Computer Changes Settings Back After Every Restart

If lots of unrelated settings reset together, first check whether Windows is signing you into a temporary profile. That can make changes disappear when you sign out.

Press Win + R, type %USERPROFILE%, and press Enter. Check the folder that opens. A path such as C:\Users\TEMP, especially alongside a “We can’t sign in to your account” message, points to a temporary profile. Copy any new files to a USB drive before signing out, because they could be lost.

If the profile path looks normal, create a harmless test file in your Documents folder, change one setting, and restart:

• The file disappears too: check for software such as Deep Freeze or an organisation’s “restore on reboot” setup. On a work or school PC, ask IT before changing it.
• The file stays but settings revert: test a new Windows user account. If changes persist there, the problem is likely in your original profile. Keep the old account and its files while you investigate.

If only a few settings revert, rather than everything, an organisation policy, account sync, or a particular app may be reapplying them. Identifying two or three specific settings that reset will help narrow that down without jumping straight to a Windows reinstall.