This article explains how to reset Microsoft Edge to its original state without uninstalling the application and how to delete personal data, including passwords.
What to Know
- Click the menu icon (three horizontal dots) > Settings > Reset Settings > Restore settings to their default values > Reset.To remove personal data, go to Settings > Privacy…services > Choose what to clear > select All time > check each box > Clear now.
How to Reset Microsoft Edge Settings
Resetting Microsoft Edge is a two-part process that begins with restoring the browser settings. This process restores the settings to the same state they were in when you originally installed the application, but it doesn’t delete personal data like passwords.
Before you reset Microsoft Edge, make sure you have backed up or synchronized your local data like passwords, favorites, profiles, and anything else you don’t want to lose.
Here’s how to reset Microsoft Edge:
To prevent Edge from automatically restoring everything from the cloud, you can navigate to Settings > Profiles > Sync and click Turn off sync.
- Open Microsoft Edge, and click the menu icon (three horizontal dots) in the upper right corner.
- Click Settings.
- Click Reset Settings in the left pane.
- Click Restore settings to their default values.
- Click Reset.
How to Clear Your Browsing Data, Passwords, and More
When you reset Microsoft Edge, a lot of things are left in place. Your passwords, browsing history, cached files, and profile are all still in place. You can clear your cache by itself or delete individual passwords if that’s all you need to do, or you can remove everything all at once.
Open Microsoft Edge, and click the menu icon (three horizontal dots) in the upper right corner.
Click Settings.
Click Reset Settings in the left pane.
Click Restore settings to their default values.
Click Reset.
Here’s how to reset all of those things and leave Edge in the same state it was when you first installed it.
If you don’t sign out of Edge before performing this procedure, you will clear stored data from the cloud and all of your other devices in addition to the device you are currently using. If you only want to reset Edge on the device you’re using, sign out first.
- Open Microsoft Edge, and click the main menu (three horizontal dots) icon in the upper right corner.
- Click Settings.
- Click Privacy, search, and services in the left pane.
- Click Choose what to clear in the clear browsing data section.
- Click the dropdown menu and select All time.
- Place a check mark in every box.
- Click Clear now.
- Your data will be cleared the moment you click Clear Now. Make sure you actually want to clear everything before performing this step.
Why Reset Microsoft Edge?
When you reset Microsoft edge, all changes that have been made to the browser settings since you installed it are removed. If you experience any bugs with browser settings, or your browser just isn’t working correctly, resetting it will often fix the problem.
Open Microsoft Edge, and click the main menu (three horizontal dots) icon in the upper right corner.
Click Privacy, search, and services in the left pane.
Click Choose what to clear in the clear browsing data section.
Click the dropdown menu and select All time.
Place a check mark in every box.
Click Clear now.
Your data will be cleared the moment you click Clear Now. Make sure you actually want to clear everything before performing this step.
What to Do Before Resetting Microsoft Edge
Before you reset Microsoft Edge, keep in mind doing so will remove all of your personal data and undo any changes that have been made to the browser settings. If you want to have access to your data and custom settings after resetting, then you should consider backing up your passwords, favorites, browser settings, and anything else you want to keep
If you have chosen to sync data between Edge on other platforms, make sure each thing you want to keep has synchronization turned on. Everything you choose to synchronize will be available from the cloud after you finish resetting the browser.
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