Reset Windows 10 Settings to initial values

How can you reset only the settings of Windows 10 by returning them to the initial default defaults

When, in Windows 10, something seems not to work as you would like, it may be because of some setting that you don’t remember changing in the past. We are not specifically talking about errors here, but also about simple features, which for example may have been disabled. For example, one of the most frequent problems with Windows may concern the fact that some files open with the wrong program or that any of the accessibility options, those dedicated to those with disabilities, is active to make the behavior of the desktop strange and folders. In other cases, the use of a program, such as optimization and maintenance, may have changed the settings.

Obviously, then, there are cases of system errors, for example if some application does not open or if the Start menu is empty or busted.

While it is possible to find a solution for almost every Windows 10 problem (we have seen how to use the Windows 10 troubleshooting tools ), if you do not want or do not have the skills to tinker among the various Settings menus or in the Control Panel, you can reset to reset all Windows 10 settings to the initial default values, the default ones as set after the first system installation.

READ ALSO: Guide to Windows 10 Settings

How Windows 10 reset works

The normal procedure for resetting Windows 10 , already explained in the past, is very simple. Just open the Settings from the Start menu (by clicking the gear icon or looking for settings in the search bar) and then go to the Update and security section . Here you can find a section dedicated to Recovery which leads to the Reset your PC function . You will then be asked whether to do a total reset, deleting everything and bringing Windows 10 back from scratch, or whether to keep your personal files. In both cases, the settings are reset to the default values.

There is also another way to reset Windows 10 , by reinstalling from scratch. Also in this case the settings are reset to the default values, the programs deleted, while the personal files are kept. This option, which in the past we have described as a quick way to clean your PC of all programs and apps at once , is found by going to Settings> Update and Security , going to Windows Security and then, inside the Center Windows security , under the Device performance and health section .

Can only the settings be reset?

However, there is no option to reset only the settings of Windows 10, without removing the various programs and applications. There are only options to restore individual sets of options, or, as we will see, a simple and clever trick that solves any PC problem without side effects.

The easiest thing to solve from Windows 10 Settings is to restore the association between programs and file types . Therefore, if you have problems opening some files because the correct program is not recognized or if the wrong program is automatically opened. Going to Settings> Apps , open the Default Apps section and press the Reset button which allows you to restore the default settings recommended by Microsoft .

In the event that the folders and file windows have a different behavior and appearance than usual, it is possible to reset the folder settings . To do this, open any folder, then press up on View and press the Options key in the upper right. From the Options window, go to the View tab and press the Reset Folders button .

If Windows 10 is in the wrong language, you can return to Italian in a simple way, as seen in another guide. From the same Language settings it is possible to correct the keyboard layout, in case the keys on the keyboard are not correct.

In other articles we have also seen the solution for every error in the Windows 10 Start menu and on how to disable web search from the Start menu .

Solution to reset Windows 10 settings

Even if there is no key to reset the settings of Windows 10, it is possible to do it with a simple trick, without having to delete all the programs as it happens if you use the Reset PC key. Basically, simply create a new user.

We have seen, in this regard, the guide to reset the PC without formatting creating a new user . Creating a new user is simple, just go to Settings> Accounts , go to Family and other users and add a user who has administrator rights. You can then enter the new user after a restart of the computer and have Windows 10 as if it were new, but still with the programs installed. It will still take some work to transfer personal files and application data by copying the profile folder (located in C: / Users ) from one profile to another.

Before doing this, it is important, if you want to reset the settings of a user who is logging in with a Microsoft account, disable automatic synchronization of the same , otherwise they will be recovered with the last options. In Settings> Accounts, go to Sync settings and disable the first switch.

READ ALSO: Factory reset on PC and laptops (Acer, Asus, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba etc.)

 

Post a comment

To comment, you can use a Google / Gmail account. If you like it and want to thank, share! (without comment). Click on “Send me notifications” to receive the Privacy Info replies by email

The online HTML CheatSheet website shoult be the first bookmark of every web developer. It is the best one-page resource to generate the desired markup.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We use cookies for providing you with the best-possible user experience. By using PrivacySavvy, you accept our privacy policy.
Cookies settings
Accept
Privacy & Cookie policy
Privacy & Cookies policy
Cookie name Active

Privacy Policy

What information do we collect?

We collect information from you when you register on our site or place an order. When ordering or registering on our site, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your: name, e-mail address or mailing address.

What do we use your information for?

Any of the information we collect from you may be used in one of the following ways: To personalize your experience (your information helps us to better respond to your individual needs) To improve our website (we continually strive to improve our website offerings based on the information and feedback we receive from you) To improve customer service (your information helps us to more effectively respond to your customer service requests and support needs) To process transactions Your information, whether public or private, will not be sold, exchanged, transferred, or given to any other company for any reason whatsoever, without your consent, other than for the express purpose of delivering the purchased product or service requested. To administer a contest, promotion, survey or other site feature To send periodic emails The email address you provide for order processing, will only be used to send you information and updates pertaining to your order.

How do we protect your information?

We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information when you place an order or enter, submit, or access your personal information. We offer the use of a secure server. All supplied sensitive/credit information is transmitted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology and then encrypted into our Payment gateway providers database only to be accessible by those authorized with special access rights to such systems, and are required to?keep the information confidential. After a transaction, your private information (credit cards, social security numbers, financials, etc.) will not be kept on file for more than 60 days.

Do we use cookies?

Yes (Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computers hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow) that enables the sites or service providers systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information We use cookies to help us remember and process the items in your shopping cart, understand and save your preferences for future visits, keep track of advertisements and compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future. We may contract with third-party service providers to assist us in better understanding our site visitors. These service providers are not permitted to use the information collected on our behalf except to help us conduct and improve our business. If you prefer, you can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies via your browser settings. Like most websites, if you turn your cookies off, some of our services may not function properly. However, you can still place orders by contacting customer service. Google Analytics We use Google Analytics on our sites for anonymous reporting of site usage and for advertising on the site. If you would like to opt-out of Google Analytics monitoring your behaviour on our sites please use this link (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/)

Do we disclose any information to outside parties?

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information. This does not include trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others rights, property, or safety. However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.

Registration

The minimum information we need to register you is your name, email address and a password. We will ask you more questions for different services, including sales promotions. Unless we say otherwise, you have to answer all the registration questions. We may also ask some other, voluntary questions during registration for certain services (for example, professional networks) so we can gain a clearer understanding of who you are. This also allows us to personalise services for you. To assist us in our marketing, in addition to the data that you provide to us if you register, we may also obtain data from trusted third parties to help us understand what you might be interested in. This ‘profiling’ information is produced from a variety of sources, including publicly available data (such as the electoral roll) or from sources such as surveys and polls where you have given your permission for your data to be shared. You can choose not to have such data shared with the Guardian from these sources by logging into your account and changing the settings in the privacy section. After you have registered, and with your permission, we may send you emails we think may interest you. Newsletters may be personalised based on what you have been reading on theguardian.com. At any time you can decide not to receive these emails and will be able to ‘unsubscribe’. Logging in using social networking credentials If you log-in to our sites using a Facebook log-in, you are granting permission to Facebook to share your user details with us. This will include your name, email address, date of birth and location which will then be used to form a Guardian identity. You can also use your picture from Facebook as part of your profile. This will also allow us and Facebook to share your, networks, user ID and any other information you choose to share according to your Facebook account settings. If you remove the Guardian app from your Facebook settings, we will no longer have access to this information. If you log-in to our sites using a Google log-in, you grant permission to Google to share your user details with us. This will include your name, email address, date of birth, sex and location which we will then use to form a Guardian identity. You may use your picture from Google as part of your profile. This also allows us to share your networks, user ID and any other information you choose to share according to your Google account settings. If you remove the Guardian from your Google settings, we will no longer have access to this information. If you log-in to our sites using a twitter log-in, we receive your avatar (the small picture that appears next to your tweets) and twitter username.

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Compliance

We are in compliance with the requirements of COPPA (Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act), we do not collect any information from anyone under 13 years of age. Our website, products and services are all directed to people who are at least 13 years old or older.

Updating your personal information

We offer a ‘My details’ page (also known as Dashboard), where you can update your personal information at any time, and change your marketing preferences. You can get to this page from most pages on the site – simply click on the ‘My details’ link at the top of the screen when you are signed in.

Online Privacy Policy Only

This online privacy policy applies only to information collected through our website and not to information collected offline.

Your Consent

By using our site, you consent to our privacy policy.

Changes to our Privacy Policy

If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on this page.
Save settings
Cookies settings