How to Reset Network Settings on iPhone (and When It Actually Helps)

CodexFuse Team · 2026-10-27T15:27:37.540Z · 9 min read

Resetting network settings on iPhone clears every saved Wi-Fi network and password plus cellular, VPN, and APN settings — and it cannot be undone. Here are the steps, what it wipes, and the quicker fixes to try first.

If your iPhone keeps dropping Wi-Fi, refuses to join a network it used to know, or shows full signal bars while nothing loads, a network reset is the fix Apple itself calls a last resort. This guide shows you how to reset network settings on iPhone step by step, what the reset wipes, and the quicker fixes to try first. The reset cannot be undone, and every saved Wi-Fi password goes with it, so read the "before you reset" section first — and if you end up changing the network password while you are at it, a Wi-Fi password generator can make a strong new one in seconds.

How do I reset network settings on my iPhone?

To reset network settings on an iPhone, open Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone, tap Reset, then tap Reset Network Settings. Enter your passcode and confirm. The reset clears every saved Wi-Fi network and password, plus cellular, VPN, and APN settings, and your iPhone may restart. Your photos, apps, and messages stay put.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap Reset. A menu of reset options slides up.
5. Tap Reset Network Settings.
6. Enter your passcode, then tap Reset Network Settings again to confirm.

Wi-Fi turns off and back on, which disconnects you from any network, and your iPhone may restart. On an iPad the menu is named Transfer or Reset iPad, and the steps are the same. These steps cover iOS 15 and later, including iOS 26 and the current iOS 27. On iOS 14 or earlier, the path is shorter: Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

What does resetting network settings remove?

A network reset returns only your iPhone's network-related settings to their defaults. It touches nothing else on the phone, but what it does touch, it removes completely — there is no undo button, so anything cleared has to be entered again by hand.

One detail catches people out: if your Wi-Fi credentials sync through iCloud Keychain, the reset can also remove previously used networks and settings from other devices using iCloud Keychain, so have the passwords written down before you start. Bluetooth is the one gray area — Apple's description of the reset does not list Bluetooth devices, so pairings may survive, but if an accessory does not reconnect afterward, pair it again in Settings > Bluetooth.

Your eSIM is safe. Deleting eSIMs is a separate option on the same Reset screen, named Delete All eSIMs — do not tap it unless you mean to remove your cellular plan. And if you changed your iPhone's name, expect it to read "iPhone" again in Settings > General > About after the reset.

When does a network reset actually help?

A network reset helps when the problem lives in stored settings rather than in the network, the carrier, or the hardware. It is a good fix when Wi-Fi keeps dropping, one network will not connect even with the right password, a VPN keeps failing, or calls and cellular data act up after an update or a SIM change. It also helps when several symptoms appear together — trouble joining different Wi-Fi networks plus odd cellular behavior — because it eliminates stored settings as a possible cause in one move.

It will not fix a router problem, a carrier outage, or an account issue, and you do not need to do it after every iOS update. If the iPhone connects to Wi-Fi but cannot access the internet, check whether other devices on the same network have the same problem first — when several devices are affected, the router or internet service is the more likely cause. If the problem affects only one app, review that app's cellular data permissions instead; an app-specific problem does not necessarily mean a system-wide network fault.

Try these 7 fixes first

These are quicker than a reset and remove nothing — or only one network. Work through them in order before you wipe every saved network on the phone.

1. Turn on Airplane Mode for at least 15 seconds, then turn it off. This forces the iPhone to reestablish its cellular connection and can clear temporary registration problems.
2. Restart your iPhone. If the Wi-Fi switch is grayed out, a restart is Apple's first fix.
3. Restart your router and modem. If your router has a 5 GHz band, try joining it. For a longer checklist of router-side fixes, see our guide to speed up your Wi-Fi.
4. Forget the one failing network, then join it again. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the Info button next to the network, and tap Forget This Network.
5. Remove VPN or security apps you installed, restart, and test again. They are a common cause of broken connections.
6. Check Connectivity Assist. In iOS 27, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and check Connectivity Assist, which replaced Wi-Fi Assist. Turn it off while you troubleshoot.
7. Install any iOS update. Software updates can include fixes for connectivity bugs, so check Settings > General > Software Update. Our guide to update your iPhone walks through the Settings, computer, and automatic-update routes.

If none of these help and the problem hits several networks at once, the reset is the reasonable next step.

Before you reset: save these 4 things

Because the reset cannot be undone, gather these before you tap anything. Five minutes of preparation saves an evening of hunting for passwords.

1. Your Wi-Fi password. On iOS 16 and later, open Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the Info button next to your network, tap the Password field, and authenticate with your passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID to see it. In iOS 18 and later, you can also open the Passwords app and tap Wi-Fi. Our guide to find your saved Wi-Fi password covers every route, and if the password turns out to be weak or shared, this is a good moment to change your Wi-Fi password at the router.
2. VPN details. Note the server, account name, and password for any VPN you set up by hand. VPNs installed by a configuration profile or device management will survive, but hand-added ones will not.
3. Custom APN and DNS settings. If your carrier gave you custom APN details, write them down. Custom DNS servers are found by tapping the Info button next to a network and then Configure DNS.
4. Your iPhone's name, if you changed it. It will revert to "iPhone," so note the old name if you want it back.

On a phone managed by your work or school, check with IT first. Apple says to check with the network administrator if a school or business set up your network, and managed VPN and Wi-Fi profiles may behave differently from hand-added ones.

What to do after the reset

A successful reset does not mean the phone is ready for normal use right away. Some connections have to be restored by hand, so work through this list before you decide whether the reset fixed anything.

1. Rejoin your Wi-Fi network and enter its password. Do not rely only on the Wi-Fi icon as proof — open a website or an app that needs the internet.
2. Rename your iPhone in Settings > General > About > Name if you want your old name back.
3. Pair Bluetooth accessories again if they do not reconnect on their own.
4. Set up any VPN you added by hand in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
5. Turn roaming back on in Settings > Cellular if you need it.
6. Check for a carrier settings update. Connect to Wi-Fi, open Settings > General > About, and if an update is available you will see an option to install it.
7. Test the thing that was not working — a call, a webpage on cellular data, or your Wi-Fi.

One more check matters on locked-down networks: after the reset, your iPhone uses a new private Wi-Fi address, so if a router, school, or work network only admits registered devices, update the registration with the new address. You can confirm the reset worked by opening Settings > Wi-Fi — you will not be connected, and networks you used before will ask for a password again — and by checking that the name in Settings > General > About reads "iPhone."

Reset Network Settings vs Reset All Settings vs Erase All Content

The Reset menu holds three very different options, and tapping the wrong one is the one real danger in this whole procedure. Here is how they compare.

Be careful not to tap Erase All Content and Settings by mistake. If you do want to wipe the phone, back it up first and follow the steps to factory reset an iPhone instead. Reset All Settings is the middle option: it resets more than the network reset, but it still deletes no data or media, so it is safe if you tap it by accident — just more to reconfigure afterward.

What if it still doesn't work after the reset?

If the reset did not help, the cause is probably outside the phone's stored settings. Try another network first: if no network works, contact Apple; if only one fails, the router or internet provider is the likely cause, and updating the router's firmware can help. For cellular, connect to Wi-Fi, check for a carrier settings update in Settings > General > About, then contact your carrier — especially if you see SOS, No Service, or Searching. And if the phone is managed by work or school, a VPN or Wi-Fi network that is still there after the reset was installed by a configuration profile or device management, so ask your administrator about it rather than resetting again.

Sources

• SolveYourTech — How to Reset Network Settings on iPhone (updated October 22, 2026): the iOS 15 and later steps, the full list of what the reset removes, the try-first ladder, the iOS 27 Connectivity Assist note, and the after-reset checklist. Its steps are checked against Apple's "Reset iPhone settings to their defaults" guide.
• NSYS Group — How to Reset Network Settings on iPhone: Step-by-Step (October 21, 2026): the what-it-removes table, the eSIM note, the iCloud Keychain warning, and the after-reset verification steps.
• MakeUseOf — Reset the Network Settings on Your iPhone to Fix All Kinds of Problems: the reset-vs-erase distinction and the reminder that a network reset does not touch files, photos, texts, or browsing history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting network settings delete my photos or apps?

No. The reset's listed changes cover only network settings, and even the broader Reset All Settings deletes no data or media. Photos, apps, messages, and contacts stay on your iPhone. Only a full erase removes them.

Does resetting network settings remove my eSIM?

No. An eSIM normally stays installed after a network reset. Deleting eSIMs is a separate option on the same Reset screen, named Delete All eSIMs — do not tap it unless you mean to remove your cellular plan. Check cellular after the reset in case the plan needs troubleshooting.

Does it delete Bluetooth pairings?

Apple's description of the reset does not list Bluetooth devices, so pairings may survive. If an accessory stops connecting afterward, pair it again in Settings > Bluetooth.

What is the difference between Reset Network Settings and Reset All Settings?

Reset Network Settings only affects network settings. Reset All Settings also resets the keyboard dictionary, Home Screen layout, location and privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards. Neither one deletes your data — only Erase All Content and Settings wipes the phone.

Should I back up my iPhone before resetting network settings?

You do not have to, because no content is erased. What you do need is your Wi-Fi password and any VPN or APN details you entered by hand, because those cannot be recovered after the reset. Write them down first, and back up only if you want a copy of your settings for peace of mind.