How to Reset Apps in Windows 11
- 16 steps
- Needs administrator rights
Resetting an app in Windows 11 clears its saved data and settings and returns it to its just-installed state. The reset option is built into all current Windows 11 versions. Use it when an app freezes, crashes, or refuses to open.
If the app offers a repair option, try that first. Repair fixes minor bugs without touching your saved files. If repair does not help, a reset starts the app fresh. A reset cannot be undone, so back up anything important before you start.
To reset an app in Windows 11, open Settings, click Apps, then Installed apps. Click the three dots next to the app, choose Advanced options, and click Reset. This deletes the app’s saved data and settings, returning it to its just-installed state. Try Repair first, because it keeps your data.
How to Reset an App Using Windows Settings
It clears broken data, caches and temporary files, which are common causes of crashes and freezes, and you do not have to uninstall the program. The Advanced options page appears only for some apps. Microsoft Store apps and most built-in Windows apps have it. Desktop programs installed from a downloaded setup file usually do not. If you cannot find it for your app, use the PowerShell method below, or uninstall and reinstall the program.
- Open Settings. Click the Start button (the Windows icon on the taskbar), then click Settings. You can also press Win+I.
Windows 11 Start menu search panel for opening OpenSSH Client settings - Click Apps in the left-hand menu.
Settings › Apps - Click Installed apps. On some builds it is labelled Apps & features. A list of every app on the PC appears.
Settings › Apps › Installed apps - Find the app you want to reset. Scroll the list, or type its name in the search box at the top. Click the three dots (More options) next to it, then click Advanced options. If that entry is missing, the app does not support resetting from Settings.
Settings > Update > Advanced options - Click Terminate. This closes the app and its background processes so nothing holds its files open. The button may be greyed out if the app is not running. That is fine.
windows 11 advanced options terminate button - Look for a Repair button in the Reset section. Not every app has one. If yours does, click it and test the app, because repair keeps your data. If the problem remains, or there is no Repair button, continue.
- Click Reset. This deletes the app’s data on this device and cannot be undone. A warning appears.
windows 11 reset settings app reset button - Click Reset again to confirm.
- Wait a few moments. A checkmark appears next to the Reset button when the reset finishes.
- Open the app and test it. Expect to sign in again and set your preferences from scratch. You do not normally need to restart Windows.
How to Reset Apps Using PowerShell (Advanced Users)
It also reaches stubborn built-in Windows apps. These steps require administrator rights. The reset command used here works on all current Windows 11 versions. If PowerShell does not recognize it, check your version in Settings System About and install pending updates.
- Open PowerShell as an administrator. Search for PowerShell in the Start menu, right-click the result, and select Run as administrator. Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission. A PowerShell window opens with “Administrator” in the title bar.
- List all installed apps. Type or paste the command below and press Enter.PowerShell
Get-AppxPackage | Select Name
- Scroll through the list and find the app you want to reset. Note its exact name as it appears. A typo means the command cannot find the app.
- Reset the app. Replace AppName in the command below with the name you noted.PowerShell
Get-AppxPackage *AppName* | Reset-AppxPackage
- To reset Microsoft Teams, for example, run:PowerShell
Get-AppxPackage *MicrosoftTeams* | Reset-AppxPackage
- Open the app when the command finishes and check that it works. If PowerShell prints a red error, read the message. It usually means the name was mistyped or the app is not a package that can be reset this way.
Important Things to Remember
- A reset permanently deletes the app’s data, saved login details and custom preferences. There is no undo. To get your data back, restore it from your backup or from the app’s cloud sync.
- For small problems, repair the app instead of resetting it.
- PowerShell is less forgiving than Settings. Check the app name before you press Enter.
What to do next
If the app still fails after a reset, uninstall it and reinstall it. That is also the route for desktop programs that have no Advanced options page in Settings.
Frequently asked questions
How can I reset my apps?
Open Settings, select Apps, then Installed apps. Click the three dots beside the app, choose Advanced options, and click Reset. This clears the app's saved data and settings and returns it to its fresh state. Your files outside the app stay put. Back up anything important first, because the reset cannot be undone.
How do I reset my apps?
Go to Settings, then Apps and Installed apps. Find the app, select the three dots, and pick Advanced options. Scroll to the Reset section and click Reset. Windows wipes the app's stored data and settings. Only apps with an Advanced options page show this. Use Repair first if the app offers it.
How to reset default apps?
Windows 11 has no single button that resets all default apps. Open Settings, select Apps, then Default apps. Pick the file type or link type you want to change and choose a new app. For Microsoft apps, select the app on that page and click Reset if the option appears.
How to reset app size on 🪟 Windows 11?
Windows 11 has no setting that resets an app's size. If you mean the storage an app uses, reset it from Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps. Open Advanced options and click Reset to clear its saved data, cache, and temporary files. Uninstalling the app also frees all its space.
How to put apps back to normal?
Reset the app to return it to its just-installed state. Open Settings, select Apps, then Installed apps, and click the three dots beside the app. Choose Advanced options, then click Reset. Try Repair first if the app offers it, since repair keeps your saved data. A reset deletes saved data, so back up first.
How do you reset your apps?
Open Settings, select Apps, and choose Installed apps. Find the app, click the three dots, and select Advanced options. Click Reset in the Reset section. This clears the app's saved data and returns it to its default state. Back up important files first, because the reset cannot be undone.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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