How to reset settings to defaults on Microsoft Edge

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.

If Microsoft Edge is running slower than usual, crashing, behaving unexpectedly, or an extension has changed browser settings, resetting the browser is often the quickest way to fix the problem. From years of troubleshooting Windows and Microsoft Edge, I’ve found that browser problems are usually caused by a corrupted profile or a misbehaving extension rather than a bug in Edge itself. That’s why I always recommend trying the built-in reset before deleting the browser profile

Windows 11 and Windows 10 offer two ways to reset Microsoft Edge. A soft reset restores key browser settings to their defaults while keeping your favorites, passwords, and other personal data. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, you can perform a full reset by deleting the Edge profile folder, which removes all settings and locally stored data so the browser starts with a completely fresh profile.

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
Reset every setting to defaults on Microsoft Edge
Pureinfotech’s Take

Reset common settings to defaults on Microsoft Edge

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

Open Microsoft Edge.
Click the Settings and More (ellipsis) button on the top-right corner.
Select the Settings option.
Click on Reset settings.
Click the “Restore settings to their default values” option.
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, settings under sections such as Appearance, Downloads, System, and Accessibility remain unchanged. If the issue is caused by one of those settings or a corrupted browser profile, you’ll need to perform the full reset described below.

When should you use the full reset instead?

If Edge continues crashing, won’t launch, signs you out repeatedly, or immediately recreates the same problem after a built-in reset, the issue is usually stored in your browser profile rather than in Edge’s settings. In those situations, deleting the profile folder is more effective because it removes the configuration files the built-in reset leaves behind.

One mistake I’ve seen people make is jumping straight to deleting the profile. I only recommend that approach after trying the built-in reset first because it’s much faster and preserves your browser setup.

Reset every setting to defaults on Microsoft Edge

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

Close the Microsoft Edge browser.
Open Start.
Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the app.
Open the Processes tab.
Search for Microsoft Edge using the search box at the top of the page.
Choose the Microsoft Edge group of processes.
Click the End task button to ensure that no browser processes are running on the device.
Open File Explorer.
Type the following path in the address bar and press Enter:
```
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft
```
Right-click the Edge folder and choose the Delete option.

Quick note: If you don’t use a Microsoft account or have browser sync turned off, export your favorites and verify any important passwords are saved before deleting the profile folder. Data stored only on that device can’t be recovered afterward.
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.

What happens after deleting the Edge folder?

The next time you launch Microsoft Edge, Windows creates a brand-new browser profile. If you sign in with the same Microsoft account and sync is enabled, your favorites, passwords, history, and extensions are downloaded again automatically. However, any settings or data that existed only on that PC and weren’t synced are permanently lost.

Before deleting the profile folder, verify that sync has completed if you want to keep your browsing data.

Pureinfotech’s Take

I rarely recommend jumping straight to a full browser reset because, in most cases, it’s unnecessary. Over the years, I’ve found that the built-in reset fixes the majority of Edge problems caused by faulty extensions, misconfigured settings, or changes made after installing other software. It’s faster, preserves your important data, and gets you back to browsing in just a few minutes.

Deleting the Edge profile folder is still a valuable troubleshooting option, but I see it as a last resort. It’s especially useful when the browser profile becomes corrupted, and the built-in reset can’t undo the damage. The key is knowing which method matches the problem instead of using the most drastic solution first.

What are your thoughts on resetting Microsoft Edge to fix browser problems? Let me know in the comments.

Update July 23, 2026: This guide has been updated to include a video tutorial to follow these instructions.

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