Having trouble connecting to the Wi-Fi? Is your iPhone acting up and not connecting to the internet or the Bluetooth device you are trying to pair with? These are signs of network-related problems that can be difficult to diagnose until you know the root cause. That is why resetting network settings is the easiest way to solve such problems. It sounds like a drastic step, but it does not touch your saved data. So, keep reading if you want to learn how to reset network settings on an iPhone, what happens when you do and what you should take care of before and after you reset it.
How to Reset Network Settings on iPhone
There's only one straightforward method to reset network settings on your Apple phone, and it is through the Settings app. It clears your saved Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth devices and VPN settings to fix any issues with them. Follow these steps to do it yourself.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Here, tap on Reset and select Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your iPhone passcode if required.
- In the confirmation box, tap on Reset Network Settings.
The confirmation will restart your iPhone, completing the process. Now, all you will need to join your Wi-Fi networks again, and Bluetooth devices will need to be paired again.
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Can't Find Reset Network Settings? Here's What You Can Do
The above procedure works only if you're able to find the Reset option inside settings. If you can't, it means your iPhone is running on iOS 15 or older versions. But don't you fret. You can still reset network settings on your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Reset and tapping on Reset Network Settings.
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What Happens When You Reset Network Settings on iPhone?
Now that you know how to reset network settings on an iPhone, it is worth understanding what sort of data it deletes and what it doesn't. That is because many people, including me, find this process as intimidating as resetting an iPhone. But that's not the case.
| Setting or Data | What Happens When You Reset Network Settings |
|---|---|
| Saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords | Removed; Need to set up and connect to every network manually |
| Cellular settings | Removed; iPhone automatically sets up cellular configurations |
| Cellular data roaming | May be disabled after reset; Need to enable again manually |
| Bluetooth settings | Bluetooth connections and paired devices are cleared and forgotten; Need to manually reconnect to accessories again |
| APN settings | Custom APN settings are removed; iPhone restores automatic APN settings provided by carrier or SIM |
| VPN configurations | Removes VPN configurations set up in settings or by apps; VPN configurations set up using a system profile aren't deleted |
| Custom DNS settings | Clears DNS servers and restores to router/carrier automatic default; Need to set up again |
| iPhone device name | Removed; Need to set new name inside Settings > General > About |
| Trusted certificates | Manually trusted certificates switch to "Untrusted" |
| Photos, videos and documents | Not deleted |
| Apps and app data | Not deleted |
| Contacts and messages | Not deleted |
| Apple ID and iCloud settings | Not affected |
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What to Do Before Resetting Network Settings on iPhone?
Although your personal data, including photos, videos, apps and files, remain intact, you must ensure that you reset your iPhone only if you need to. Since resetting an iPhone's network settings does involve reconfiguring each of your network settings manually, you must do so after considering the following actions.
- Save your Wi-Fi passwords: To make sure you're able to connect to each of your networks again, jot down the passwords to all the Wi-Fi networks that you regularly use.
- Make a backup: In case a network reset didn't fix your original problem but something else did, it's recommended that you save a backup of your iPhone and keep it handy to get it back to its original state so you don't regret it later on. If a simple fix resolved your issue, you can always restore your iPhone and use that instead.
- Try basic troubleshooting first: Like with a factory reset, you should only consider resetting network settings for your problem only after considering all the fixes suggested for the specific issue. Keep this process as your second-to-last resort before anything else.
- Check VPN settings: If you unknowingly set up a VPN connection and are connected to it, you must make sure you've disabled it before trying to reset your network settings.
- Check managed network settings: Some institutions and schools configure their devices with different network settings to block certain websites and services. If your organisation does it, you must reach out to its network administrator before you reset the network settings.
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When Should You Reset Network Settings on iPhone?
Even though resetting network settings does not delete any personal files, it is still important to know when to reset network settings on your iPhone. It should be used as a last resort in some instances only. Here are a few reasons to reset network settings on your iPhone that I found fitting for this guide:
- iPhone keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi: If the iPhone drops a Wi-Fi connection repeatedly or fails to connect to a network it has joined before, a corrupted saved network profile is often the cause.
- Mobile data has stopped working: If cellular data suddenly stops working after an iOS update or SIM change, resetting network settings can restore the correct carrier configuration, especially on iPhone 14 and newer models that support eSIM only.
- Bluetooth is not pairing: If a previously paired device will not connect or the Bluetooth connection keeps dropping, resetting clears the pairing data and lets you start afresh. You can also try to switch off your iPhone and turn it on again to see if that helps.
- VPN is not working correctly: Misconfigured or leftover VPN profiles can sometimes cause connectivity issues across the board.
- iOS update broke connectivity: Network-related bugs after a major iOS update are common, especially if you have installed a developer beta not meant for everyday use. Resetting network settings is one of the first things worth trying before escalating to a full device reset.
While resetting network settings is known to solve these issues, it's part of troubleshooting and not necessarily a guaranteed fix. If your iPhone is facing any of them, you should look up fixes for your specific problem before resetting network settings straightaway.
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What to Do After Resetting Network Settings on iPhone?
Once you've successfully reset your iPhone's network settings, you'll have to set up your networks, connected devices and configurations all over again.
- Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network again: Since a network reset clears your Wi-Fi connections, you'll need to connect to them by going to Settings > Wi-Fi. This is when the passwords you saved earlier would come in handy.
- Enable mobile data and roaming: Turn on Mobile Data to see if it works, and also enable cellular roaming by going to Settings > Mobile Service > Primary > Data Roaming.
- Pair with connected devices again: A network reset removes all existing Bluetooth connections, so you'll have to manually add all your accessories again. For that, enable pairing mode on your accessory and connect your iPhone to it by going to Settings > Bluetooth and choosing the device.
- Reconfigure VPN, APN and DNS settings: Depending on the services and servers you connect to, you'll have to revisit your VPN, APN and DNS settings and reconfigure them.
What If Resetting Network Settings Does Not Fix the Problem?
- If Your iPhone Still Cannot Connect to Wi-Fi: Restart your Wi-Fi router and check whether other phones and devices can connect to this Wi-Fi network. In case that doesn't fix it, reach out to your service provider to help resolve the issue.
- If Cellular Data Still Does Not Work: Check if Mobile Service and Data Roaming are enabled and ensure you have enough data left to be consumed on your carrier data plan. If nothing works, contact your carrier to troubleshoot the issue on their end.
- If Bluetooth Still Does Not Work: Disconnect or forget a connected device and pair it again via Bluetooth. If the problem persists, there may be hardware issues in the accessory or iPhone preventing both of them from pairing, and you'll need to get either of them checked in their respective service centres.
Resetting network settings is an important troubleshooting step that not many people know about but can help fix some major connectivity issues on your iPhone. So, having this option is extremely helpful when you need it in a sticky situation. I hope you found this guide helpful, and all the methods here were easy to understand and follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does resetting network settings on an iPhone delete everything?
When you reset network settings on your iPhone, iOS only removes your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, mobile data settings and VPN, APN and DNS configurations. Your photos, videos, files, contacts, messages and other Apple settings remain intact, and none of them will be deleted.
Will I lose my Wi-Fi passwords if I reset network settings?
Yes. Resetting network settings clears all Wi-Fi networks, so you'll need to jot down your Wi-Fi passwords in notes to connect to them after the reset.
Does resetting network settings delete eSIM?
A network reset doesn't delete or deactivate your eSIM. Since the eSIM data is saved on your device hardware, it'll remain active even after a reset.
Does resetting network settings affect Bluetooth?
Yes. After you reset your network settings, all your connected devices and accessories will have to be paired again to your iPhone. This means, you'll have to put your Bluetooth devices like AirPods, speakers and smartwatches in pairing mode and connect to them inside Settings > Bluetooth.
What Is the difference between Reset Network Settings and Reset All Settings?
While the Reset Network Settings option only clears Wi-Fi, mobile data, Bluetooth and network-related settings, using Reset All Settings will wipe all your custom iPhone settings, including display, sound, location, keyboard and other manual changes made inside the Settings app, in addition to network settings. Neither of them will wipe the photos, videos or files on your iPhone.
