Firefox - Reset to Default

How to Reset Firefox to Default​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to completely reset Firefox to default, or reset Firefox while saving your bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, and Web form auto-fill information.

EXAMPLE: Firefox reset to default
NOTE: This is how Firefox will open after being reset.

OPTION ONE

To Completely Reset Firefox to Default using a BAT File Download

NOTE: This option will completely reset Firefox to default like when you first installed Firefox. Nothing will be preserved.
1. If you have not already, you will need to close all Firefox browser windows/tabs first.

2. Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Reset_Firefox_Completely.bat

Download


3. Save the .bat file to your desktop, and run it.

4. If prompted, click/tap on Run.
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

5. You will now notice a command prompt quickly open and close as Firefox is reset.

   Note

The .bat file deletes the two hidden folders below.

C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox

6. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.

7. The next time you run Firefox, it will be reset back to default, and you will see this below before Firefox opens.

OPTION TWO

To Completely Reset Firefox to Default using Profile Manager

NOTE: This option will completely reset Firefox to default like when you first installed Firefox. Nothing will be preserved. Thanks to our member lehnerus2000 (Peter) for pointing this option out.
1. If you have not already, you will need to close all Firefox browser windows/tabs first.

2. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type firefox.exe -p, and press Enter.

3. In the profile manager, select the default profile, and click/tap on Delete Profile. (see screenshot below)

4. Click/tap on Delete Files. (see screenshot below)

5. Click/tap on Exit. (see screenshot below)

6. The next time you run Firefox, it will be reset back to default, and you will see this below before Firefox opens.

OPTION THREE

To Reset Firefox to Default while Saving your Essential Information

NOTE: This option will reset Firefox to default, but will keep your bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, and Web form auto-fill information.
1. Open Firefox, and do step 2, 3, or 4 below.

2. Click/tap on the Firefox button (top left corner), Help, Troubleshooting Information, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

3. Click/tap on Help (Menu bar), Troubleshooting Information, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

4. Type about:support in the address bar, press Enter, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below step 5)

5. In the Troubleshooting Information tab, click/tap on Reset Firefox button. (see screenshot below)

6. Click/tap on Reset Firefox button. (see screenshot below)

7. Firefox will now close, reset, and restart. You will see this below for a few seconds before Firefox opens automatically or you could click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)

8. After the reset is finished, your old Firefox profile information will be placed on your desktop in a folder named Old Firefox Data. If the reset didn't fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. See Copying files between profile folders for instructions. If you don't need this folder any longer, then you should delete it as it contains your sensitive information.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Reset Internet Explorer to Default
• How to Reset Google Chrome Browser to Default

 

[boohbah]

Good tutorial shawn, maybe next one on how to back up and restore your firefox profile also.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Old Fashioned Way

Good tutorial shawn, maybe next one on how to back up and restore your firefox profile also.

You should be able to do that the "old fashioned way".

• Select the Profiles folder (inside C:\Users\<User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles)
• Copy it to your backup location

Additional
I noticed something interesting on my PC.

I have multiple profiles (only one is in the default location, the others are on another partition).
Only the profile in the default location has a folder inside C:\Users\<User Name>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

If I create a new profile:

• In the default location, a folder is also created in ... AppData\Local\ ...
• In another location, a folder isn't also created in ... AppData\Local\ ...

 

[lehnerus2000]

Another way to reset Firefox

Another way to reset Firefox is to use the Profile Manager.1 - Open the Start Menu
2 - Type "firefox.exe -P" (in the Search box, without quotes, remember the space)
3 - In the Profile Manager ("Firefox - Choose User Profile" window), select the "default" profile
4 - Click on the "Delete Profile" button
5 - In the "Delete Files" window, choose "Delete Files" to purge ALL existing user files.
6 - In the Profile Manager, click on the "Exit" button
When you restart Firefox, it will create a new profile and you should see the window that asks you, if you wish to import data from Internet Explorer.

 

[Brink]

Thank you Peter. Added to tutorial as OPTION TWO.

 

[lehnerus2000]

No problems

Thank you Peter. Added to tutorial as OPTION TWO.

No problems (and thanks for the credit).

The other option in the "Delete Files" window, "Don't Delete Files" removes the profile from the "Firefox - Choose User Profile" window, but it leaves all of the files on your HDD.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Yet another way to reset Firefox

You can also type "about:support" (in the Address bar) to see more information (like config changes).

You can reset Firefox from that page.
You'll need to click the picture several times to see it at full size.