What resetting your default browser actually does

Resetting your default browser returns it to the state it was in when you first installed it. This clears your browsing history, removes all extensions and add-ons, deletes saved passwords, resets your homepage and search engine to the original settings, and removes any toolbars or unwanted changes someone else may have made to your computer.

A reset does not uninstall the browser itself — the program stays on your computer. It also does not delete your bookmarks unless you specifically choose that option during the reset process. Most people reset when their browser has become slow, when ads or toolbars appeared without their action, or when they want to start fresh after malware or unwanted software changed their settings.

The steps differ depending on which browser you use. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all have reset functions, but they are located in different places and work slightly differently.

Key Takeaways

  • Resetting clears history, extensions, passwords, and homepage settings, but leaves your browser installed and your bookmarks intact unless you remove them.
  • Chrome's reset is in Settings under Advanced, then Reset and clean up; Firefox's is in Help under Troubleshooting Information.
  • Safari on Mac requires you to manually clear history and remove extensions, since it has no single reset button like other browsers.
  • Edge reset works the same way as Chrome because both use the same underlying engine.
  • Back up your bookmarks before resetting if you want to keep them, since some reset options can delete them.

How to reset Google Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Advanced on the left sidebar to expand more options. Look for the section labeled Reset and clean up and click Restore settings to their original defaults.

A window will appear asking you to confirm. It will list what will be cleared: extensions, theme, homepage, search engine, and pinned tabs. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are not listed, which means they will remain. Click the blue Reset settings button to complete the process. Chrome will restart automatically, and your browser will return to its original state.

If you also want to remove saved passwords, go back to Settings, click Autofill on the left, then Passwords, and delete the entries you no longer want. This step is separate from the main reset.

How to reset Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Scroll down and click Help, then select More troubleshooting information. On the page that opens, look for the section labeled Give Firefox a tune up and click the blue Refresh Firefox button.

A dialog box will ask you to confirm. It will tell you that extensions and some settings will be removed, but your bookmarks, history, passwords, and open tabs will be saved. Click Refresh Firefox again to proceed. Firefox will close and restart with default settings restored.

If you want to also clear your browsing history, go to the hamburger menu, click History, then Clear Recent History. Choose how far back you want to clear (the default is "Everything") and make sure Browsing & read History is checked, then click Clear Now.

How to reset Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Reset settings on the left sidebar. Under the section Reset settings, click Restore settings to their default values.

A window will appear listing what will be removed: extensions, theme, homepage, search engine, and new tab page settings. Bookmarks and passwords remain unless you manually delete them. Click the blue Reset button to confirm. Edge will restart and return to its original configuration.

Edge uses the same engine as Chrome, so the process and results are nearly identical. If you want to remove saved passwords separately, go to Settings, click Passwords, and delete individual entries.

How to reset Safari on Mac

Safari does not have a single reset button like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Instead, you clear settings manually. Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top, then select Clear History. Choose how far back you want to clear (the default is "all history") and click Clear History.

To remove extensions, click Safari in the menu bar, then Preferences. Click the Extensions tab, select each extension you want to remove, and click Uninstall. To reset your homepage, go to the General tab and change the homepage URL back to what you want, or leave it blank for the default new tab page.

To reset your search engine, click the Search tab in Preferences and select Google from the dropdown (or whichever engine you prefer). Your bookmarks remain in place unless you delete them manually from the Bookmarks menu.

What to do before you reset

Before resetting, write down any important information you might lose. If you have bookmarks you want to keep, export them first. In Chrome and Edge, click the three dots, go to Bookmarks, then Bookmark manager, click the three dots in the manager window, and select Export bookmarks. In Firefox, click the hamburger menu, go to Bookmarks, then Manage Bookmarks, click the gear icon, and select Export Bookmarks to HTML. In Safari, click File in the menu bar and select Export Bookmarks.

If you have passwords saved in your browser that you do not remember, write them down or store them in a password manager before resetting. After the reset, you will need to log into websites again and re-enter passwords. You can also take a screenshot of your extensions list if you want to remember which ones you had installed, so you can reinstall them after the reset if needed.

What happens after you reset

After resetting, your browser will open to its default homepage and search engine. You will need to log back into websites that you use regularly. If you had extensions installed, they will be gone, and you will need to reinstall them from the browser's extension store if you want them back.

Your browsing speed may improve if the reset removed malware or conflicting extensions. If you notice the same problems returning shortly after the reset, the issue may be coming from your computer rather than your browser — in that case, consider running a malware scan or checking what programs are set to start automatically when your computer boots up.

If you want to restore your bookmarks after resetting, go back to your browser's bookmark manager and look for an import option. In Chrome and Edge, click the three dots in the bookmark manager and select Import bookmarks. In Firefox, click the gear icon and select Import Bookmarks from HTML. In Safari, click File and select Import Bookmarks. Navigate to the file you exported before the reset and select it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting delete my bookmarks?

No. Bookmarks are preserved during a reset in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Safari does not have a reset function, so your bookmarks stay in place when you manually clear history and remove extensions. If you want to delete bookmarks, you must do that separately.

Can I undo a reset after I do it?

Not directly. Once you reset, the old settings are gone. However, if you exported your bookmarks before resetting, you can import them back. For extensions, you will need to reinstall them one by one from your browser's extension store. If you realize you made a mistake, restore from a backup of your user profile folder if your computer has one.

Will resetting remove malware from my computer?

Resetting your browser will remove malware that only affected your browser settings, like unwanted toolbars or homepage hijackers. It will not remove malware installed on your computer itself. If problems return after resetting, run a full malware scan with antivirus software or take your computer to a technician.

Do I need to uninstall and reinstall my browser instead of resetting?

Usually no. A reset clears everything a full uninstall and reinstall would clear, and it is faster. Uninstall only if you want to remove the browser completely from your computer, or if resetting does not solve your problem.

What if I forgot my password before resetting?

If your browser had your password saved, resetting will delete it from the browser, but it will not change the actual password on the website. You can still log in by using the "Forgot password" link on the website to reset it. Write down any important passwords before resetting if you are not sure you remember them.