Fix Windows settings reset to default on reboot

Imagine you've just spent hours tweaking your Windows settings. But after rebooting, all the changes you made have been reset to default settings. Before you give up and reset your computer to default, try the solutions below.

This article will explain what causes the problem and how you can fix it.

Why does Windows reset its settings on reboot?

Windows settings get reset on reboot for some reason. The most common cause is a change in the user profile, due to a system update or user action. In other cases, an application running in the background can corrupt the user profile. This can happen if the app crashes or isn't updated. Malware can also be the cause of this problem.

Sometimes, if there is a system error or a hardware problem such as a failed hard drive, the Windows installation can be reset when the computer restarts. This can happen due to an unforeseen power failure.

How to fix Windows settings reset on reboot

The best way to fix Windows installation reset error on reboot is to determine the cause of the problem. Here are some tips to get your settings back.

1. Keep an eye out for suspicious programs

The first step is to check for malicious programs and other suspicious apps that might be causing the problem. If you find any, delete them immediately and check if that solves the problem. Here's how to do it.

1. Right-click the Taskbar area and select Task Manager from the context menu. You can also press Ctrl + Shift + Esc if you want to use the keyboard shortcut.

2. In the Task Manager window , switch to the Processes tab and look for any strange programs or processes that are hogging your system resources.

3. When you find a suspicious program, right-click on it and select End task to end the process.

4. Now go to Windows Control Panel and uninstall the program.

After uninstalling the program, restart the computer and check if the installation reset problem is resolved.

2. Run Automatic Startup Repair

If Windows keeps resetting settings on reboot, you should try running the Automatic Startup Repair feature. This will help fix any system errors or corrupted files that might be causing the problem.

To run Automatic Startup Repair, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + I to open the Settings window.

2. From the left menu, click the System tab .

3. On the right side of the window, scroll down and click the Recovery option.

4. Next to Advanced startup , click the Restart now button .

5. When your PC restarts, select Troubleshoot from the Choose an option screen .

6. Select Advanced options and then click Startup Repair .

Follow the on-screen instructions to run the automatic repair tool. After you complete the above procedure, restart the computer and check if it solves the problem.

3. Check your user profile

If the problem persists, check your user profile and make sure it's not corrupted. If your user profile is corrupted, Windows will reset the settings when you reboot. Here's how to test it:

Press Windows + R to open the Run command. In the dialog box, type regedit , and then press Enter. If the User Account Control (UAC) window appears, click Yes to grant administrative privileges. This will launch the Registry Editor.

On the next screen, navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionProfileList

In the ProfileList folder , you will see a number of profiles starting with S-1-5. Each of these profiles corresponds to a user account on your computer. Now, you have to determine which profile belongs to your user account.

To do this, click on each S-1-5 profile and find ProfileImagePath in the right pane. Check which of the profiles matches your username.

After you find the correct profile, double click on the State field and change the value from 1 to 0 . Similarly, change the RefCount field from 1 to 0.

In case the RefCount field is missing from the right pane, you will have to create it manually, by right-clicking on the right panel and selecting New > DWORD (32-bit) Value . Name the new value RefCount and press Enter.

Then double click on the newly created RefCount and enter 0 in the Value data field . Click OK to save your changes and exit Registry Editor. After that, restart the computer and check if the problem of resetting the settings is fixed.

4. Create a new user profile

If you can't fix the corrupted profile in Registry Editor, you may have to create a new user profile on Windows. Creating a new user profile does not delete the old profile, so all your data will remain intact but you will have to reconfigure your settings. Once created, log out of the current user account and switch to the newly created account. Check if this fixes the problem of resetting the settings.

5. Uninstall recent updates

Microsoft releases Windows updates periodically to keep your system secure. But sometimes these updates don't install properly and cause various problems. If you have recently installed any programs or updates, uninstall them to check if that fixes the problem.

You can also try restoring any drivers that might be causing the problem. To do this, right-click Start and select Device Manager . In the Device Manager window , find the device you want to restore and right-click it. Select Properties from the context menu and then click the Driver tab .

Click Roll Back Driver and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. After restoring the driver, restart the computer to apply the changes and check if it solves the installation reset problem.

6. Do Some General Windows Fixes

There are several general Windows-based fixes that you can apply to fix this problem.

Running your Windows computer in a Clean Boot state is another way to fix reset problems. Clean Boot helps you identify any third-party apps that might be causing the problem. It prevents all non-Microsoft services and programs from running during startup, helping you determine the cause of the problem.

If the methods mentioned earlier do not fix the problem, consider doing a system restore. This will return your computer to the previous state it was in when it was working fine.

Remember that all files and applications installed after the selected restore point will be deleted. To avoid losing important data, make a backup before performing a system restore.

Jessica Tanner

Update 03 May 2023