How to restart a Duolingo course
You can restart any Duolingo course by opening the course settings and selecting the reset option. The process takes about 30 seconds and erases your progress in that course only — your other courses and your overall streak remain unchanged. Once you restart, you begin at Lesson 1 and your XP count for that course resets to zero.
The exact steps depend on whether you are using the mobile app or the web version. Both methods are straightforward, but the menu locations differ slightly.
Key Takeaways
- Restarting a course erases only that course's progress, not your streak or other courses.
- On mobile, open the course, tap the settings icon (gear), scroll down, and tap "Reset Course."
- On the web, click the three-dot menu next to the course name and select "Reset Course."
- You cannot undo a reset, so make sure you want to start over before confirming.
- Restarting is useful if you want to review fundamentals or if you feel you skipped important lessons.
Restarting on the Duolingo mobile app
Open the Duolingo app and navigate to the course you want to restart. Tap the course name or icon to enter that course's main screen. At the top right of the screen, you will see a gear icon (settings). Tap it.
Scroll down through the settings menu until you see the option labeled "Reset Course." Tap it. A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure you want to reset your progress. Tap "Reset" again to confirm. Your course will when ready return to Lesson 1, and your XP for that course will show zero.
Restarting on the Duolingo web version
Log into Duolingo on your web browser and find the course you want to restart on your course list. Hover over or click on the course name. A three-dot menu icon (⋯) will appear next to the course. Click it.
A dropdown menu will open. Select "Reset Course" from the options. A confirmation dialog will ask you to verify that you want to reset your progress. Click "Reset" to confirm. Your course will reset to Lesson 1 when ready.
What happens to your streak and other courses
Restarting a single course does not affect your overall Duolingo streak or your progress in any other language course. If you are learning Spanish and French, restarting Spanish will not change your French lessons or your daily streak counter. Only the specific course you reset is affected.
Your XP count for that course will reset to zero, but your total XP across all courses remains the same. If you were working toward a league ranking, your standing in that league is based on your total XP, so restarting one course will not remove you from your current league.
When you might want to restart a course
Restarting makes sense if you feel you rushed through early lessons and missed important grammar or vocabulary. Some learners skip lessons using the "test out" feature and later realize they need to review the basics. A restart lets you work through the material more slowly and deliberately.
You might also restart if you took a long break from a course and want to refresh your memory by going through the fundamentals again. Restarting is not necessary to continue learning — you can always go back and review individual lessons — but a full reset gives you a clean slate and a chance to rebuild confidence in the early material.
You cannot undo a reset
Once you confirm a reset, Duolingo does not offer an undo option. Your progress in that course is permanently erased. Before you reset, make sure you are ready to start over. If you are uncertain, consider reviewing individual lessons instead of resetting the entire course.
If you reset by accident, you will need to rebuild your progress by completing lessons again. There is no way to recover the deleted progress through Duolingo's settings or customer support.
Reviewing lessons without restarting
If you want to review material without losing your progress, you do not have to reset. You can go back and repeat any lesson you have already completed. Open the course, find the lesson you want to review, and tap or click it. You can redo the lesson as many times as you want, and your XP will increase each time you complete it.
This approach lets you strengthen weak areas while keeping your overall progress intact. Many learners find this more useful than a full reset, since it targets specific lessons rather than erasing everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does restarting a course delete my account or other languages?
No. Restarting affects only the single course you reset. Your account, other language courses, streak, and total XP all remain unchanged. You can restart one course and continue normally in all your other courses.
Can I reset my course on one device and have it reset on all my devices?
Yes. Duolingo syncs across all devices linked to your account. When you reset a course on your phone, the reset applies to the web version and any other device you use. The change takes effect within a few minutes.
Will I lose my streak if I restart a course?
No. Your daily streak is separate from individual course progress. Restarting a course does not affect your streak at all. You can restart and still maintain a long streak as long as you complete at least one lesson in any course each day.
What if I reset by accident?
Unfortunately, Duolingo does not offer an undo feature for resets. You will need to rebuild your progress by completing lessons again. To avoid accidental resets, be careful when tapping or clicking the reset option, since the confirmation step is the only safeguard.
Can I reset just part of a course instead of the whole thing?
No. The reset option resets the entire course to Lesson 1. If you want to review only certain lessons, repeat those individual lessons instead of resetting the whole course. This keeps your overall progress and lets you focus on the material you need to strengthen.