How to Restore a Web Browser's Settings

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Restore your browser's default settings with this simple walkthrough

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Last Updated: May 30, 2023

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Google Chrome

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Microsoft Edge

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Safari

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Firefox

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Opera

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Q&A

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Tips

Is your web browser behaving strangely? If it's freezing up, opening the wrong search engine, behaving differently upon opening links, or doing anything else you're not used to, you may want to start fresh. Most web browsers have a quick "Reset" or "Refresh" button that allows you to quickly bring your browser back to its original default settings—you won't even lose your bookmarks, passwords, or AutoFill data when you reset! This wikiHow teaches you how to restore your web browser back to the way it was when you first launched it on your PC or Mac.

Things You Should Know

Restore Chrome's settings by opening the Advanced section of its Settings menu and clicking Restore settings to their original defaults.
Click Reset settings towards the bottom of the left-hand panel in your Microsoft Edge settings.
Type about:support into your Firefox search bar and click the Reset Firefox... button.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Google Chrome

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You'll find it in your Windows Start menu or on your Mac's Launchpad.
It's the three vertical dots at the upper-right corner of Chrome.

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This opens your Chrome settings.
It's all the way down at the bottom of the page.
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Scroll down and click Restore settings to their original defaults. It's in the "Reset and clean up" section, which is the last section on the page. A confirmation message will appear, asking if you want to reset all settings, shortcuts, extensions, cookies, and site data in Chrome.
- Resetting the browser will not affect your saved passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history.
This sets all of your Chrome settings back to the way they were when you installed Chrome.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Microsoft Edge

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1
Open Microsoft Edge on your PC or Mac. You'll find it in your Windows Start menu or your Mac's Launchpad.
- When you reset Edge, your startup page, new tab page, search preferences, pinned tabs, cookies, and extensions will all be deleted. Resetting will not delete your bookmarks, browsing history, saved passwords, or autofill information.
It's at the upper-right corner of the Edge window.
It's the option with a gear at the bottom of the menu.
It's toward the bottom of the left panel.
This option is at the top of the right panel. A confirmation window will appear.
This restores Edge to its original settings.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Safari

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1
Open Safari on your Mac. It's the compass icon on the Dock, as well as on the Launchpad.
- Safari doesn't have a singular "Reset" button like other browsers. Despite this, you can reset all of the settings manually.
- If you just want to delete your browsing history, cache, and cookies, click the History menu at the top of the screen, select Clear History…, choose a time period, and then click Clear History.
It's in the menu bar running along the top of the screen.
This opens your Safari preferences to the General tab.
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Reset all of the menus on this tab to their default settings. These are the defaults:
- "Safari opens with:" A new window
- "New windows open with:" Favorites
- "New tabs open with:" Favorites
- "Homepage:" https://www.apple.com
- "Remove history items:" After one year
- "Favorites shows:" Favorites
- "Top Sites shows:" 12 sites
- "File download location:" Downloads
- "Remove download list items:" After one day
- The box next to "Open "safe" files after downloading" is also checked by default.
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Click the Tabs icon to reset the defaults. It's the second icon at the top of the window. The default settings:
- Select Automatically from "Open pages in tabs instead of windows."
- Check the boxes next to "Command-click opens a link in a new tab" and "Use Command-1 through Command-9 to switch tabs." You'll see the Command key symbol instead of the word "Command," though.
- Remove any other checkmarks.
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Click the AutoFill tab to reset your AutoFill defaults. It's the rectangle with a pencil icon at the top.
- To reset this tab to the defaults, simply check every box on the page.
On this tab, you'll just need to check the box next to "AutoFill user names and passwords" if it's not already checked.
It's the magnifying glass at the top of the window. The default search engine is Google, and all boxes should be checked.
It's the padlock icon at the top. On this tab, just make sure both boxes are checked.
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Click the Privacy tab to adjust your privacy settings. This is the blue circle with a white hand inside. The default settings:
- Check the box next to "Prevent cross-site tracking."
- Remove the checkmark (if there is one) from "Block all cookies."
- Check the box next to "Apple Pay and Apple Card."
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Click the Websites tab to remove any special website settings. This is the globe icon at the top of the window.
- Go through each of the options on the left panel to see which websites you've given access to the named tools. By default, no websites are listed.
- To remove a website, click its name and select Remove.
- Repeat for all tabs in the left panel.
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Click the Extensions tab. It's the puzzle piece icon at the top. By default, no extensions are installed. This means you'll want to remove any extensions you see here.
- To remove an extension, click its name, and then click Uninstall.
- Repeat for all installed extensions.
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Click the Advanced tab. This is the last tab (the gear icon) at the top. These are the original default settings:
- The only checkbox that should have a checkmark is the one next to "Internet plug-ins." All the others should be unchecked.
- Select None selected from the "Style sheet" menu.
- Select Western (ISO Latin 1) from the "Default encoding" menu.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Firefox

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1
Open Firefox on your PC or Mac. You'll find it in your Windows Start menu or your Mac's Launchpad.
- Resetting Firefox will remove all extensions, themes, customizations, and preferences.^{[1]
  X
  Research source} It will not affect your saved passwords, browsing history, downloads, or autofill information.
To do this, type about:support into the address bar at the top and press Enter or Return. This loads a special webpage that allows you to edit some additional settings.
It's in the upper-right area of the page. A confirmation message will appear.
This erases all customizations you've made to Firefox and restores it to the way it was when you first installed it.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Opera

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1
Open Opera on your PC or Mac. You'll find it in your Windows Start menu or your Mac's Launchpad.
- Resetting opera will not affect your bookmarks, history, or saved passwords. When resetting, you'll just be removing any customizations you've made to the browser (including pinned tabs and search engine preferences), as well as remove any extensions you've installed. It'll also remove your cookies and cache.
It's the button that looks like three sliders at the top-right corner of Opera.
It's at the bottom of the menu.
It's all the way at the bottom of the page. More options will appear.
It's the last option on the page. A confirmation window will appear.
This restores your Opera settings back to the way they were when you first installed the browser.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I change to Google for a home page and save stored e-mails and bookmarks?

Banana Head

Top Answerer

If you are using Google Chrome as your browser, click the 3 dots in the upper-right corner. Then go down to "Settings". Scroll down a bit until you get to a section called "Appearance". There is a setting there for your home button. It is set by default to a New Tab page, so just select the next button and type in www.google.com, then exit out of settings.

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