Accessing registry through a dll project - error The type name 'RegistryKey' could not be found in the namespace 'Microsoft.Win32'

Question

Accessing registry through a dll project - error The type name 'RegistryKey' could not be found in the namespace 'Microsoft.Win32'

Jansen Barbara 6

Dear all,

When trying to call Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey I am having The type name 'RegistryKey' could not be found in the namespace 'Microsoft.Win32'. This type has been forwarded to assembly 'Microsoft.Win32.Registry, Version=4.1.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' Consider adding a reference to that assembly.

even if including "using Microsoft.Win32;".

Same code works within program.cs

Any reason for this please and how I can resolve

Thanks

hasan yılmaz 1 Reputation point

2021-08-02T14:18:57.83+00:00

Adding Microsoft.Win32.Registry as a nuget package solves!

1 answer

Your answer

hasan yılmaz 1 Reputation point

2021-08-02T14:18:57.83+00:00

Adding Microsoft.Win32.Registry as a nuget package solves!

Answer 1

Michael Taylor 58,451

The RegistryKey type is defined in the assembly Microsoft.Win32.Registry. You are referencing it from an older assembly that is forwarding to the newer assembly but that assembly isn't included. Add a reference to the Microsoft.Win32.Registry assembly and your problem should go away.

Jansen Barbara 6 Reputation points

2020-11-30T16:24:13.477+00:00

Hi and thanks for your feedback.

I did include a reference to Microsoft.Win32.Registry however it is stating Error CS1069 The type name 'Registry' could not be found in the namespace 'Microsoft.Win32'. This type has been forwarded to assembly 'Microsoft.Win32.Registry, Version=4.1.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' Consider adding a reference to that assembly.

As said the same code works within program.cs. why it is differentiating between a normal c# app and a dll (class library)

Thanks
Michael Taylor 58,451 Reputation points

2020-11-30T16:27:13.713+00:00

Are you compiling your .NET app as a .NET Framework target and your class library as .NET Standard or .NET Core? If so then things are different. In the case of a .NET Framework app you'd add a reference using the standard Add Reference dialog. For .NET Standard/Core apps you'd have to include a NuGet package.

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Accessing registry through a dll project - error The type name 'RegistryKey' could not be found in the namespace 'Microsoft.Win32'

1 answer

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