{"id":427743,"date":"2026-10-13T05:10:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T05:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/?p=427743"},"modified":"2026-10-13T07:55:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T07:55:27","slug":"reset-microsoft-edge-settings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/reset-microsoft-edge-settings\/","title":{"rendered":"Reset Microsoft Edge: Fix Redirects Without Losing Saved Passwords (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Microsoft Edge has become slow, keeps crashing, or behaves strangely, resetting it to its default settings can often fix the problem. A settings reset restores key browser settings, disables extensions, and clears temporary site data such as cookies. It preserves favorites, history, and saved passwords, and does not uninstall unwanted programs from Windows. It\u2019s a simple and effective way to resolve browser errors or performance issues, especially if you suspect malware or unwanted software has modified your settings.<\/p><div id=\"mwtad242268279\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309684--placement_406659\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-right: 10px;margin-bottom: 50px;margin-left: 10px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3957935887\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/edge-reset-mwt-oct2026.webp\" alt=\"Conceptual illustration of Microsoft Edge settings being restored without discarding saved browsing information\" class=\"wp-image-427744\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" loading=\"eager\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/edge-reset-mwt-oct2026.webp 1440w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/edge-reset-mwt-oct2026-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/edge-reset-mwt-oct2026-1024x576.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad2688605674\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309746-ad_309685-placement_406660\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"4456629336\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading whitespace-pre-wrap\">What Happens When You Reset Microsoft Edge?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Resetting Microsoft Edge restores the settings listed in its confirmation dialog; it is not a complete deletion of your profile. Here\u2019s what changes when you perform a reset:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The default search engine is reset to the original setting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The homepage button is hidden, and any custom homepage URL is removed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Startup tabs are cleared. Edge will open with a new tab or continue where you left off, depending on your settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The New Tab page returns to the default layout unless managed by an extension.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pinned tabs are unpinned.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content and site permissions are reset to default.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cookies, cache, and site data are cleared.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extensions and themes are disabled.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These changes give you a clean browsing environment, free of conflicts or unwanted modifications, while your saved passwords, bookmarks, and browsing history remain intact.<\/p><div id=\"mwtad172935025\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_381396-ad_309685-placement_406667\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-bottom: 50px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1471373341\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad2852055975\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309747-ad_309685-placement_406661\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"9589536513\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading mt_title\">How to Reset Microsoft Edge to Default Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"mt_notey\">You can quickly reset Microsoft Edge by typing <strong>edge:\/\/settings\/resetProfileSettings<\/strong> in the address bar, then pressing Enter. On the Reset page, click <strong>Reset<\/strong> to restore Edge to its default settings.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alternatively, you can follow the steps below to manually reset Microsoft Edge to its factory defaults:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Updated for Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 and Windows 11 \u2014 July 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n  <li>\n    <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Open the Edge menu and click &#8220;Settings&#8221;<\/p>\n    <p>Open Microsoft Edge. In the top-right corner, click the <strong>three-dot (&#8230;) icon<\/strong>, then click <strong>Settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136961 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Edge-Open-Settings.jpg\" alt=\"Open the Microsoft Edge menu and click Settings\" width=\"800\" height=\"539\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Edge-Open-Settings.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Edge-Open-Settings-300x202.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Prevent the unwanted settings from returning through Edge Sync<\/p>\n\n    <p>If you are signed in to Microsoft Edge, a bad setting or extension may be stored in your Microsoft account and return after the reset.<\/p>\n\n    <p>Copy the following address, paste it into the Edge address bar, and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n    <pre><code>edge:\/\/settings\/profiles\/sync<\/code><\/pre>\n\n    <p>On the Sync page, turn off these two options:<\/p>\n\n    <ul>\n      <li><strong>Settings<\/strong><\/li>\n      <li><strong>Extensions<\/strong><\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n\n    <p>You can leave <strong>Favorites<\/strong> and <strong>Passwords<\/strong> turned on.<\/p>\n\n    <p>If Edge says that sync is already off, simply continue to the next step.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Important:<\/strong> Edge Sync settings are separate for each profile. If you use more than one Edge profile, switch to each affected profile and repeat this step.<\/p>\n\n    <p>You do not need to sign out of your Microsoft account or delete the Edge profile.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Open &#8220;Reset settings&#8221;<\/p>\n\n    <p>In the left sidebar, click <strong>Reset settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n    <p>You can also open the reset page directly. Copy the following address, paste it into the Edge address bar, and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n    <pre><code>edge:\/\/settings\/reset<\/code><\/pre>\n\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136962 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Resen-and-Clean-Edge-browser.jpg\" alt=\"Open Reset settings in Microsoft Edge\" width=\"800\" height=\"539\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Resen-and-Clean-Edge-browser.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Resen-and-Clean-Edge-browser-300x202.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Click &#8220;Restore settings to their default values&#8221;<\/p>\n\n    <p>Click <strong>Restore settings to their default values<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136963 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Restore-Edge-Settings-Button.jpg\" alt=\"Select Restore settings to their default values in Microsoft Edge\" width=\"800\" height=\"541\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Restore-Edge-Settings-Button.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Restore-Edge-Settings-Button-300x203.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Confirm the reset<\/p>\n\n    <p>In the confirmation dialog, click <strong>Reset<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n    <p>This resets the startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It also disables all extensions and clears temporary site data, such as cookies.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Don&#8217;t worry:<\/strong> your favorites, browsing history, and saved passwords will not be deleted.<\/p>\n\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136960 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Confirm-Reset-Edge-Browser.jpg\" alt=\"Confirm the Microsoft Edge reset\" width=\"800\" height=\"539\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Confirm-Reset-Edge-Browser.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Confirm-Reset-Edge-Browser-300x202.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Check your extensions before turning them back on<\/p>\n\n    <p>Copy the following address, paste it into the Edge address bar, and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n    <pre><code>edge:\/\/extensions<\/code><\/pre>\n\n    <p>Remove any extension you do not recognize or no longer use. Pay particular attention to extensions related to search, coupons, shopping, PDF conversion, browser protection, new tabs, or video downloading.<\/p>\n\n    <p>Do not turn all extensions back on at the same time. Enable only the extensions you recognize and trust.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Select a trusted search engine<\/p>\n\n    <p>Copy the following address, paste it into the Edge address bar, and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n    <pre><code>edge:\/\/settings\/searchEngines<\/code><\/pre>\n\n    <p>Select <strong>Bing<\/strong>, <strong>Google<\/strong>, <strong>DuckDuckGo<\/strong>, or another search provider you trust and make it the default.<\/p>\n\n    <p>Remove any unknown search engines, especially providers with strange names or addresses that you did not add yourself.<\/p>\n\n    <p>Restart Edge and perform a search from the address bar. If searches are no longer redirected, you can stop here.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">If the redirect remains, clean the corrupted search data without deleting the Edge profile<\/p>\n\n    <p>Use this additional step only if Edge continues to redirect searches after the normal reset.<\/p>\n\n    <p>This optional repair renames the Web Data database in one affected Edge profile. It may reset form-fill information, saved addresses, and custom search engines. Back up the profile first. Favorites, passwords, and browsing history are stored separately, but do not use a database repair as your first troubleshooting step.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Before continuing:<\/strong> save anything you are working on because the command will close Microsoft Edge.<\/p>\n<p>Before closing Edge, open <strong>edge:\/\/version<\/strong> in the affected profile and copy its <strong>Profile path<\/strong>. The command asks for that path and checks it is inside Edge\u2019s profile folder. Do not select another person\u2019s profile or paste a folder suggested by an unverified caller.<\/p>\n\n    <ol>\n      <li>Open the Windows <strong>Start<\/strong> menu.<\/li>\n      <li>Type <strong>PowerShell<\/strong>.<\/li>\n      <li>Open <strong>Windows PowerShell<\/strong>. Administrator access is not required.<\/li>\n      <li>Copy the entire command below.<\/li>\n      <li>Paste it into PowerShell and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>.<\/li>\n    <\/ol>\n\n    <pre><code class=\"language-powershell\">$stamp = Get-Date -Format \"yyyyMMdd-HHmmss\"\n$root = Join-Path $env:LOCALAPPDATA \"Microsoft\\Edge\\User Data\"\n\nGet-Process -Name msedge -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |\n    Stop-Process -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue\n\nStart-Sleep -Seconds 2\n\nif (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $root)) {\n    Write-Host \"The Microsoft Edge profile folder was not found:\"\n    Write-Host $root\n    return\n}\n\n$profilePath = Read-Host \"Paste the affected Profile path from edge:\/\/version\"\n$profilePath = [System.IO.Path]::GetFullPath($profilePath.Trim().Trim('\"'))\n$profileParent = [System.IO.Path]::GetDirectoryName($profilePath.TrimEnd('\\'))\nif ($profileParent -ne [System.IO.Path]::GetFullPath($root)) {\n    Write-Warning \"The selected folder is not a direct Edge profile folder. No files were moved.\"\n    return\n}\n$profiles = @(Get-Item -LiteralPath $profilePath -ErrorAction Stop)\n$movedFiles = 0\n\nforeach ($profile in $profiles) {\n    foreach ($name in @(\n        \"Web Data\",\n        \"Web Data-journal\",\n        \"Web Data-wal\",\n        \"Web Data-shm\"\n    )) {\n        $file = Join-Path $profile.FullName $name\n\n        if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $file) {\n            $backup = \"$file.search-reset-backup-$stamp\"\n\n            try {\n                Move-Item -LiteralPath $file -Destination $backup -ErrorAction Stop\n                Write-Host \"Cleaned: $($profile.Name)\\$name\"\n                $movedFiles++\n            }\n            catch {\n                Write-Warning \"Could not clean: $file\"\n            }\n        }\n    }\n}\n\nWrite-Host \"\"\n\nif ($movedFiles -gt 0) {\n    Write-Host \"Microsoft Edge search data has been cleaned.\" -ForegroundColor Green\n    Write-Host \"You can now reopen Microsoft Edge.\"\n}\nelse {\n    Write-Host \"No Edge search database files were found.\" -ForegroundColor Yellow\n}<\/code><\/pre>\n\n    <p>The command does not permanently delete the original files. It renames them as backup files, and Edge creates a clean search database when it starts again.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Note:<\/strong> this additional cleanup may also reset saved form-fill suggestions, saved addresses, and manually added search engines. It does not delete favorites, passwords, or browsing history.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Reopen Edge and test the browser<\/p>\n\n    <p>Open Microsoft Edge again, visit <strong>edge:\/\/settings\/searchEngines<\/strong>, and select your preferred search engine.<\/p>\n\n    <p>Perform several searches from the address bar to confirm that the redirect is gone.<\/p>\n\n    <p>Keep synchronization for <strong>Settings<\/strong> and <strong>Extensions<\/strong> turned off until you are certain that the computer and extensions are clean. If you enable them again, turn them on one at a time and test Edge after each change.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n\n  <li>\n    <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">If Edge still redirects your searches<\/p>\n\n    <p>Open <strong>edge:\/\/policy<\/strong>. If this is your personal computer and Edge displays unknown policies such as <strong>ExtensionInstallForcelist<\/strong> or <strong>DefaultSearchProvider<\/strong>, the hijacker may be installed outside the browser profile.<\/p>\n\n    <p>In that situation, continue with the next malware-removal steps and run a complete antivirus scan. If the computer belongs to a company or school, contact its IT administrator before changing any policies.<\/p>\n  <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s it \u2014 Microsoft Edge has now been restored to its default configuration. To improve your browsing safety, consider installing a trusted ad blocker such as <a href=\"https:\/\/adguard.com\/?aid=29616\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\"><strong>AdGuard [recommended]<\/strong><\/a> to block intrusive or malicious ads.<\/p><div id=\"mwtad180451890\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309686-ad_309685-placement_406668\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-right: 10px;margin-bottom: 50px;margin-left: 10px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"6935453015\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p>If Edge still isn\u2019t performing correctly after the reset, the issue may be caused by unwanted software or a malicious extension installed through browser policies. In that case, try these next steps:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Run a full system scan with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/run-a-scan-with-malwarebytes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Malwarebytes Free<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Get expert assistance in our <strong><a title=\"Malware Removal Help\" href=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/categories\/malware-removal-help.9\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Malware Removal Help<\/a><\/strong> forum.<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reset Microsoft Edge to fix unwanted search and startup settings. Keep saved passwords and favorites, review extensions, and troubleshoot redirects that return.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":427744,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-427743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","masonry-post","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50","resize-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=427743"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":428262,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427743\/revisions\/428262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/427744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=427743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=427743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=427743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}