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To reset Microsoft Edge to its default settings on Windows 11, open Edge, go to Settings, select Reset settings, choose Restore settings to their default values, and confirm with Reset. This restores Edge’s configuration. It does not work the same way as clearing browsing data, and the two are easy to confuse.
Reset Edge’s settings in five steps
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Select Settings and more (…) in the upper-right corner, then select Settings. The keyboard shortcut Alt+F also opens the menu.
- In the Settings page, select Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Read the confirmation dialog and select Reset.
Microsoft’s Edge Learning Center documents this route in its guidance on restoring a missing Edge toolbar. Menu labels can shift between Edge releases, so if the wording on your screen differs, look for the section named Reset settings within Settings.
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What the reset changes
Microsoft describes the reset as returning settings such as the homepage, the search engine, and pinned tabs to their defaults. Its Learning Center article on fixing sound issues in Edge points to the same reset route for settings-level problems.
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Microsoft’s own pages do not give a complete list of what the reset leaves alone. A Microsoft Q&A community answer on resetting Edge reports that extensions are disabled, temporary data such as cookies is cleared, and favorites, browsing history, and saved passwords are kept. Because that is community guidance rather than first-party documentation, treat it as what users have reported, not a guarantee. Read the confirmation dialog before selecting Reset, and back up or sign in to sync any data you cannot afford to lose.
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Reset settings versus clearing browsing data
Many people searching for how to reset Edge actually want to delete their history or cookies without touching anything else. Those are separate operations. The table below shows how they differ.
| Question | Reset settings | Clear browsing data |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Restore Edge’s configuration to defaults | Delete selected categories of personal browsing data |
| Where to find it | Settings > Reset settings | Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data |
| Scope you choose | All-or-nothing restore to defaults, as described in the confirmation dialog | Time range plus individual data types |
| Effect on other devices | Microsoft’s documentation does not state a universal rule for how the reset interacts with sync across every account type or version | Synced items may be cleared on other synced devices when sync is turned on |
How to clear selected browsing data
- Open Settings and select Privacy, search, and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
- Pick a time range and the data types you want to remove.
- Select Clear now.
Microsoft’s guidance on viewing and deleting browser history lists the data types Edge can clear, including browsing history, download history, cookies and other site data, cached images and files, passwords, autofill form data, and site permissions. Check each item before you confirm, because a cleared category is gone from the browser on this device.
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If you use sync, confirm that it is on before clearing anything. Microsoft says synced items may be cleared across every device that shares the same account. Clearing on one machine can therefore remove data elsewhere.
If the reset does not fix the problem
A browser-level reset does not always resolve a fault in the Edge installation itself. Microsoft Q&A community guidance describes a Windows repair route. The steps are below. Labels can vary by Windows build, so if a step does not match what you see, search Installed apps for Microsoft Edge.
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- Open Start, then select Settings.
- Select Apps, then Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft Edge in the list, select its three-dot menu, and choose Modify.
- Select Repair and follow the prompts.
A repair is not guaranteed to fix every problem. If Edge still misbehaves afterward, the issue may lie outside the browser’s settings, such as an extension, a policy set by an organization, or a problem with the Windows profile.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sync and account considerations
Edge can sync favorites, passwords, history, extensions, settings, open tabs, autofill data, and other data across devices signed in with the same Microsoft account. Sync is configurable by data type. Before resetting or clearing anything on a shared or work device, open Settings > Profiles > Sync and check which categories are on. Microsoft’s sync sign-in guidance covers how to turn each category on or off.
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- Work and school accounts, and devices managed by an organization, may carry policies that change how Edge behaves. Your administrator can confirm what applies.
- If you need a copy of a password, bookmark, or history entry, export or save it before you reset or clear.
If the reset does not produce the result you expected, check the sync status first, then repeat the steps above on the affected device.
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