The fastest way to restart a Duolingo course
To restart a course in Duolingo, open the app or website, go to your profile, find the course you want to restart, and tap the three-dot menu next to it. Select "Reset Course" or "Start Over". The app will ask you to confirm — once you do, all your progress in that course disappears and you begin at Lesson 1 again.
The reset is permanent and when ready. You cannot undo it after confirmation, so make sure you want to start over before you tap the final button. Your streak and overall account history remain intact; only that specific course resets to zero.
If you are using Duolingo on a web browser instead of the mobile app, the steps are the same: profile menu, course settings, reset option. The feature works identically across both platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Resetting a course erases all progress in that language and returns you to Lesson 1, but your account streak and other courses stay unchanged.
- The reset button is in the three-dot menu next to the course name in your profile — you do not need to contact Duolingo support.
- Once you confirm the reset, the action cannot be reversed, so double-check before you proceed.
- Restarting a course is useful if you want to review fundamentals, change your learning pace, or start fresh after a long break.
Where to find the reset option in the app
Open the Duolingo app and tap your profile icon in the top left or bottom right corner, depending on your device. Scroll down to see all your active courses listed with your progress bars next to each one.
Find the course you want to restart. Tap the three vertical dots (the menu icon) to the right of that course name. A small menu will pop up with a few options. Look for "Reset Course," "Start Over," or similar wording — the exact label varies slightly by app version and language.
Tap that option. Duolingo will show a confirmation message asking if you are sure. Read it carefully, because once you confirm, your progress in that course is gone. Tap the confirmation button, and the reset is complete.
Resetting on the Duolingo website
Log into Duolingo on your web browser and click your profile picture or username in the top right corner. Select "Profile" from the dropdown menu.
Your courses appear on your profile page with progress bars. Hover over or click the course you want to restart. A three-dot menu icon should appear. Click it to open the course options menu.
Select "Reset Course" from the menu. Duolingo will ask you to confirm. Once you click the confirmation button, the course resets to Lesson 1 and all your progress in that language is cleared.
What happens to your data when you reset
When you reset a course, Duolingo removes all lessons completed, all words learned, and all progress bars in that specific language. You start back at the beginning as if you had never taken the course.
Your overall account data remains untouched. Your daily streak continues (as long as you practice something each day, even in a different course). Your XP points, achievements, and progress in other languages all stay the same. Only the single course you reset is affected.
If you were working toward a milestone or badge in that course, resetting erases that progress too. You will have to earn those rewards again from the start.
Reasons to restart a course
Many learners restart a course to review the basics after taking a long break. If you have not used Duolingo for months, restarting can help you rebuild foundational vocabulary and grammar before moving forward.
Some people restart because they want to slow down and spend more time on early lessons. If you rushed through the first few units and feel shaky on the fundamentals, starting over gives you a chance to be more deliberate.
Others reset to change their learning strategy — perhaps you want to focus on speaking practice instead of just reading, or you want to use a different study method. Restarting lets you approach the course differently from the beginning.
A few learners restart straightforward because they want the satisfaction of completing the course again, or because they want to rebuild their streak from a specific point.
Alternatives to a full reset
If you do not want to lose all your progress, you have other options. You can pause the course by not practicing it for a while — it will stay in your account and you can return to it whenever you want. Your progress remains saved.
You can also remove the course from your active list without resetting it. Tap the three-dot menu and select "Remove Course" instead of "Reset Course". The course disappears from your home screen, but if you add it back later, all your progress is still there.
If you want to review early lessons without losing progress, you can straightforward go back and repeat them. Open any completed lesson and practice it again. Duolingo lets you redo lessons as many times as you want without affecting your overall progress.
What to do before you reset
Before you reset, take a screenshot or note of your current progress if you want to remember how far you had gotten. This is optional, but some learners like to track their own milestones outside the app.
Think through whether you actually need a full reset. If you just want to review early material, you can repeat lessons without resetting. If you want to take a break, you can straightforward pause without losing progress. A reset is permanent, so make sure it is what you actually want.
If you are resetting because you feel lost or overwhelmed, consider whether slowing down in your current lessons might work instead. Duolingo lets you adjust your daily goal, which can make the course feel less rushed without erasing your work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a reset after I confirm it?
No. Once you confirm the reset, Duolingo when ready clears all progress in that course. The action cannot be reversed. If you reset by mistake, you will have to start the course over from Lesson 1. Duolingo support cannot restore deleted progress.
Does resetting affect my daily streak?
No. Your daily streak is tied to your overall account, not to individual courses. Resetting one course does not break your streak. As long as you practice any lesson in any course each day, your streak continues.
Will I lose my XP points if I reset a course?
No. Your total XP points stay the same. Resetting a course only removes your progress within that specific language. Your account-wide statistics and rewards remain unchanged.
Can I reset a course on the mobile app and the website at the same time?
You only need to reset once. Whether you reset on the app or the website, the change syncs across both platforms. Once the course is reset, it is reset everywhere you use Duolingo.
What if I want to restart but keep some of my progress?
Duolingo does not offer a partial reset. You can either keep all progress or reset to Lesson 1. If you want to review early lessons without losing progress, straightforward go back and repeat them. You can practice any completed lesson as many times as you want.