How to Reset Google Chrome

To reset Google Chrome to defaults, follow these instructions:

  1. Make sure Google Chrome is closed.
  2. Press the Windows key + R to bring up the run dialog.
  3. Windows Vista, 7, 8 or newer:
    Type in the following and press Enter: %localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\

    Windows XP:
    Type in the following and press Enter: %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\

  4. Press Ctrl + A to select all the files in the folder.
  5. Hold down Ctrl + A and click once on the files “Bookmarks” and “Bookmarks.bak”. This will unselect them.
  6. With all the files selected (except for your Bookmarks), press the Delete key and click Yes to delete the files.

23 comments

  1. works fine to stage three, but after that no ctrl+A bit and nothing else seems to work.
    I am running Windows 8 and have had my laptop about five months and it has been fine all the way through – but this morning, Chrome simply will not open?

  2. Pasting a file path into the RUN window and pressing enter gives you an error message (of course ).

    The idea is to delete all files from the specified location but this cannot be done via RUN window.

    1. Hello Mike, If you are unable to find the folder using the “Run” window then there is something wrong with your OS.
      We are not suggesting that you can delete the files from the “Run” window, simply opening the location to be able to delete its contents.
      All our posts are tried and tested before being published, I can confirm that I am not having any issues finding folders from the “Run” window.

  3. I was unable to delete some of the files. I got an error message reading that a file was open elsewhere. I have closed everything on my computer, so I don’t know where a file could be open…

  4. Well all I can say is, apart from the bookmarks bit (which I’d saved as an HTML file anyway) you are a genius. Nothing else has worked and I’ve been struggling for days. THANK YOU!!

  5. So far so good. Step 5 holding CTRL & A while clicking didn’t do anything but just clicking on the two Bookmark files to uncheck theme to keep them did. Haven’t extensively used Chrome yet but this appears to be like starting with Chrome like just after downloading it for the first time but without having to uninstall and reinstalling it which was lot easier.

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