Reset Flow Launcher Settings Without Losing the Original

Appearance and settings · Published October 30, 2026 · Publisher: flowlauncher.app

At a glance

A reversible reset uses a backup or renamed UserData folder while Flow is closed. The next launch can create a fresh profile. Compare that fresh setup with the original to determine whether a problem comes from configuration rather than the installed application.

Steps to follow

Locate the active UserData folder and make a separate backup, including plugin data and custom themes.
Exit Flow and confirm no duplicate instance remains running.
Rename the active data folder to a clearly labeled backup instead of permanently deleting it. Start Flow to create a fresh configuration.
Test only the failing feature and a basic app search. Restore the original folder with Flow closed when you finish comparing, or migrate settings gradually.

Check the result

You have both a fresh-profile test result and an untouched original backup. If the same failure occurs in both, resetting more preferences is unlikely to help.

Limits and common pitfalls

A reset can remove custom hotkeys, plugin settings, and theme choices from the active profile. It does not repair a broken Windows index or an unavailable remote service.

Make the check repeatable

The strongest reset test changes only one variable: the profile. Keep the app version and test query the same. Reinstalling, updating, deleting data, and changing the index simultaneously produces a result but does not tell you which action mattered.

Questions and answers

Should I delete UserData as my first troubleshooting step?

No. Isolate the plugin or feature first. Use a backed-up, reversible reset when there is evidence of a profile problem.

Sources and scope

Documentation-based guidance, with source review on October 30, 2026. What was and was not tested.

Related guides

Appearance and settings