How to Reset Any Browser to Factory Defaults

If your browser’s acting up—slow speeds, strange pop-ups, broken pages—it might be time for a reset. Resetting a browser to its factory defaults can clear out junk settings, rogue extensions, or lingering glitches. This guide shows you how to do it for all major browsers, step by step.

⚠️ What Happens When You Reset a Browser?

Resetting a browser usually:

• Removes extensions and add-ons
• Clears cookies, temporary data, and site settings
• Restores the homepage, search engine, and new tab page to default
• Keeps your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords (except in Firefox)

Now, let’s get into the how-to for each major browser.

🔵 Google Chrome

1. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Settings > Reset settings.
3. Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
4. Confirm by clicking Reset settings.

✅ What’s kept: Bookmarks, history, passwords
🧹 What’s removed: Extensions, custom settings, pinned tabs

🔷 Microsoft Edge

1. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right.
2. Go to Settings > Reset settings.
3. Click Restore settings to their default values.
4. Confirm with Reset.

✅ Keeps: Favorites, passwords
🧹 Resets: Extensions, homepage, search engine, startup settings

🔶 Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the menu button (three lines) in the top-right.
2. Choose Help > More Troubleshooting Information.
3. Click Refresh Firefox.
4. Confirm with Refresh Firefox in the pop-up.

⚠️ This one’s more aggressive:

• ❌ Removes: Extensions, themes, custom settings, open tabs
• ✅ Keeps: Bookmarks, passwords, cookies, history

🟠 Opera

1. Click the O menu in the top-left corner.
2. Go to Settings > Advanced > Browser.
3. Scroll down and click Restore settings to their original defaults.
4. Confirm with Reset.

✅ Keeps: Bookmarks, passwords
🧹 Resets: Extensions, startup settings, search engines

🍏 Safari (Mac)

Safari doesn’t have a one-click reset, but you can do it manually:

1. Clear History: Safari > Clear History > Choose “all history”
2. Remove Extensions: Safari > Settings > Extensions > Uninstall
3. Clear Cache:
   • Enable Developer menu: Safari > Settings > Advanced > “Show Develop menu”
   • Go to Develop > Empty Caches

🧼 It’s a bit more work, but you get the same end result: a clean slate.

Final Tip

Resetting should be your last resort. Try disabling extensions or clearing cache first. But if your browser still lags or misbehaves, a full reset can fix it fast.

Need help resetting a specific browser or troubleshooting a problem? Drop a comment below or get in touch—we’re here to help.