How to reset settings to defaults on Microsoft Edge

Easily restore Microsoft Edge to default settings on Windows 11 or 10.

Microsoft Edge reset settings / Image: Mauro Huculak
Microsoft Edge reset settings / Image: Mauro Huculak
  • To reset Microsoft Edge settings and restore default values, open the browser settings, click “Reset settings,” click “Restore settings to their default values,” and click “Reset.”
  • To reset the browser completely, close all the Microsoft Edge processes and, from %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft, delete the “Edge” folder.

UPDATED 8/21/2025: If Microsoft Edge is slow, unstable, or changed by extensions or apps, you can reset it. Windows 11 and 10 include two reset methods, including a soft reset that restores key settings while keeping your data, and a full reset that deletes everything for a fresh start.

Regardless of the reason, the soft reset method allows you to reset common browser settings to the defaults. When using this feature, Microsoft Edge will reset the startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. In addition, it’ll disable extensions and clear your browsing data.

If you want to delete and reset all the browser settings, you have to delete the “Edge” folder in your system profile folder. Nothing will be saved using this method, and you will have to start with the browser from scratch by configuring a new profile and choosing your settings all over again.

In this guide, I will teach you how to reset the settings to their default values on the new Microsoft Edge

Reset common settings to defaults on Microsoft Edge

To reset Microsoft Edge settings on Windows 11 (or 10), use these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.

  2. Click the Settings and More (ellipsis) button on the top-right corner.

  3. Select the Settings option.

  4. Click on Reset settings.

    Restore settings to their default values

  5. Click the “Restore settings to their default values” option.

    Microsoft Edge reset settings option

  6. Click the Reset button.

Once you complete the steps, the browser will reset the startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. In addition, this action will disable all your extensions and clear the browsing data. However, your favorites, history, and passwords will not be deleted. If you need to delete this data as well, you’ll need to do it from the Profiles page and delete your current profile. Also, other settings available in appearance, downloads, system, and other pages won’t reset to the defaults.

Reset every setting to defaults on Microsoft Edge

To reset the Microsoft Edge browser completely on Windows, use these steps:

  1. Close the Microsoft Edge browser.

  2. Open Start.

  3. Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the app.

  4. Open the Processes tab.

  5. Search for Microsoft Edge using the search box at the top of the page.

  6. Choose the Microsoft Edge group of processes.

  7. Click the End task button to ensure that no browser processes are running on the device.

    Task Manager close Edge processes

  8. Open File Explorer.

  9. Type the following path in the address bar and press Enter:

    %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft
  10. Right-click the Edge folder and choose the Delete option.

    Windows 11 delete Edge folder to reset browser

  11. Continue with the on-screen directions (if applicable).

After you complete the steps, open Microsoft Edge again to continue with the browser’s initial setup. If you’re signed in with a Microsoft account on Windows, the browser will create a new profile with that Microsoft account automatically, which will also re-sync your favorites and extensions. If you want to re-enable your extensions, you can complete this task from edge://extensions.

Update August 21, 2025: This guide has been updated to include a video tutorial to follow these instructions.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech in 2010. With over 22 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.

Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.

Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.

You can follow him on YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].