If you are experiencing persistent crashing, freezing, or blank screens within Shift, performing a full application data reset is the most effective way to resolve deep technical issues. This process completely flushes your local cache and corrupt configuration files, giving your browser a fresh, high-performance clean slate.

⚠️ Critical Backup Reminder: A full data reset permanently wipes all locally stored application data. While your Spaces and integrated apps are safely backed up to the cloud via Shift Sync, passwords, payment methods, custom app icons, and Chrome extensions are not included in Sync. You must manually export your passwords and note your custom settings before proceeding.

Step 1: Verify Your Sync Settings

To ensure you do not lose your custom layout, verified apps, and dedicated Spaces, confirm that Shift Sync is actively running before you wipe your local files:

1. Open Shift and click the gear icon to open Quick Settings.

2. Click the Advanced Settings button at the bottom of the panel.

3. Select Accounts and Preferences from the left sidebar.

4. Verify that Sync is explicitly toggled ON.

Warning: If Sync is disabled, your browser layout will permanently revert to a blank, factory-default state after the reset.

Step 2: Clear Your Local App Data

Once your data is verified and your passwords are exported, follow these steps to reset the application wrapper on your Mac:

1. Force Quit Shift: Ensure the application is completely dead and not running hidden background threads. Press Cmd + Option + Esc on your keyboard, select Shift from the list, and click Force Quit (or terminate any active Shift lines inside your macOS Activity Monitor).

2. Click anywhere on your desktop background to shift focus to the system Finder.

3. Look at the top global Mac menu bar, click Go, and hold down the Option (Alt) key on your keyboard.

4. Click the hidden Library folder when it appears in the dropdown menu.

5. Inside the Library directory, double-click to open the Application Support folder.

6. Locate the folder named ShiftData (or Shift). Right-click it and select Move to Trash.

7. Empty your Mac's Trash can.

Step 3: Re-launch and Restore

1. Launch the Shift application from your Applications folder or Dock.

2. Bypassed the onboarding tutorial by clicking the Sign In prompt directly on the launch screen.

3. Log in using your primary Shift Account credentials.

Once authenticated, Shift Sync will automatically rebuild your custom configuration, restoring your layout, individual Spaces, and integrated web apps from our cloud servers. You can now safely re-import your passwords, reinstall your favorite Chrome extensions, and re-enter your preferred payment setups onto a completely stable framework.

Why we recommend a full reset

A full data reset is the best way to ensure no old or broken files are slowing you down. It gives you a clean slate so you can focus on your work without worrying about crashes. Shift's built to be fast, and this reset helps keep it that way.

Have more questions? Click to access our request form and get in touch with our Support team.