Reset chrome://flags Back to Default

Oct 16, 2025 · 3 min read

Chrome flags are experimental features hidden from the browser’s regular settings menu. These features let you test upcoming functionality, modify performance settings, or customize Chrome’s behavior. However, when flags cause stability issues, slow performance, or unexpected behavior, you’ll need to reset them to restore Chrome to its stable state.

Key Takeaways

Chrome flags are experimental features that can be reset to fix browser stability issues
Use the “Reset all to default” button in chrome://flags for quick restoration
Command-line options exist when Chrome won’t open normally
Resetting flags preserves your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing data

Why Reset Chrome Experimental Features?

Modified Chrome flags can trigger various problems: browser crashes, pages failing to load correctly, excessive memory usage, or features suddenly not working. Since flags are experimental by nature, they may conflict with Chrome updates or other settings. Resetting chrome://flags returns all experimental features to their default state—not just disabling enabled flags, but restoring Chrome’s original configuration for that version.

How to Reset Chrome Flags on Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Method 1: Reset All Flags at Once

Open Chrome and type chrome://flags in the address bar
Look for the “Reset all” button at the top of the page
Click the button to reset all Chrome experimental features
Click “Relaunch” when prompted to restart Chrome

The browser will close and reopen with all flags restored to their defaults.

Method 2: Reset Individual Flags

If you remember which specific flag is causing issues:

Navigate to chrome://flags
Find the modified flag (look for a blue dot indicator or non-default dropdown value)
Click the dropdown menu next to the flag
Select “Default” from the options
Click “Relaunch” to apply changes

How to Reset Chrome Flags on Android

The process for mobile devices follows similar steps:

Open Chrome on your Android device
Type chrome://flags in the address bar
Tap “Reset all” at the top of the screen
Tap “Relaunch” to restart Chrome

For individual flags on Android, tap the dropdown next to any flag and select “Default,” then relaunch the browser.

What If Chrome Won’t Open?

When experimental features prevent Chrome from launching, you have two recovery options:

Command-Line Method (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Launch Chrome with the --no-experiments switch to temporarily bypass all flags:

Windows: Press Win+R, type chrome.exe --no-experiments
Mac: Open Terminal, type /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --no-experiments
Linux: Open Terminal, type google-chrome --no-experiments

This starts Chrome without loading any experimental features, allowing you to access chrome://flags and reset them properly.

Manual File Editing (Advanced)

Close all Chrome windows completely
Navigate to Chrome’s user data folder:
- Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\
- Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/
- Linux: ~/.config/google-chrome/
Open the Local State file in a text editor
Find and delete the line containing "enabled_labs_experiments"
Save the file and restart Chrome

Important Notes About Chrome Reset All Flags

Version-Specific Defaults: Resetting flags restores them to the current Chrome version’s defaults, not necessarily the settings from when you first installed Chrome. As Chrome updates, default flag states may change.

No Cross-Device Sync: Chrome flags don’t sync across devices, even with Chrome Sync enabled. You must reset Chrome experimental features separately on each device where you’ve modified them.

Profile Independence: Flags apply to the entire browser installation, not individual profiles. Resetting affects all Chrome profiles on that device.

Data Preservation: Resetting flags doesn’t affect your bookmarks, passwords, history, or other browsing data—only experimental feature settings change.

When to Consider a Fresh Installation

If resetting flags doesn’t resolve your issues, or if Chrome remains completely inaccessible, uninstalling and reinstalling Chrome provides a clean slate. A fresh installation automatically sets all flags to their default state while preserving your synced data if you’re signed into your Google account.

Conclusion

Resetting chrome://flags is a straightforward troubleshooting step that often resolves Chrome stability and performance issues. Whether you use the one-click “Reset all” button or manually reset individual flags, the process takes just moments and can save hours of frustration. Remember that these experimental features exist for testing purposes—when in doubt, keeping them at default ensures the most stable browsing experience.

FAQs

No, resetting Chrome flags only affects experimental feature settings. Your bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, and other personal data remain completely untouched. The reset only returns experimental features to their default state.

Chrome may reset certain flags during major updates if those features become deprecated or integrated into regular settings. This is normal behavior designed to maintain browser stability when experimental features change between versions.

Chrome doesn't provide a built-in backup for flag settings. You can manually note which flags you've modified by looking for blue dots in chrome://flags, or take screenshots before resetting to remember your customizations.

Setting a flag to default lets Chrome decide the appropriate state based on your version and configuration. Disabling explicitly turns off the feature regardless of Chrome's recommendation. Default is usually the safest option for stability.

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