How to reset Google Chrome settings to default
In Google Chrome on a computer (steps verified 2026-10-18 against Chrome Help), click More (⋮) > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset settings. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are not deleted.
The reset restores your default search engine, homepage and startup tabs, new tab page, pinned tabs, content settings, cookies and site data, and extensions and themes.
Resetting is the right fix when something has changed Chrome without your permission: a search engine you never chose, a homepage full of ads, or pop-ups that started after installing free software. It's not the same as clearing your cache, and it doesn't reinstall Chrome. Applies to Chrome on Windows, Mac, Linux and ChromeOS as of October 2026; on Android and iPhone there's no reset button, as covered below.
Reset Chrome on a computer
Reset from Settings
- Open Chrome.
- Click More (three dots, top right) > Settings.
- In the left sidebar, click Reset settings (on some versions, under Advanced).
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults, read the summary, then click Reset settings.
- Afterwards, review your extensions at
chrome://extensionsand remove any you don't trust.
Windows: if the hijack keeps coming back
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and uninstall software you don't recognise or installed just before the problem started.
- Run a scan with Windows Security (Virus & threat protection).
- Then reset Chrome again.
Reset vs clear cache vs new profile vs reinstall
These four fixes get confused constantly. They solve different problems:
| Fix | What it changes | Keeps bookmarks & passwords? | Signs you out of websites? | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear cache | Cached images and files (optionally cookies and history) | Yes | Only if you clear cookies | Pages load wrong or look outdated |
| Reset settings | Search engine, homepage, startup, new tab, permissions, pinned tabs, extensions and themes; clears cookies | Yes | Yes | Settings changed without permission, unwanted ads or redirects |
| New Chrome profile | Starts a clean profile alongside the old one | Only if you sync them in | In that profile, yes | Reset isn't enough, or you want to test a clean setup |
| Reinstall Chrome | Replaces the program files | Synced data comes back after sign-in | Usually | Settings menu won't open or Chrome won't start |
Start with the lightest fix that matches your symptom. See our Chrome cache guide for the first row.
Our take: find the culprit before you reset
A reset fixes the symptom; it doesn't remove what caused it. If a rogue extension or installed program changed your settings once, it will usually do it again.
Spend two minutes on chrome://extensions first. Remove anything you don't recognise, anything you didn't install on purpose, and anything installed around the time the problem started - especially "search", "PDF converter" or "coupon" add-ons. Then reset. Because Google applies the reset to your Chrome profile on all devices where you're signed in, a clean reset on one computer can be undone by a program still installed on another, so check each computer you use with that profile.
What the reset doesn't touch
- Bookmarks, saved passwords and browsing history stay.
- Fonts and accessibility settings aren't reset - Google notes the reset isn't a full reset for that reason.
- Settings managed by an organisation stay. If Chrome shows *Managed by your organization* on a personal computer you didn't set up that way, open
chrome://policyto see what is enforcing settings; unwanted policies usually come from installed software.
If it fails
- The settings menu is missing or won't open. Google's advice is to uninstall Chrome, download it again from google.com/chrome and reinstall.
- Chrome reset itself without you asking. Chrome checks at launch whether settings were changed by other programs and may restore the defaults automatically, including search engine, homepage, startup pages, pinned tabs and extensions. If this happens repeatedly, a program is still changing settings - remove it.
- The search engine changes back after a reset. Look for an extension that controls it (Chrome shows a note under Search engine naming the extension), or a policy at
chrome://policy. - Pop-ups continue on one site. That's often the site's own notifications. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications and remove sites you don't recognise; our pop-ups guide covers the related setting.
- Still broken. Update Chrome (how to update Chrome), then create a new profile and compare.
Chrome on Android and iPhone
Google's reset steps are for Chrome on a computer; Chrome Help doesn't describe a single reset button for Chrome on Android or iPhone. On a phone, clearing Chrome's cache and browsing data fixes most of the same problems - see how to clear the cache in Google Chrome.
Frequently asked questions
Does resetting Chrome delete bookmarks or passwords?
No. Google says saved bookmarks and passwords won't be deleted or changed.
Will resetting Chrome sign me out of websites?
Yes, usually. The reset clears cookies and site data, so you'll need to sign in to sites again.
Does resetting Chrome remove extensions?
Google lists extensions and themes among the settings the reset changes. Check chrome://extensions afterwards and remove anything you don't recognise.
Is resetting Chrome the same as clearing the cache?
No. Clearing the cache removes stored files; a reset restores settings like the search engine and homepage, and resets extensions and themes.
Does a reset affect my other computers?
Google says the defaults apply to your Chrome profile on all devices where you're signed in.