How to reset Google Chrome settings to default

With this operation, the Google Chrome browser will set personal settings in the state it was in immediately after installation. This means that:

• your home page and a new tab page will be restored
• the search engine will be replaced on Google
• disabled all extensions and unpinned all tabs that attached

Furthermore, Chrome will remove all temporary and cached data, including cookie files and downloaded data files.

Reset settings Chrome helps you quickly get rid of a variety of undesirable changes such as a change of the search engine, pop-up windows, annoying advertising, occasional redirect you to unwanted websites. And this operation is not dangerous to your personal data, i.e. reset does not delete saved bookmarks and passwords.

How to reset Google Chrome

The following instructions is a full step-by-step guide, which will help you to reset Google Chrome settings to default. Please do the instructions step by step. If you need a help or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below.

Reset Google Chrome, method 1

Start Google Chrome and open the main menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It opens tha drop-down menu. Click to Settings option.

The Google Chrome opens the page with the address chrome://settings, which allow you to set or change the browser’s basic settings. Now, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Show advanced settings” link, as shown on the screen below.

Scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, as shown below and click on the Reset settings button.

Google Chrome will show you a window asking you to confirm your action. Click on the Reset button.

Reset Chrome settings, method 2

Start the Google Chrome and type into the address bar chrome://settings/resetProfileSettings. Press Enter. It will open a screen as shown in the below example.

Google Chrome will show you a window asking you to confirm your action. Click on the Reset button.

Reset Google Chrome using Google Chrome Cleanup Tool

Download Chrome Cleanup Tool from the following link.

Open a directory in which you saved it. Run Chrome Cleanup Tool by double-clicking on an icon like below.

Chrome Cleanup Tool will perform a searching for malicious addons and hijackers. The tool scans quickly and upon its completion reports that what was found. If any malicious program was detected, Chrome Cleanup Tool will display a following message.

Click “Remove program” to start a removal process. If Chrome Cleanup Tool did not find anything, as shown in the picture below.

Then click “Continue” button to go to the next step. Chrome Cleanup Tool will ask you for permission to reset the browser settings to default.

Click “Reset” button.

Google Chrome Cleanup

Reset Google Chrome is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the reset Chrome settings can not completely remove browser hijacker, adware and malware from the infected web-browser. So, we suggest to check your PC for any remaining malicious components with free removal programs below.

Use Zemana Anti-malware to cleanup Google Chrome

You can remove malicious software and adware from Google Chrome with a help of Zemana Anti-malware. We suggest this malicious software removal utility because it can easily delete hijackers, PUPs, adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software) and toolbars with all their components such as folders, files and registry entries.

Download Zemana anti malware on your PC system by clicking on the link below. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.

Once the downloading process is complete, close all software and windows on your PC system. Double-click the set up file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as shown below, click the “Yes” button.

It will open the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana anti-malware on your machine. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.

Once setup is finished successfully, Zemana anti malware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown on the screen below.

Now click the “Scan” button . This will start scanning the whole personal computer to find out browser hijackers, malware and adware that caused you to reset Google Chrome settings. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. During the scan it will detect all threats exist on your system.

As the scanning ends, a list of all threats found is produced. Next, you need to click “Next” button. The Zemana antimalware will start removing all security threats. Once disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to restart the system.

Use AdwCleaner to cleanup Google Chrome

AdwCleaner is a free removal utility that may be downloaded and run to remove browser hijacker infections, adware, malicious software, PUPs, toolbars and other threats from your PC. You can use this utility to scan for threats even if you have an antivirus or any other security program.

1. Download AdwCleaner from the following link.
   
   

   AdwCleaner download
   225588 downloads
   Version: 8.4.1
   Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: October 5, 2024
   
2. Select the directory in which you saved it as Desktop, and then press Save.
3. After downloading is finished, launch the AdwCleaner, double-click the adwcleaner_xxx.exe file.
4. If the “User Account Control” prompts, click Yes to continue.
5. Read the “Terms of use”, and click Accept.
6. In the AdwCleaner window, click the “Scan” . This will begin scanning the whole PC to detect adware, browser hijackers and other malicious software. While the tool is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software.
7. When it completes the scan, it’ll show a screen which contains a list of malware that has been detected. Review the report and then click “Clean”. If the AdwCleaner will ask you to reboot your machine, press “OK”.

The tutorial shown in detail in the following video.

Run Malwarebytes to cleanup Google Chrome

On the last step of Google Chrome Cleanup, run the Malwarebytes Free that are completely clean your computer of hijackers, malware and adware. Moreover, the free application will help you to get rid of malicious software, potentially unwanted software, and toolbars that your personal computer may be infected too.

Download Malwarebytes Free from the link below.

After downloading is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Malwarebytes will try to update itself and when this process is complete, press the “Scan Now” button for scanning your PC for unwanted software that hijacked your web-browser and caused you to reset your Google Chrome settings. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your computer and the speed of your system. While the utility is checking, you may see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malware. When you are ready, click “Quarantine Selected” button.

The Malwarebytes is a free program that you can use to get rid of all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about this malware removal tool, we recommend you to read and follow the few simple steps or the video guide below.

How to stop unwanted sites in Google Chrome

It’s important to run ad-blocking applications such as AdGuard to protect your system from malicious web-sites. Most security experts says that it’s okay to stop ads. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to block ad pages and other unwanted sites.

Download AdGuard program by clicking on the following link.

When the download is done, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown on the image below.

Follow the prompts. Once the installation is done, you will see a window as on the image below.

You can click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop pop-ups, annoying ads within Google Chrome, as well as other dangerous or misleading web pages. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that can be found on your desktop.

How to protect Google Chrome from adware and malware

Unwanted software, malware and adware usually is bundled with certain free programs that you download off of the Internet. Once started, it will infect your system and modify Google Chrome’s settings like home page, newtab and default search engine without your permission. In order to avoid infection, in the Setup wizard, you should be be proactive and carefully read the ‘Terms of use’, the ‘license agreement’ and other setup screens, as well as to always choose the ‘Manual’ or ‘Advanced’ installation mode, when installing anything downloaded from the Web.

Finish words

After completing the few simple steps outlined above, the Google Chrome browser settings will set in the state it was in immediately after installation. Your PC system should be free from browser hijacker, ad supported software and malware. The Google Chrome will no longer open unwanted web-sites on startup. Unfortunately, if the tutorial does not help you, then you have caught a new browser hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.