or is this action restricted by the system?

    A process running as Administrator will successfully create the key.

    If the key is created by the 64-bit app, what will happen when a 32-bit application tries to access the same path?

    Ordinarily, a 32-bit process will not see the Wow6432Node Key. However, for certain functions as documented in Accessing an Alternate Registry View a 32-bit process can access a registry path containing the Wow6432Node key.

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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