How to Reset Chrome, Edge, or Firefox to Default Settings

A browser reset is the nuclear option — it clears unwanted extensions, restores settings to default, and often fixes problems that nothing else could. Here's what it does, what it doesn't touch, and exactly how to do it in each browser.

What a reset does (and doesn't) remove

Removed by a reset: extensions, pinned tabs, homepage settings, search engine preferences, cookies, cached files, and any other customisations.

Kept: bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history, and — if you're signed into a Google/Microsoft account — any synced data.

Reset Google Chrome

1. Open Chrome and go to Settings (three-dot menu > Settings).
2. Scroll down to Reset settings in the left sidebar.
3. Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
4. Review what will be reset, then click Reset settings.

Reset Microsoft Edge

1. Open Edge and go to Settings (three-dot menu > Settings).
2. Click Reset settings in the left sidebar.
3. Click Restore settings to their default values.
4. Click Reset to confirm.

Reset Mozilla Firefox

Firefox calls this a "Refresh." It's slightly more gentle — it keeps more of your data.

1. Type about:support in the Firefox address bar and press Enter.
2. Click Refresh Firefox in the top-right corner.
3. Confirm in the dialogue that appears.

Firefox saves a backup of your old profile on the Desktop in a folder called "Old Firefox Data" so you can retrieve anything you need.

After the reset

Sign back into your browser account to restore synced bookmarks and passwords. Reinstall only the extensions you genuinely need — don't just restore everything, as one of them was likely causing the problem.

If problems persist even after a reset, the issue may be at the operating system level. Ask us and we can help you dig deeper.