How to Reset Edge Browser in Windows 10

This guide shows you how to instantly reset Microsoft Edge in Windows 10, restoring it to its default settings without reinstalling the browser. This clears corrupted settings, removes unwanted extensions, and fixes common issues like crashes, slow loading, or a hijacked homepage, while keeping your bookmarks, history, and passwords intact.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with Microsoft Edge installed (the legacy Edge or the newer Chromium-based Edge).
• Administrator access to your Windows account (not required for the in-browser reset, but needed if you use the file-deletion method).
• Your Microsoft account password if you’re signed in and want to sync data after the reset.

Step-by-Step

The method depends on which version of Edge you have. The newer Chromium-based Edge (the default since 2020) uses a different reset path than the original EdgeHTML version.

For the New Chromium-Based Edge (Recommended)

1. Open Edge. Launch the browser from your taskbar, Start menu, or desktop shortcut.
2. Access Settings. Click the three-dot menu icon (⋯) in the top-right corner of the window. From the dropdown, select Settings.
3. Navigate to Reset. In the left sidebar, click Reset settings. If you don’t see the sidebar, look for a gear icon or a “Settings” link at the bottom of the menu.
4. Choose the reset option. Click Restore settings to their default values. A confirmation dialog will appear.
5. Confirm the reset. Read the warning that this will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs, and will disable all extensions and clear temporary data like cookies. It will not delete your favorites, history, or saved passwords. Click Reset.
6. Restart Edge. Close the browser completely and reopen it. Edge will launch with its default settings, and your extensions will be disabled (you can re-enable them one by one from the Extensions page).

For the Legacy Edge (EdgeHTML, pre-2020)

1. Open Edge. Launch the legacy browser from the Start menu or taskbar.
2. Open Settings. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Choose what to clear. Scroll down and click Choose what to clear under the “Clear browsing data” section.
4. Select all data types. Check every box (browsing history, cookies and saved website data, cached data and files, etc.), then click Clear. This is not a full reset, but it removes most problematic data.
5. Reset the browser (if needed). If issues persist, go back to Settings, scroll to the bottom, and click View advanced settings. Scroll down and click Reset browser settings. Confirm in the pop-up.

For a Full Reset via File Deletion (Both Versions)

If the in-browser reset fails or you want a completely clean slate, you can delete Edge’s profile folder. This removes everything, including bookmarks and passwords, so back them up first if you want them.

1. Close Edge completely. Ensure no Edge process is running in the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
2. Open File Explorer. Press Win + E.
3. Navigate to the Edge profile folder. In the address bar, paste one of these paths and press Enter:
   – For Chromium Edge: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data
   – For Legacy Edge: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe
4. Rename the folder. Right-click the Default folder (inside User Data for Chromium) or the main package folder (for Legacy) and select Rename. Change it to Default.old (or Edge.old). This keeps a backup instead of deleting it.
5. Relaunch Edge. Open the browser again. It will create a fresh profile folder with default settings. If everything works, you can delete the .old folder later.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing the two Edge versions. The reset path for Chromium Edge is under “Reset settings,” while the legacy version uses “Advanced settings.” Using the wrong path wastes time.
• Expecting the reset to delete everything. The in-browser reset keeps your favorites, history, and passwords. If you want those gone, you must clear them separately under “Privacy, search, and services.”
• Not closing Edge before deleting files. If Edge is running, the profile folder is locked, and the deletion or rename will fail or cause errors.
• Deleting the entire “User Data” folder instead of just “Default.” This can remove your profile and may cause Edge to prompt you to sign in again, but it also removes any other profiles you have.
• Skipping the backup. If you use the file-deletion method without renaming, you permanently lose all local data. Always rename to .old first.

Tips

• Export your favorites first. Even though the in-browser reset keeps them, it’s good practice to export them to an HTML file (Settings > Profiles > Export favorites) before any major change.
• Re-enable extensions one by one. After a reset, a problematic extension is often the culprit. Enable them one at a time and test to find the one causing issues.
• Set your preferred search engine. After resetting, Edge will default to Bing. You can change it in Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Address bar and search.
• Use the “Reset” button before the “Repair” option. Windows 10 also offers a “Repair” option in Settings > Apps > Microsoft Edge > Modify, which reinstalls the browser without touching your data. Try the in-browser reset first, then repair.
• Check for Windows updates. Sometimes Edge issues stem from an outdated Windows 10 build. Run Windows Update after resetting to ensure you have the latest fixes.

Troubleshooting

If the reset button does nothing or the browser crashes immediately:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and end all Edge processes under the “Processes” tab.
2. Try the file-deletion method above, renaming the profile folder. This bypasses the in-browser reset entirely.
3. If that fails, uninstall Edge from Settings > Apps, then reinstall it from the Microsoft Store (for Chromium Edge) or re-enable it via “Optional features” (for legacy Edge).

If your bookmarks or passwords are missing after a reset:

1. Check if you are signed in with a Microsoft account. If so, go to Settings > Profiles > Sync and turn on sync. Your data should restore from the cloud.
2. If you renamed the profile folder to .old, you can copy the Bookmarks and Login Data files from the old folder into the new one, but this can cause conflicts. Better to use the sync feature.

If Edge still runs slowly after a reset:

1. Clear the cache again from Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data.
2. Disable hardware acceleration in Settings > System and performance, then restart Edge.
3. Check for malware with Windows Defender or another trusted scanner, as some infections hijack browser settings even after a reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting Edge delete my saved passwords?
No, the in-browser reset keeps saved passwords, autofill data, and browsing history. Only the file-deletion method removes them.

Does resetting Edge remove my extensions?
Yes, all extensions are disabled but not uninstalled. You can re-enable them from the Extensions page (edge://extensions).

Will I lose my favorites/bookmarks?
No, the in-browser reset preserves them. However, it’s wise to export them beforehand just in case.

Why is my homepage changed after the reset?
Edge resets the homepage to its default (usually a new tab page or Bing). You can change it back in Settings > On startup.

How often should I reset Edge?
Only when you have persistent problems like crashes, pop-ups, or a hijacked search engine. Resetting is not a routine maintenance task.

Can I undo a reset?
No, there is no built-in undo. That’s why the file-deletion method uses a rename instead of a delete, giving you a manual backup.

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