How to Reset Microsoft Edge to Default Settings on Windows 11

How to Reset Microsoft Edge to Default Settings: The Standard Method

This is generally the safest way to fix most problems, and it needs no administrator rights. Try it first. You can turn your extensions back on one at a time afterward.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (…) in the top-right corner. A menu opens.
3. Click Settings. The Settings ⚙️ page opens in a new tab.
4. Click Reset settings in the left-hand list. If you don’t see the list, widen the window or click the menu icon at the top left of the Settings ⚙️ page.
5. Click Restore settings to their default values. A confirmation box appears and lists what will be reset.
6. Click Reset to confirm.

Your extensions will now show as turned off on the extensions page. Turn back on only the ones you trust and need. If the problem returns after you re-enable one, you’ve found the cause. There is no undo for a reset, so you would have to change the settings ⚙️ back by hand.

Hard Reset by Deleting Local Data

A hard reset by deleting local data clears all stored information, settings, and browsing history when standard reset steps fail to fix problems in Microsoft Edge. This process deletes the folder where Edge saves your personal files on your computer, forcing the browser to rebuild a clean default profile the next time you open it.

That includes local bookmarks, saved passwords, and history. Confirm that sync is working, or export your favorites, before you continue.

1. Close all Edge windows. Check the system tray and Task Manager if you aren't sure that Edge has fully stopped, because files that are in use can't be deleted.
2. Press Windows Key + R. The Run box opens.
3. Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data and press Enter. File Explorer opens the folder that holds Edge's profile data.
4. Find the Default folder and delete it. If Windows says the folder is in use, Edge is still running in the background, so close it and try again.
5. Open Edge again to let it create a fresh folder. Edge starts like a first-time launch, so you will need to sign in again to bring your synced data back.

If you would rather be careful, rename the Default folder instead of deleting it. If the problem stays, close Edge, delete the new folder, and rename the old one back to Default to restore your old profile.

Resetting via PowerShell and Command Line

For advanced users, PowerShell (a powerful command-line interface for managing Windows) can be used to clear browser data. Requires Administrator Privileges: you must be signed in as an administrator, or be able to enter an administrator's credentials when prompted. Use this method only when the earlier ones have failed, and save your work first, because the last step restarts the computer.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin). Click Yes if the User Account Control prompt appears. A Terminal window opens with administrator rights.
2. Type Get-AppxPackage *MicrosoftEdge* | Remove-AppxPackage and press Enter. Read any message the command prints before moving on, and don't continue if it reports an error.
3. Restart your computer to reinstall the browser.

After the restart, open Edge and check that it launches. If it doesn't, use the repair method in the next section.

Repairing Edge via Windows Settings

Repairing Edge via Windows Settings: Windows 11 includes a built-in tool for repair. It reinstalls Edge's program files without needing the command line. Requires Administrator Privileges: expect a User Account Control prompt, and enter administrator credentials if you are on a standard account. Make sure you are online, because the repair downloads Edge again.

1. Go to Settings › Apps › Installed apps. A list of installed programs appears.
2. Find Microsoft Edge. Use the search box at the top of the list if it is hard to spot.
3. Click the three dots next to it and select Modify. A repair window opens.
4. Click Repair. Edge closes, and the installer downloads and reinstalls the browser.

When the repair finishes, Edge usually reopens by itself. If Modify is greyed out or missing, check that you are signed in as an administrator. Some managed work or school PCs also block this option, and in that case you need to ask your IT department.

Checking for Registry-Level Hijacks

Checking for Registry-Level Hijacks: If your settings are locked, you should check the registry (a central database for Windows settings and configurations). Locked settings often show a "Managed by your organization" message in Edge, which means a policy is controlling the setting. Sometimes unwanted software puts those policies there. Requires Administrator Privileges: you must be able to approve the administrator prompt.

Be careful here, because a wrong deletion can break Windows or other programs. Before you change anything, back up the key. Right-click the key in the left pane, choose Export, and save the file somewhere safe. Double-clicking that file later puts the key back.

1. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and hit Enter. Click Yes at the User Account Control prompt. Registry Editor opens.
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge. You can paste the path into the address bar at the top of Registry Editor, or expand the folders in the left pane one by one.
3. Delete any suspicious entries. If you don't recognize an entry, leave it alone and look it up first.

Close Registry Editor and restart Edge when you're done. Enter edge://policy in the address bar to check what Edge still reads as active policies. If a policy remains, a security scan for unwanted software is the next step.