Hard Restart

About

Hard Restart provides the most comprehensive page refresh available - going far beyond standard
  browser reload options to completely reset your web browsing state.

  🚀 WHY HARD RESTART IS DIFFERENT

  Unlike Cmd+Shift+R or DevTools reload which only bypass HTTP cache, Hard Restart performs a
  complete browser state reset by clearing ALL stored data:

  ✅ Session Storage - Completely wiped
  ✅ Local Storage - Fully cleared
  ✅ Service Worker Caches - All deleted
  ✅ IndexedDB - Cleanup attempted
  ✅ URL Parameters - Reset with cache busting
  ✅ HTTP Cache - Bypassed (like standard reload)

  This gives you a truly pristine browsing state - perfect for testing, debugging, and
  troubleshooting.

  ⚡ KEY FEATURES

  🔄 ONE-CLICK HARD RESET
  Click the extension button for instant comprehensive clearing. No need to manually clear storage
   through DevTools or browser settings.

  ⌨️ CUSTOMIZABLE KEYBOARD SHORTCUT
  Default: Cmd+Shift+K (Mac) / Ctrl+Shift+K (Windows/Linux)
  Click the shortcut area to customize via Chrome's shortcut settings.

  🎨 MODERN INTERFACE
  Clean, minimal design with DM Mono font for that developer aesthetic. Automatic light/dark mode
  detection with manual toggle.

  🔒 PRIVACY-FOCUSED
  Zero data collection, no external network requests (except Google Fonts), minimal permissions,
  and completely local processing.

  🎯 PERFECT FOR DEVELOPERS

  💻 DEBUGGING SCENARIOS
  • Clear stubborn cached data that standard refresh won't remove
  • Test applications in completely fresh state
  • Debug service worker cache issues
  • Verify behavior without localStorage persistence
  • Reset stuck website states

  🔧 DEVELOPMENT WORKFLOWS
  • Test user onboarding flows from scratch
  • Verify cache invalidation strategies
  • Debug progressive web app offline behavior
  • Clear authentication states completely
  • Reset form data and user preferences

  🧪 TESTING REQUIREMENTS
  • Simulate first-time user experiences
  • Test cache-dependent functionality
  • Verify clean installation states
  • Debug storage-related bugs
  • Clear persistent application data

  📊 SUPERIOR TO OTHER METHODS

  STANDARD REFRESH: Only reloads the page - leaves all storage intact
  CMD+SHIFT+R: Bypasses HTTP cache only - storage remains untouched
  DEVTOOLS RELOAD: Same as Cmd+Shift+R - partial solution
  INCOGNITO MODE: Creates new session but doesn't clear existing data
  HARD RESTART: Clears everything for complete state reset

  Hard Restart gives you incognito-level cleaning without leaving your current browsing session.

  🛠️ TECHNICAL DETAILS

  BROWSER COMPATIBILITY
  • Chrome 88+ (Manifest V3)
  • Edge, Brave, and other Chromium browsers
  • Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux

  SECURITY & PRIVACY
  • No data collection or tracking
  • Minimal permissions (only what's needed)
  • Local processing only
  • Open source transparency
  • Security audited codebase

  PERFORMANCE
  • Ultra-lightweight: 22KB total size
  • Instant execution
  • No background processing
  • Minimal memory usage

  🚀 USE CASES

  FOR WEB DEVELOPERS
  Reset development environments, clear cached API responses, test fresh user journeys, debug
  storage issues, verify cache strategies.

  FOR QA TESTERS
  Simulate clean user states, test onboarding flows, verify data persistence, clear test
  artifacts, reset application states.

  FOR POWER USERS
  Fix stuck websites, clear problematic data, troubleshoot browser issues, start fresh on web
  apps, clear stubborn cookies.

  FOR DESIGNERS
  Test initial user experiences, verify loading states, clear design iterations, reset prototype
  data, validate fresh designs.

  📋 HOW TO USE

  1. EXTENSION BUTTON: Click the Hard Restart icon in your toolbar for instant reset
  2. KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: Press Cmd+Shift+K (or your custom shortcut) for immediate action
  3. SHORTCUT CUSTOMIZATION: Click the shortcut display to open Chrome's shortcut settings

  The page will reload completely fresh - as if visiting for the first time.

  🔧 WHAT GETS CLEARED

  STORAGE APIS
  • localStorage.clear() - All local storage data
  • sessionStorage.clear() - All session data
  • Cache API - All service worker caches deleted
  • IndexedDB - Cleanup attempted (browser security limited)

  BROWSER STATE
  • URL parameters reset
  • Cache-busting parameters added
  • History state preserved (uses location.replace)
  • Authentication tokens cleared
  • Form data cleared

  🌟 WHY CHOOSE HARD RESTART

  DEVELOPER-FIRST DESIGN
  Built by developers for developers. We understand the frustration of cached data interfering
  with testing and development workflows.

  SUPERIOR TO ALTERNATIVES
  More comprehensive than browser reload options, more convenient than manual clearing, more
  targeted than incognito mode.

  ACTIVELY MAINTAINED
  Regular updates, security patches, and feature improvements based on user feedback.

  LIGHTWEIGHT & FAST
  No bloat, no unnecessary features - just the essential functionality you need.

  💡 PRO TIPS

  • Use before testing new features to ensure clean state
  • Combine with DevTools for comprehensive debugging
  • Set custom shortcuts for different development workflows
  • Use dark mode for comfortable late-night coding sessions
  • Great for clearing stubborn authentication states

  🔄 THE NUCLEAR OPTION

  When Cmd+Shift+R isn't enough, when DevTools reload falls short, when you need the nuclear
  option - Hard Restart delivers complete browser state reset with a single click.

  Perfect for developers, testers, and power users who demand more than basic refresh
  functionality.

  Developed by MLoT.ai - bringing developer tools that actually solve real problems.