How to Reset an App to Default in Windows 11

What Happens When You Reset or Repair an App?

Wiping an application’s local state deletes all saved preferences and cached files, bringing the software back to its initial installation footprint. This clears out stubborn bugs causing crashes, though it also unpins the program from your taskbar 🖥️.

Resorting to a full reset makes sense when the built-in repair function fails to resolve persistent software glitches.

Taskbar shortcuts disappear during a reset. Pinned icons require manual re-pinning after the configuration wipe completes.

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.

The main Settings app ⚙️ handles application resets natively. Press the Win and ‘I’ together to launch Settings, navigate to Apps, click Installed apps, locate the target program, click the three-dot menu, select Advanced options, and 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

The Start menu provides a faster shortcut if digging through the main Settings app feels tedious. Open the Start menu, click 'All apps,' locate the target program, right-click its entry, and select 'Advanced options' to reach the reset control.

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)

PowerShell (a command-line shell and scripting language) lets advanced users trigger app resets via text commands. Querying the system isolates the correct package identifier, allowing execution of targeted wipe commands.

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

The following text snippets execute app resets when pasted into PowerShell:

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.

Three distinct pathways handle Windows 11 application resets: the Settings application, Start menu context menus, and PowerShell command execution. Always attempt the Repair function initially to preserve personal configurations, reserving total resets for severe malfunction cases.