How to retrieve windows registry keys and values using PowerShell?

To browse through the registry in PowerShell, we can use the Get-ChildItem command. For example to get all keys from the path HKLM:\Hardware we can use the below command.

Get-ChildItem HKLM:\HARDWARE

Or you can set the location and use the dir (get-ChildItem or ls) command to browse the path.

Example

PS C:\> Set-Location HKLM:\HARDWARE
PS HKLM:\HARDWARE> dir

Output

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE
Name    Property
----    --------
ACPI
DESCRIPTION
DEVICEMAP
RESOURCEMAP

To get the properties of the key, use the Get-ItemProperty command.

Example

Set-Location 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\VMware, Inc.'
Get-ItemProperty '.\VMware Drivers'

Output

efifw.status      : 1|1.1.0.0.0.1|oem2.inf
vmxnet3.status    : 1|1.1.8.16.0.1|oem3.inf
pvscsi.status     : 1|1.1.3.15.0.1|oem4.inf
vmusbmouse.status : 1|1.12.5.10.0.1|oem5.inf
vmmouse.status    : 1|1.12.5.10.0.1|oem6.inf