How to Reset an App to Default in Windows 11

What Happens When You Reset or Repair an App?

Resetting an app in Windows 11 returns it to its original state, much like when you first installed it. This process removes all your saved app data and personal settings. If an app is misbehaving, such as freezing or crashing, resetting the app often fixes the problem by clearing out existing issues.

Resetting an app deletes all the app’s data and settings, returning it to its initial state from installation. Use this reset function if repairing the app does not resolve the issue.

Resetting a Windows 11 app removes that app from your taskbar if it was pinned there. Users must pin the app again after resetting if they want it to appear on the taskbar.

How to Reset an App in 🪟 Windows 11

Option 1Reset App Using Settings

1. Open ⚙️ the Settings app by pressing Win + I on your keyboard.
2. Click Apps on the left menu, then click Installed apps on the right.
3. Find the app you want to reset (for example, “Microsoft Store”) in the list.
4. Click the three dots (︙) next to the app, then select Advanced options.
5. Click Terminate to stop the app from running.
6. Scroll down and click Reset.
7. Confirm by clicking Reset again when prompted.
8. The app will be reset to its default settings. You can now close Settings.

Resetting an app to its default settings is possible using the Windows 11 ⚙️ Settings app. First, open Settings by pressing the Windows key and ‘I’ together. Then, go to Apps, select Installed apps, find the app you want to reset, click the three dots, choose Advanced options, and finally click Reset.

Open Installed Apps in Settings

Click the three dots and select Advanced options

Click Reset to start the reset process

Option 2Reset App from the ⊞ Start Menu

Resetting an app directly from the ⊞ Start Menu offers a quick alternative if you find it hard to locate in the main Settings list. Open the ⊞ Start menu, click ‘All apps,’ find the app you wish to reset, 🖱️ right-click on it, and then select ‘Advanced options’ to access the reset function.

1. Open the ⊞ Start menu.
2. Click All apps to see a list of your apps.
3. Right-click the app you want to reset (for example, “Microsoft Store”).
4. Hover over More, then click App settings.
5. Follow the same reset steps as in Option 1.

Click All apps in the ⊞ Start menu

Option 3Reset App Using PowerShell (For Advanced Users)

For advanced users, resetting an app in Windows 11 using PowerShell offers a direct method. You open PowerShell, type commands to find the specific app, and then run the command to reset it. This PowerShell method offers a more direct way to manage application resets.

1. Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell (search “PowerShell” in Start, then open it).
2. Type this command and press Enter to see all installed apps:
   
   Get-AppxPackage | Select Name
3. Look through the list to find the exact name of the app you want to reset (e.g., Microsoft.WindowsStore for Microsoft Store).
4. Type the command below, replacing AppName with the actual app name, and press Enter:
   
   Get-AppxPackage *AppName* | Reset-AppxPackage
5. Example for Microsoft Store:
   
   Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.WindowsStore* | Reset-AppxPackage
6. Close PowerShell when you’re done.

Option 4Use Pre-made PowerShell Commands for Popular Apps

Here are commands you can copy and paste into PowerShell to reset common apps quickly:

Summary

• You can reset apps in Windows 11 using Settings, the ⊞ Start menu, or PowerShell.
• Try Repair first if your app has problems. It won’t erase your data.
• Reset will erase app data and settings. Only use it if repair doesn’t work.
• After resetting, you might need to pin the app back to 🖥️ your taskbar if you had it there.
• PowerShell is a powerful tool if you want to reset apps quickly using commands.
• By following these easy steps, you can fix most app problems and get everything working again in Windows 11.

Windows 11 apps can be reset using ⚙️ the Settings app, right-clicking from the ⊞ Start Menu, or PowerShell for advanced users. Always try the Repair option first, as it preserves your data. Resetting does erase app data and settings, so reserve it for when repair doesn’t work.