# Plan Resets and Fresh Starts in YNAB > Decide whether you'd like to make a Plan Reset or Fresh Start in YNAB. Gain clarity on your spending with a reset plan. Source: https://support.ynab.com/en_us/plan-resets-and-fresh-starts-HkXYR_c0q Last updated: 2026-07-29T17:40:09.483Z Decide whether you'd like to make a Plan Reset or Fresh Start in YNAB. Gain clarity on your spending with a reset plan. Learn which settings are preserved and which plan data is removed after making a Fresh Start. #### In This Article [Deciding on the Best Approach](#approach) [The Plan Reset](#plan-reset) [The Fresh Start](#fresh) [Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)](#faq) * * * ## Deciding on the Best Approach If you've been away from YNAB or just feel overwhelmed and unsure where to start, we offer a few options to help you begin YNABing again. You might want to consider a Plan Reset, a Fresh Start, or creating an entirely new plan. * [**The Plan Reset** tidies up your current YNAB plan](#plan-reset) while preserving past transactions and spending history. This makes it possible to reflect on the past and spend mindfully, without second-guessing today's decisions. A Plan Reset is useful when: * You're especially interested in [using past spending data to inform today's choices](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reflect-in-ynab-B1GJsrWkj). * You haven't experienced any major life changes that would naturally lead to different spending decisions. * [**The Fresh Start** creates a new plan while maintaining your customizations](#fresh) (categories, accounts, Scheduled Transactions, Targets, etc.) and archives transaction history and plan data. This provides you the opportunity to simplify your account structure, streamline your categories, and prioritize your money with fresh eyes. If you ever want to reflect on spending that happened prior to the fresh start, you can; your [archived plan can be referred back to anytime](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5). A Fresh Start is useful when: * You have little to no past transaction data in your plan. * Life has changed significantly and you know you'll be spending differently in the future.  * You’re feeling especially overwhelmed with a large number of transactions or overspending. * Certain situations might call for [**creating an entirely new plan**](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/creating-a-new-plan-Hyl4uc5Cq). A new plan is useful when: * You start a side business. * You really want a completely clean slate.  #### Coming Back After Time Away If you've been away from YNAB for a while, welcome back! Life happens, and taking a Fresh Start is a great way to begin again without the weight of catching up on past transactions. Here's what can help as you restart: * **Link YNAB to an existing habit.** Maybe your morning coffee routine, or right after you check your email? Connecting YNAB to something you already do makes it easier to stick with. * **Reach out if you get stuck.** Our [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@YNABofficial) and [Support team](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5) are all here to help you succeed. * **Start fresh, move forward.** Managing money well takes practice, and every restart is an opportunity to build the habits that work for your life right now. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## The Plan Reset ### iOS A Plan Reset allows you to tidy up YNAB without losing transaction history and plan data, allowing you to review past months in YNAB and [reflect on your spending](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reflect-in-ynab-B1GJsrWkj).  The Plan Reset is most easily done in the web app, using the Reset Assigned Amounts option in the Auto-Assign section of the right sidebar. If you have access to a computer, we recommend you make the Plan Reset there.  If you only use YNAB on a mobile device, you can still replicate some of the steps of a Plan Reset. When done in the mobile app, you'll move money between categories (without sending all cash to Ready to Assign first). If you'd like help with this, [tell our chatbot you need a human or send us an email](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5).  Here's what to expect on mobile: * All accounts will be reconciled, and all overspending will be covered. * Ready to Assign will be back at $0.00 in the current month and in all future months. * The Assigned column may look odd for the rest of this month. This is nothing to worry about.  ### How to Replicate a Plan Reset To replicate the steps of a Plan Reset: * [Reconcile your accounts](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reconciling-accounts-a-guide-BJFE3fHys). * [Cover overspending](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/overspending-in-ynab-a-guide-ryWoxEyi#cover) in the current month by moving money. * Check Ready to Assign for [any alerts noting you have assigned too much](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/when-ready-to-assign-is-negative-an-overview-HylZA0zCc).   * Start with the future-most month and work backwards to the current month. Don't worry about past months.  When working in future months, avoid creating [Negative Amounts in the Assigned Column](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/negative-amounts-in-the-assigned-column-an-overview-rJ2fMFzyo) in any category (negative amounts are okay in the current month though). * If Ready to Assign alerts you that you've assigned too much, [move money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/moving-money-in-your-plan-ryyCKbBJi#categories) from your categories to Ready to Assign until it's back to $0.00.  * Evaluate your categories and move money between categories to make sure you're covering the spending you know will happen between today and the next day you'll be paid. * Consider your remaining spending priorities and move money between categories accordingly. ### Android A Plan Reset allows you to tidy up YNAB without losing transaction history and plan data, allowing you to review past months in YNAB and [reflect on your spending](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reflect-in-ynab-B1GJsrWkj).  The Plan Reset is most easily done in the web app, using the Reset Assigned Amounts option in the Auto-Assign section of the right sidebar. If you have access to a computer, we recommend you make the Plan Reset there.  If you only use YNAB on a mobile device, you can still replicate some of the steps of a Plan Reset. When done in the mobile app, you'll move money between categories (without sending all cash to Ready to Assign first). If you'd like help with this, [tell our chatbot you need a human or send us an email](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5).  Here's what to expect on mobile: * All accounts will be reconciled, and all overspending will be covered. * Ready to Assign will be back at $0.00 in the current month and in all future months. * The Assigned column may look odd for the rest of this month. This is nothing to worry about.  ### How to Replicate a Plan Reset To replicate the steps of a Plan Reset: * [Reconcile your accounts](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reconciling-accounts-a-guide-BJFE3fHys). * [Cover overspending](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/overspending-in-ynab-a-guide-ryWoxEyi#cover) in the current month by moving money. * Check Ready to Assign for [any alerts noting you have assigned too much](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/when-ready-to-assign-is-negative-an-overview-HylZA0zCc).   * Start with the future-most month and work backwards to the current month. Don't worry about past months.  When working in future months, avoid creating [Negative Amounts in the Assigned Column](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/negative-amounts-in-the-assigned-column-an-overview-rJ2fMFzyo) in any category (negative amounts are okay in the current month though). * If Ready to Assign alerts you that you've assigned too much, [move money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/moving-money-in-your-plan-ryyCKbBJi#categories) from your categories to Ready to Assign until it's back to $0.00.  * Evaluate your categories and move money between categories to make sure you're covering the spending you know will happen between today and the next day you'll be paid. * Consider your remaining spending priorities and move money between categories accordingly. ### Web A Plan Reset allows you to tidy up YNAB without archiving transaction history and plan data, allowing you to review past months in YNAB and [reflect on your spending](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reflect-in-ynab-B1GJsrWkj). As you make a Plan Reset on web, here's what to expect: * All cash in your plan will be sent back to Ready to Assign. * The cash in Ready to Assign will equal the total cash in your accounts. *  The Assigned column will look odd for the rest of this month. This is nothing to worry about.  ### How to Make a Plan Reset 1. [Reconcile your accounts](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reconciling-accounts-a-guide-BJFE3fHys) to ensure you're working with accurate amounts.  2. Click _Plan_ in the left sidebar. 3. Starting with your furthest future month, work backwards toward the current month. In each future month: 1. Click _Reset Assigned Amounts_ in the Auto-Assign section of the right sidebar. 1. A confirmation pop-up will appear with either _Update Assigned Amounts_ or _OK_ (if nothing will change). Note: Each time you click _Reset Available Amounts_, there will be a pop-up with a button that shows _Update Assigned Amounts_ or _OK_. Each of these buttons are to confirm the Reset action, so you will want to click on that button each time! 2. Click the button to confirm the reset. 3. Repeat this process for each future month until you reach the current month. 4. Move all money to Ready to Assign In the current month: 1. Click _Reset Available Amounts_ in the Auto-Assign section. Note: this is different from _Reset Assigned Amounts_ used in the previous step. 2. Click _Update Available Amounts_ or _OK_ in the pop-up to confirm. 5. Reset Available Amounts again: 1. Click _Reset Available Amounts_ a second time to address any credit card overspending in your plan. 2. Click _Update Available Amounts_ or _OK_ in the pop-up to confirm. 6. [Assign the money available in Ready to Assign](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/assigning-your-money-a-guide-SypgkrNJi) according to the plan you have for your spending. If moving money to Ready to Assign in the current month caused cash overspending in any categories, [covering that overspending](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/overspending-in-ynab-a-guide-ryWoxEyi#cover) will be your first priority. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## The Fresh Start When making a Fresh Start, [YNAB automatically archives a copy of your original plan file for easy reference](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5). The Fresh Start feature in YNAB creates a new plan while maintaining your customizations (categories, accounts, Scheduled Transactions, Targets, etc.). Your past transaction history and plan data are unavailable in your new plan (but still available for review in the archived copy of your original plan). Fresh Starts are especially useful when you've been away from YNAB for a while and want to begin again without catching up on past transactions. Here's what will get copied over to your new Fresh Start plan: * Account names * Balances for linked accounts * Scheduled Transactions * Targets * Expected income entered into [Edit Plan](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/plan-and-adjust-with-edit-plan-and-cost-to-be-me-ByR7vpqPyx) * Notes * Payees * Categories * Direct Import bank connections and linked accounts\* \*Your Direct Import bank connections and linked accounts will be brought into the new plan for you; you won't need to re-add the connection to your bank or link your accounts again. Your accounts will pull in the balance of that day, and any transactions posted on that **same day** should be ready to import soon after. Your history of transaction and plan data will be cleared out, though. We recommend giving your accounts a quick check to ensure your balances are correct. [Reconcile your accounts](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reconciling-accounts-a-guide-BJFE3fHys) if they aren't.  ### How to Make a Fresh Start ### iOS 1. Tap the _Home_ tab. 2. Tap the three dots icon at the top of the screen. 3. Tap _Settings & Privacy_. 4. Tap _Make a Fresh Start_. 5. Tap "Continue". 6. You'll be prompted to enter a name for your new plan to ensure you are easily able to distinguish between your new and older plans. 7. By default, the option to "stop importing transactions in my archived plan" will be toggled **on**, but if you plan to actively use both your Fresh Start plan and this archived one, you can toggle it **off.** 8. Tap "Make a Fresh Start". Don't worry—a copy of your current (now old!) plan will be archived with today's date in the name, which you can reference anytime by choosing _Open Plan_ in that same menu. You can [delete the archived copy when you no longer need it](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-delete-a-plan-BJxeij505). ### Android 1. Tap the _Home_ tab. 2. Tap the three dots icon at the top of the screen. 3. Tap _Settings & Privacy_. 4. Tap _Make a Fresh Start_. 5. Tap "Continue". 6. You'll be prompted to enter a name for your new plan to ensure you are easily able to distinguish between your new and older plans. 7. By default, the option to "stop importing transactions in my archived plan" will be toggled **on**, but if you plan to actively use both your Fresh Start plan and this archived one, you can toggle it **off.** 8. Tap "Make a Fresh Start". Don't worry—a copy of your current (now old!) plan will be archived with today's date in the name, which you can reference anytime by choosing _Open Plan_ in that same menu. You can [delete the archived copy when you no longer need it](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-delete-a-plan-BJxeij505). ### Web 1. From the **web app**, click the name of your plan (located at the top of the left sidebar). 2. Click _Make a Fresh Start._ 3. You'll be prompted to enter a name for your new plan to ensure you are easily able to distinguish between your new and older plans. 4. By default, the option to "Stop importing transactions in my archived plan" will be checked, but if you'd like to keep those accounts linking and syncing, you can uncheck that selection. If you plan to actively use both your Fresh Start plan **and** this archived one, you may want to uncheck this box.  5. Click _Continue_.  Don't worry—a copy of your current (now old!) plan will be archived with today's date in the name, which you can reference anytime by choosing _Open Plan_ in that same menu. You can [delete the archived copy when you no longer need it](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-delete-a-plan-BJxeij505). ### Assigning Your Money After a Fresh Start If your accounts were linked in your previous plan, the balances will transfer over, so you'll have funds available in Ready to Assign. If your accounts were **not** linked, you'll need to add your account balances as of today.  In the specific account registers, you'll find a Starting Balance transaction with today's date and an inflow amount of $0.00. You'll want to [edit this transaction](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-edit-and-delete-transactions-BJG4oS1s#edit) and add your true current balance. You'll repeat this in all of your unlinked accounts to make sure all your funds are accounted for and ready to assign down to your categories! When you make a Fresh Start, it resembles a brand new plan. YNAB doesn't take category amounts from your old plan, so make sure to assign money for both your Credit Card Payment category and savings categories, if you have them, before assigning the rest of the money in your accounts to other categories. That way you'll know you're starting off on the right foot! **What if I want my Fresh Start to start from a specific day in the past?** Fresh Starts begin on today's date, and there isn't a way to create a retroactive one from a specific point in time. If you want to bring in some past transactions, you'll need to manually enter the transactions or use [File-Based Importing](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/file-based-import-a-guide-Bkj4Sszyo).  We don't recommend adding historical data to Fresh Starts. Editing all that past data would likely affect the balances of other accounts, and potentially impact your categories. It can get messy and confusing really fast! It's not that we don't want you to have that data—all of the transaction history is still saved in the original archived plan. YNAB is all about starting with today and moving forward, and that's one of the benefits of a true "Fresh Start".  ### Preserving Accuracy in Your Previous Plan After a Fresh Start There may be times when you want to refer back to your previous plan, whether that be for tax purposes, or just for nostalgia (nothing like the sentimentality of old plans, right?). Whatever the reason, we want to make sure the account registers in that plan remain as you left them.  Because of this, after creating your fresh start plan, we recommend [**heading back to your previous plan**](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5#switch) to: * [delete Scheduled Transactions](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/editing-and-deleting-scheduled-transactions-a-guide-Skru9yNJo#delete) from your account registers to keep them from changing your balances.  * [unlink your accounts](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/linked-accounts-B1991f2Cc#unlink) so that Direct Import doesn't continue updating your account balances in the archived plan. This occurs automatically when you initially choose to make a Fresh Start (the "stop importing transactions in my archived plan" option is selected by default), but if you opted out of that, you can always unlink your accounts manually. Don't forget to switch back to your **current** version of the plan when you're done!  ### Accessing Your New Plan After a Fresh Start If you use a bookmarked link or pinned tab to access your plan, be sure to update that link. You can also [adjust your default plan settings](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5#default) in the web app to ensure that the most recently used plan will open first.  If you made your Fresh Start on a web browser but you also use the YNAB mobile app, you'll need to switch plans in the mobile app. The mobile app will always open the last plan you accessed **on your mobile device.** So, you can follow the iOS or Android [steps to access another plan](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5#switch) and select your Fresh Start plan from the list of options.  ### How to Restore an Archived Plan After a Fresh Start ### iOS Whenever you make a Fresh Start, YNAB keeps an archived copy of your original plan file for easy reference. The plan is archived in name only and is fully functional. If you need to make use of or revert to an archived plan, you can restore it anytime! 1. From the **mobile app**, [switch to the archived plan](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5#access). 2. Tap the _Home_ tab. 3. Tap the three dots icon at the top of the screen. 4. Tap _Settings & Privacy_. 5. Tap _Plan Settings_. 6. Tap the name of the plan. 7. Edit the name of the plan to remove the Archived stamp. 8. Tap the checkmark at the top of the screen. If you are prevented from moving forward because the plan name already exists, make a slight change to the name of the plan and try again. #### Take these steps after restoring an archived plan: 1. [Reconcile](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reconciling-accounts-a-guide-BJFE3fHys) all of your accounts to make sure the balances in YNAB agree with the balances at your bank. 2. If YNAB opens the incorrect plan when you log into the web app, [check your default plan settings and bookmarks](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5#default). ### Android Whenever you make a Fresh Start, YNAB keeps an archived copy of your original plan file for easy reference. The plan is archived in name only and is fully functional. If you need to make use of or revert to an archived plan, you can restore it anytime! 1. From the **mobile app**, [switch to the archived plan](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5#access). 2. Tap the Home tab. 3. Tap the three dots icon at the top of the screen. 4. Tap _Settings & Privacy_. 5. Tap _Plan Settings_. 6. Tap the name of the plan. 7. Edit the name of the plan to remove the Archived stamp.  8. Tap _Save_.  If you are prevented from saving because the plan name already exists, make a slight change to the name of the plan and try again. #### Take these steps after restoring an archived plan: 1. [Reconcile](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reconciling-accounts-a-guide-BJFE3fHys) all of your accounts to make sure the balances in YNAB agree with the balances at your bank. 2. If YNAB opens the incorrect plan when you log into the web app, [check your default plan settings and bookmarks](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5#default). ### Web Whenever you make a Fresh Start, YNAB keeps an archived copy of your original plan file for easy reference. The plan is archived in name only and is fully functional. If you need to make use of or revert to an archived plan, you can restore it anytime! 1. From the **web app**, [switch to the archived plan](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5#access). 2. Click the name of your plan (located at the top of the left sidebar). 3. Click _Plan Settings_. 4. Under _Plan Name_, edit the name of the plan to remove the Archived stamp. 5. Click _Apply Settings_. If you are prevented from moving forward because the plan name already exists, make a slight change to the name of the plan and try again. #### Take these steps after restoring an archived plan: 1. [Reconcile](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reconciling-accounts-a-guide-BJFE3fHys) all of your accounts to make sure the balances in YNAB agree with the balances at your bank. 2. If YNAB opens the incorrect plan when you log into the web app, [check your default plan settings and bookmarks](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/multiple-plans-r1qeOvbC5#default). [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ### After a Fresh Start, can I recover or revert my plan to yesterday (or another day in the past)? No, we aren't able to revert or recover plans back to a specific date or time. If you are working in the web app and haven't closed or refreshed the browser, you may be able to use [the undo button](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-fix-mistakes-with-undo-and-redo-HJzO5CfA9) to revert recent, individual changes to your plan. ### Can I copy or duplicate my entire plan in YNAB? No. You may want to consider making a Fresh Start. Doing so will maintain much of the structure you've previously used. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Help Us Help You! Our Knowledge Base team reviews article feedback responses weekly, and we actively revise these articles to make them as helpful as possible. That's where you come in! Our articles are scored based on the _Yes_ or _No_ ratings received below. We also collect freeform feedback for any _No_ ratings (so our team can focus in on what you were specifically searching for!). **Success**: Found what you were searching for? It would be super helpful if you click _Yes_ below. **Suggestions**: Didn't find what you're searching for and you'd like to share what terms or topics you wanted? Click _No_ below. You'll then be able to submit your feedback about this article. **Please note:** the feedback submissions are anonymous, and we’re not able to respond, so make sure to use the next option if you have a specific scenario or question you would like a response to. **Support**: If you have a question or would like a response to your specific question, [tell the chatbot you need a human or send us an email](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5) to ensure that your message gets to our Support team!