A Comprehensive Guide on How to Reset Chrome Without Losing Data
As a regular Chrome user, you may experience issues such as slow loading times, frequent crashes, or display glitches. These problems often stem from problematic extensions, corrupted files, or bugs. While resetting your Chrome browser can solve these issues, you may hesitate to do so for fear of losing important data. This guide will walk you through how to reset Chrome without losing your data.
Understanding Chrome Reset
Before we delve into the steps, it’s important to understand what resetting Chrome entails. A Chrome reset will revert the browser to its original state, as if it was freshly installed. It disables extensions, clears temporary data, and erases cookies. However, it won’t delete your bookmarks, browsing history, or saved passwords.
Moreover, if you are signed in to your Google account, your data is automatically synced to Google servers. This means that your data is safe even after a reset.
Steps to Reset Chrome Without Losing Data
Step 1: Sync Your Data with a Google Account
Before resetting Chrome, ensure all your data is backed up to your Google account. Here’s how:
- Open Chrome and click on the three-dot menu at the top-right corner.
- Select ‘Settings’.
- Under ‘You and Google’, click on ‘Turn on sync’.
- Sign in to your Google account and follow the prompts to sync your data.
Step 2: Reset Chrome
Once your data is synced, you can proceed to reset Chrome. Here are the steps:
- Go back to Chrome ‘Settings’.
- Scroll down and click on ‘Advanced’.
- Under ‘Reset and clean up’, click on ‘Restore settings to their original defaults’.
- Click ‘Reset settings’ in the confirmation pop-up.
This will reset your Chrome browser to its default settings without deleting your personal data like bookmarks and passwords.
Restoring Synced Data
After resetting Chrome, you can restore your synced data. Here’s how:
- Go to Chrome ‘Settings’.
- Under ‘You and Google’, click on ‘Turn on sync’.
- Sign in to your Google account. Your data will automatically start syncing.
Remember, any changes you made to your Chrome settings prior to the reset will need to be done again.
Manual Backup for Important Data
For an added layer of safety, you can manually backup important data like bookmarks. To export bookmarks:
- Click on the three-dot menu and select ‘Bookmarks’ -> ‘Bookmark manager’.
- In the bookmark manager page, click on the three-dot menu and select ‘Export bookmarks’.
To import these bookmarks after a reset:
- Follow the same steps but select ‘Import bookmarks’ instead.
Conclusion
Resetting Chrome should not be a daunting task. With the right steps, you can reset your Chrome browser without losing data. Remember to always sync your data with your Google account before carrying out a reset. For added security, manually backup important data like bookmarks. With these steps, you can enjoy a clean, fresh browser without losing any important data.