Reset is the correct past tense and past participle of the verb reset. Resetted is not a standard form in modern English. Write “I reset the router” and “The router was reset,” not “I resetted the router.”
The confusion is understandable. Most English verbs add -ed in the past tense, so resetted looks logical. But reset follows the same pattern as set, put, and cut, which never change form. Getting it right matters in emails, technical documents, and exams, where one verb error can weaken otherwise careful writing. This guide explains the rule, the one rare exception, and the right choice for passwords, devices, and everyday sentences.
Comparison Overview
For general English, the answer is simple. Use reset in the present, past, and past participle. Avoid resetted unless you are quoting a source that uses it.
Here is the pattern in one glance:
- Present: I reset my alarm every Sunday.
- Past: I reset my alarm yesterday.
- Past participle: I have reset my alarm twice this week.
Only the helping verbs and time words change. The verb itself stays the same.
Definition of Resetted
Resetted is a nonstandard past-tense form built by adding -ed to reset. Major dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com give only reset for the past tense and past participle.
Vocabulary.com lists resetted among the “other forms” of reset, but that does not make it recommended usage. In everyday writing, treat it as an error.
One narrow exception exists. Wiktionary records a separate Scots legal verb, reset, meaning to receive or harbour stolen goods, and gives resetted as its past form. This sense is unrelated to the modern meaning. The Online Etymology Dictionary traces it to a different source, an Old French word meaning “to receive,” and says it is unrelated to the ordinary verb.
Software is another place where resetted appears. One open-source project had a signal named “resetted,” and a Debian packaging tool flagged it as a spelling error. Developers sometimes create such names for convenience, but they are not a model for standard writing.
Definition of Reset
Reset means to set something again or anew. Merriam-Webster describes it as setting again, such as resetting type or a circuit breaker, and as changing a reading, often back to zero.
The verb works in many settings:
- Mechanical: reset a stopwatch or odometer.
- Medical: reset a broken bone.
- Jewelry: reset a diamond in a new band.
- Figurative: reset expectations or reset a relationship.
Reset also works as a noun. A reset can be a fresh start, such as “a reset in trade relations,” or a device that performs the action, such as a reset button.
The Online Etymology Dictionary dates the verb to the 1650s, first meaning to replace a gem in its setting. The sense of returning a device to an earlier condition appeared in 1847.
Main Differences Between Resetted and Reset
Reset is the standard form. Resetted is nonstandard and best avoided. Both look like past tense, but only one is accepted in standard English.
Key Differences Summary
- Status: Reset is standard. Resetted is nonstandard in general English.
- Pattern: Reset is an unchanging verb. Resetted wrongly treats it as a regular -ed verb.
- Where you will see them: Reset appears in dictionaries, news, and manuals. Resetted appears mainly in learner errors, code names, and one narrow Scots legal sense.
- Safe choice: Reset, every time.
Comparison Table
| Form | Status | Example | Verdict |
| reset (present) | Standard | Please reset the timer. | Correct |
| reset (past) | Standard | She reset the timer an hour ago. | Correct |
| reset (past participle) | Standard | The timer has been reset. | Correct |
| resetting | Standard | He is resetting the clock. | Correct |
| resetted | Nonstandard (rare Scots legal exception) | I resetted the timer. | Avoid |
| reseted | Not a standard form | The timer was reseted. | Incorrect |
Grammar Guide
Reset is an irregular verb with three identical principal parts: reset, reset, reset. It is transitive in most uses, meaning it takes an object (“reset the clock”). It can also work without an object in informal or technical writing, as in “The counter resets at midnight.”
How each term is used in sentences
- Present: “We reset the scoreboard before every match.”
- Past: “The technician reset the machine this morning.”
- Perfect: “I have reset my profile.”
- Passive: “The alarm was reset by the night guard.”
- Continuous: “She is resetting her goals for the year.”
Resetted never fits these slots in standard English.
Common mistakes learners make
- Mistake: I resetted my phone yesterday.
Correct: I reset my phone yesterday.
Why: Reset has no -ed form. - Mistake: The settings were resetted.
Correct: The settings were reset.
Why: The passive uses the past participle, which is reset. - Mistake: He is resseting the clock.
Correct: He is resetting the clock.
Why: The -ing form doubles the final t, but only one s is needed.
Simple rules to remember
- Reset never changes in the past tense.
- Add -s for he, she, or it in the present: resets.
- Double the t before -ing: resetting.
- Use reset after has, have, had, was, and were.
Quick tips for writing and speaking
Think of set, put, and cut. You would not say “setted” or “putted” in the past tense, so do not say “resetted.” In speech, reset sounds the same in present and past, so context and time words such as “yesterday” or “last week” show which tense you mean.
Reset in Past Tense
The past tense of reset is reset. The past participle is also reset.
| Form | Spelling |
| Base form | reset |
| Third person singular | resets |
| Present participle | resetting |
| Simple past | reset |
| Past participle | reset |
Merriam-Webster lists the inflections as reset and resetting, and its example sentences include “The fire alarm was reset.” Dictionary.com likewise gives reset for both the past and the past participle.
Tell the tense from the sentence around it:
- “I reset it every week.” (present habit)
- “I reset it last week.” (past)
- “I have reset it before.” (perfect)
Reseted
Reseted is not a standard word. It is a spelling error that comes from adding -ed to the base form, usually by someone who treats reset like a regular verb.
Standard dictionaries do not list reseted as a form of reset. It also differs from resetted, which has a narrow documented use. Reseted has none.
- Incorrect: The router was reseted.
- Correct: The router was reset.
Resetted or Reset Password
For passwords, use reset in every tense.
- Request: “Please reset your password.”
- Past: “I reset my password this morning.”
- Passive: “Your password has been reset.”
- Noun phrase: “Click the password reset link.”
In interface labels, “Reset password” is a short command. In sentences, “password reset” works as a noun for the process. Neither needs an -ed ending, so “I resetted my password” is incorrect.
Resetted or Reset Synonyms
Reset has no perfect single-word synonym, because the best choice depends on context.
| Context | Possible synonym | Example |
| Adjusting a setting | readjust, reconfigure | She readjusted the thermostat. |
| Returning to zero | zero, clear | He cleared the counter. |
| Computers | restart, reboot | I rebooted the laptop. |
| Bones | realign, set again | The doctor set the bone again. |
| Plans or goals | revise, rethink | We revised the budget. |
| Default state | restore | Restore the original settings. |
Be careful in technical writing. A restart turns a device off and on, while a reset usually returns settings to a starting state. They are not always interchangeable.
When to Use Each One
Use reset whenever you need the verb or noun in standard English:
- Present, past, or past participle of the verb.
- Instructions, such as “Reset the device.”
- Business and everyday language, such as “reset expectations.”
- Passwords, alarms, clocks, and settings.
Use resetted only when you quote a source that contains it, or when you discuss the rare Scots legal verb and a reference you can cite records that form.
When NOT to Use Each One
Do not use reset where a different word fits better:
- Do not use it for a full device shutdown. Use restart or reboot.
- Do not use it for a simple change of mind. Use change or revise.
Do not use resetted:
- In essays, emails, and exams.
- In user instructions or customer support messages.
- In headings, labels, or website copy.
- As a past participle after “has,” “had,” or “was.”
Which One to Use (Decision Guide)
- Ask whether you need the verb or the noun.
- Check the tense. Reset works for present, past, and past participle.
- Look for a helping verb such as has, was, or were. Keep reset.
- Look for -ing. Use resetting, with a double t.
- Check any -ed ending. If you wrote resetted or reseted, change it to reset.
If you are unsure, use reset.
Real-World Practical Examples
Resetted Examples
These examples show how resetted appears in errors, with fixes.
- “I resetted my alarm.” Correct: “I reset my alarm.”
- “The coach resetted the plan.” Correct: “The coach reset the plan.”
- “My account was resetted.” Correct: “My account was reset.”
- “They resetted the system.” Correct: “They reset the system.”
Reset Examples
- “She reset the oven timer after the call.”
- “A short walk helped me reset my mood.”
- “The doctor reset his wrist.”
- “The scores will reset at midnight.”
- “The company announced a reset of its pricing.”
Self-Assessment (Fill in the Blanks)
Choose the correct form: reset, resetting, or resetted (if it is wrong, write the correct word).
- Yesterday, I ______ my phone settings.
- Please ______ your password before logging in.
- The clock was ______ after the power cut.
- She is ______ the scoreboard now.
- He has already ______ the printer twice.
- The teacher ______ the quiz timer.
- Which is correct: “I resetted it” or “I reset it”?
- The password ______ link expired.
Answers
- reset
- reset
- reset
- resetting
- reset
- reset
- “I reset it” is correct.
- reset (used as a noun modifier: password reset link)
Final Verdict
Reset is the correct form. It is the base form, the past tense, and the past participle. Resetted is nonstandard in ordinary English, and reseted is an error. Choose reset for writing, speaking, and technical instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is resetted a word?
It appears in some references, but it is nonstandard in general English. Wiktionary records it for a rare Scots legal verb. For ordinary use, write reset.
What is the past tense of reset?
The past tense is reset. The past participle is also reset, as in “The alarm has been reset.”
Is it “I reset my phone” or “I resetted my phone”?
Write “I reset my phone.” Resetted is incorrect in standard English.
What is the present participle of reset?
It is resetting, with a double t.
How can I tell whether reset is present or past tense?
Check the context. Time words such as yesterday or every day help. Helping verbs such as has, had, and was also signal tense.
Is reset the same as restart?
Not always. Restart usually means turning something off and on. Reset often means returning something to a default or starting state.
Do British and American English differ on this verb?
Not in its verb forms. Both American and British dictionary entries give reset as the past form.
Conclusion
Reset stays the same in the present, past, and past participle, so the correct choice is reset in nearly every situation. Resetted is not standard, and reseted is a mistake. If you are unsure, check the time reference, add the right helping verb, and keep the verb itself unchanged.
