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How do I fix common problems by resetting Mathematica to its default configuration?

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Many issues with system installation can be fixed by resetting Mathematica’s preferences, caches and history. Resetting the product to its default configuration is achieved by deleting and recreating internal files located in the Base Directory, the User Base Directory, the Local Base directory and the Cache Base Directory. You can find their locations on your computer by evaluating $BaseDirectory, $UserBaseDirectory, $LocalBase and $CacheBaseDirectory in a Wolfram Notebook.
If you have saved anything to these directories, please back them up before performing a clean start. If you have edited any init.m files, they would be located in these directories.
Mathematica may need to be activated again after resetting. You can access your activation information through the Wolfram User Portal.


Windows

By default, the Base Directory, the User Base Directory, the Local Base directory and the Cache Base Directory are located at:

  • C:\ProgramData\Mathematica
  • C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mathematica
  • C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Wolfram
  • C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Wolfram
  • C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Mathematica

… where <user> is your username on the computer.

These folders may be hidden on your computer. You may need to enable your account to see hidden files and folders.

Close Mathematica, then delete or rename all these directories in order to reset Mathematica to its default configuration. Mathematica will recreate these directories the next time you start the software.


macOS

By default, the Base Directory, the User Base Directory, the Local Base directory and the Cache Base Directory are located at:

  • /Library/Mathematica
  • ~/Library/Mathematica
  • ~/Library/Caches/Wolfram
  • ~/Library/Wolfram

These folders may be hidden on your computer. To navigate to a hidden folder, open the Finder application. Press Command + Shift + G to open a file search dialog and enter “~/Library/Mathematica/”. Finder opens the hidden folder.

Close Mathematica, then delete or rename all these directories in order to reset Mathematica to its default configuration. Mathematica will recreate these directories the next time you start the software.


Linux

By default, the Base Directory, the User Base Directory, the Local Base directory and the Cache Base Directory are located at:

  • /usr/share/Mathematica
  • ~/.Mathematica
  • ~/.Wolfram
  • ~/.cache/Wolfram

Close Mathematica, then delete or rename all these directories in order to reset Mathematica to its default configuration. Mathematica will recreate these directories the next time you start the software.

If this does not solve the problem, please contact Wolfram Technical Support for assistance.

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