Securely Reset with IE Restore: What It Does and When to Use It

Securely Reset with IE Restore: What It Does and When to Use ItInternet Explorer (IE) still exists on many Windows systems—either as the legacy browser in older OS versions or as an underlying component for certain enterprise applications. When IE behaves unexpectedly (crashes, slow performance, unexpected homepages, broken add-ons), a secure reset can often restore functionality without a full system reinstall. This article explains what “IE Restore” (the act of resetting Internet Explorer) does, why it can help, and when—and how—to use it safely.

What “IE Restore” Means

IE Restore refers to restoring Internet Explorer’s settings to their default state. This includes configuration options, add-ons, security settings, privacy options, and temporary data. Resetting doesn’t reinstall the program; it reverts user-configurable settings and removes many customizations that may be causing problems.

Key items affected by an IE reset:

• Toolbars and browser extensions (add-ons) are disabled.
• Default search providers and home page settings are reverted.
• Temporary internet files and cookies can be cleared (optional).
• Security, privacy, and advanced settings are returned to default.
• TLS/SSL and ActiveX settings revert to default choices.
• Important saved content that is typically preserved: bookmarks/favorites may be kept if you choose, and in many cases saved passwords are not directly removed (but behavior depends on options chosen).

Why Reset Internet Explorer?

Resetting IE is helpful when the browser exhibits issues that suggest configuration corruption or unwanted changes. Common scenarios:

• Persistent crashes or freezes.
• Unexpected redirects, pop-ups, or changes to the homepage/search engine.
• Add-ons causing conflicts or slowing startup.
• After removing malware/adware that altered IE settings.
• When troubleshooting compatibility problems with legacy web apps that depend on IE.

A reset is less invasive than reinstalling Windows or creating a new user profile, and it often resolves issues caused by bad configuration or misbehaving extensions.

Risks and What’s Preserved

A reset is intended to be safe, but there are tradeoffs:

• You may lose customizations (toolbars, extensions, pinned sites).
• Some cookies and temporary files can be cleared, which may sign you out of websites.
• Favorites (bookmarks) are typically preserved but export them first if they’re critical.
• Passwords saved by the browser may remain, but exporting or backing them up is wise if you rely on them.

Before resetting:

• Export Favorites: open Favorites > Manage Favorites > Export.
• Export/save passwords or use a password manager.
• Record custom security/privacy settings if you’ll need to reapply them.

How to Securely Reset Internet Explorer (Windows ⁄₁₁ and older)

1. Close all browser windows.
2. Open Control Panel (type “Control Panel” in Start and press Enter).
3. Go to “Network and Internet” → “Internet Options.” Alternatively, open Internet Explorer, click the gear icon (Tools) → Internet options.
4. In the Internet Options dialog, go to the Advanced tab.
5. Click the Reset… button under “Reset Internet Explorer settings.”
6. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog:
   • Optionally check Delete personal settings if you want a clean slate (this removes things like Home Page, search providers, browsing history, and possibly saved form data).
   • Click Reset and wait for the process to complete.
7. When finished, click Close, then OK and restart the computer (or at least restart IE).

For corporate environments managed by Group Policy, an administrator may need to revert policies or use enterprise tools rather than the local Reset button.

Advanced Troubleshooting Steps (if Reset Doesn’t Fix It)

• Run Malware scans with up-to-date anti-malware tools (Windows Defender, Malwarebytes).
• Create a new Windows user profile to isolate profile-corruption issues.
• Check for problematic ActiveX controls or legacy add-ons; re-enable selectively after reset.
• Use System File Checker: open an elevated Command Prompt and run:

  
  sfc /scannow 

• Use the Network troubleshooter for connectivity-related problems.
• If IE is used only for legacy sites, consider running the site in Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer mode (Edge supports controlled IE mode for compatibility).

When Not to Reset

• If only a single website is failing and other browsers work fine — try clearing that site’s cookies/cache or use Developer Tools to debug.
• If Group Policy enforces settings — resetting locally may be reverted or cause conflicts.
• If you rely on many legacy add-ons that you cannot re-install; consider exporting a list first or testing changes in a temporary profile.

Alternatives and Long-Term Recommendations

• Use a modern browser (Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox) for general web browsing. They are safer and receive regular security updates.
• For legacy enterprise apps requiring IE, use Microsoft Edge’s IE mode to reduce reliance on Internet Explorer itself.
• Maintain a regular backup routine for browser data and system restore points so you can recover quickly.
• Keep Windows and antivirus software updated to minimize causes that prompt resets (malware, corrupted files).

Quick Checklist Before Resetting IE

• Export Favorites/bookmarks.
• Back up or record passwords (or ensure password manager sync).
• Note custom security/privacy settings you want to reapply.
• Update and run a malware scan.
• Consider creating a system restore point.

Resetting Internet Explorer is a practical, low-risk troubleshooting step that often fixes configuration-related problems. Use it when browser behavior points to corrupted settings, unwanted add-ons, or after removing malware. Back up important browser data first, and prefer modern browsers for day-to-day use while reserving IE for compatibility-only scenarios.