If you’ve ever wanted to restart Wordle without risking your streak, you’re not alone. Millions of daily players often face the same dilemma: How do you reset the game, experiment with new strategies, or fix an error without wiping the progress you’ve built over months?
Resetting Wordle sounds simple, but because the game stores data locally and syncs differently depending on device and browser, the process is often misunderstood. This guide explains how Wordle progress is saved, what you can safely reset, and how to refresh your game without losing your stats or streak all in clear, practical steps.
What Does “Resetting Wordle” Actually Mean?
Before diving into fixes, it’s important to understand what a reset really involves. Wordle players typically want to reset for one of three reasons:
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They want to change the puzzle for the day and try again
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They want to fix broken stats or errors
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They want to refresh the interface without losing their streak
Unlike apps, Wordle doesn’t have an internal “restart game” button. All user progress streaks, guesses, win percentage is stored in local browser data. That means:
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Clearing only specific files can refresh the game
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Clearing all browser data will wipe your entire history
This is where people make mistakes. But don’t worry we’ll walk through how to avoid them.
Why People Want to Reset Wordle Without Losing Progress
Based on user reports and trending searches, here are the most common reasons:
1. You opened Wordle early by accident
Many players open Wordle shortly after midnight and regret using their first guess.
2. Your Wordle stats are glitching
Browser updates or corrupted cookies can make streaks disappear temporarily.
3. You’re testing strategies
Some players want to practice but don’t want to affect real stats.
4. You switched devices
Switching from mobile to desktop can reset your stats if not synced.
Understanding the reason helps determine how you should reset.
How Wordle Saves Your Progress (And Why It Matters)
Wordle stores streaks, stats, and game history in two browser mechanisms:
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Local Storage
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Browser Cookies
It does not save progress to your NYT account automatically unless you link your login and sync Wordle across devices. Without syncing, clearing your browser data deletes everything.
Good News:
You can refresh or reset Wordle safely if you avoid deleting specific storage keys.
Safe Methods to Reset Wordle Without Losing Progress
Below are the verified ways to reset the game without erasing your stats. Choose the method based on your goal.
Method 1: Use “Hard Refresh” (Safest, Preserves Streaks)
If the game is stuck, glitchy, or frozen, the safest reset is a simple browser refresh.
How to do it:
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Windows: Ctrl + Shift + R
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Mac: Command + Shift + R
This forces the browser to reload Wordle without clearing stored data.
What it resets:
✔ Game interface
✔ Small display bugs
What it does NOT reset:
✘ Streak
✘ Stats
✘ Solve history
Method 2: Use “Practice Mode” on NYT Wordle
The New York Times now offers a practice mode that lets players reset unlimited puzzles without touching their real streak.
How to access practice mode:
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Open Wordle on the NYT website
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Tap the menu icon (top-left)
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Select Practice Mode
Here you can reset as many puzzles as you want guilt free.
Perfect for:
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Practicing starter words
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Trying advanced logic
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Testing strategies before your real puzzle
Method 3: Reset the Current Puzzle by Adjusting System Clock (Use Carefully)
Players discovered that changing the device’s date lets you “trick” Wordle into loading a new puzzle.
However:
Using this trick too frequently may temporarily break your streak.
How to do it safely:
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Turn off automatic date/time
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Move your clock one day forward
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Reload Wordle
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Play the puzzle (optional)
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Switch your clock back
Use this method only if:
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You want an early puzzle
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You need to restart the current puzzle once
Method 4: Sync Your Wordle Progress to NYT Account (Best Long-Term Fix)
If you’re afraid of losing progress during a reset, syncing is the smartest move.
Steps to sync:
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Log in to your NYT account
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Open Wordle
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Wait for it to show “Your stats are now synced”
Once synced, your progress restores automatically across devices even after clearing browser data.
Method 5: Backup Your Wordle Data Manually (Advanced Users)
You can export your Wordle local storage and restore it later.
Basic idea:
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Copy the Wordle data file from browser storage
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Save it
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Re-import it after a reset
Tech-savvy players often use this to protect long streaks.
What You Should NEVER Do If You Want to Keep Your Stats
Avoid these actions unless you are OK with losing your streak permanently:
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Clearing all browser history
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Deleting cookies for nytimes.com
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Using “Clear Site Data” for Wordle
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Switching devices without syncing first
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Playing Wordle in private/incognito mode
One wrong click can erase months of progress so handle resets gently.
FAQs
1. Can I get my Wordle streak back if I lost it?
If you were logged in to NYT, yes your streak usually resyncs.
If not, your streak is likely lost permanently.
2. Can I reset the puzzle after submitting a guess?
Only through device-date manipulation or private testing modes.
3. Can Wordle be reset for multiple tries a day?
Not officially, but Practice Mode lets you play unlimited puzzles.
4. Does reinstalling my browser delete Wordle stats?
Yes, unless your Wordle data is synced to your NYT account.
5. Can I reset Wordle on mobile?
Yes same methods apply. Practice Mode is the easiest option.
Conclusion
Resetting Wordle without losing your stats isn’t as complicated as it seems as long as you know what not to delete. Whether you’re fixing a glitch, practicing new strategies, or trying to undo a mistake, the methods above help you reset safely and confidently.
If you found this guide helpful, share it with other Wordle fans, leave a comment below, and help someone protect their hard-earned streak.
