How to Reset Network Settings on Android

What Does a Network Settings Reset Actually Do?

To reset network settings on Android, open Settings, find the reset options, and choose the option for Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and Bluetooth. A network settings reset clears connection information without deleting apps, photos, messages, contacts, or other personal files.

The reset normally removes or restores the following network items:

• Saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords
• Paired Bluetooth phones, headphones, watches, vehicles, and other accessories
• Virtual private network profiles, also called VPN profiles
• Custom access point name settings, also called APN settings, that tell the phone how to connect to a carrier's mobile data network
• Mobile data and other network preferences that have been changed from their defaults

This is not the same as erasing the phone. Make sure the confirmation screen specifically refers to network settings, Wi-Fi, mobile networks, or Bluetooth before approving it.

What Will You Lose Access to Before You Reset?

Before you reset network settings on Android, collect the information needed to reconnect. The phone may disconnect from the internet as soon as the reset finishes.

• Write down or retrieve the passwords for Wi-Fi networks you still use.
• Check how to put each Bluetooth accessory into pairing mode. Some accessories require a button combination or confirmation code.
• Save the details for any manually configured VPN profile. A work or school administrator may need to provide those details again.
• Record custom APN settings only if you or your carrier entered them manually. Most phones restore carrier settings automatically, but that may not happen immediately.
• Be ready to use mobile data while reconnecting to Wi-Fi, if mobile service is available.

Do not continue if you depend on a VPN or custom APN and cannot recover its settings. Get the required information first.

How Do You Reset Network Settings on Stock Android?

Phones that use an Android interface close to Google's standard layout generally place the command under System. Menu names can differ by manufacturer, so use the Settings search box for “reset” or “network reset” if the path is not present.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Select System.
3. Select Reset options.
4. Select Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
5. Read the confirmation screen and verify that it describes network settings rather than personal data.
6. Select the reset command and enter the phone's screen lock PIN, pattern, or password if asked.
7. Confirm the reset.

The phone may briefly disconnect or restart its network connections. If someone asks how to reset network settings in Android, this is the usual stock Android path, but the exact wording may differ on a phone customized by its manufacturer.

How Do You Reset Network Settings on a Samsung Galaxy Phone?

Samsung Galaxy phones place network reset controls under General management rather than System. Samsung may show one combined network reset or separate choices for mobile networks and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Select General management.
3. Select Reset.
4. Choose Reset network settings if that option appears. If separate controls appear, choose Reset mobile network settings and Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings as needed.
5. Read the list of settings that will be removed.
6. Select Reset settings.
7. Enter the phone's screen lock PIN, pattern, or password if requested, then confirm.

If those labels are missing, search Settings for “reset network settings.” Do not choose an option that says it will erase all data. That is a different operation and is not needed for this procedure.

How Do You Reconnect After the Network Reset?

After you reset network settings on Android, rebuild each connection separately. Start with Wi-Fi so the phone has a stable internet connection.

1. Open Settings, select Network & internet or Connections, and then select Wi-Fi.
2. Choose your Wi-Fi network, enter its password, and wait until the phone reports that it is connected.
3. Open the Bluetooth settings and turn Bluetooth on if necessary.
4. Put an accessory into pairing mode, select it on the phone, and approve any matching code shown on both devices.
5. Open the VPN area in the phone's network settings and recreate any manually configured profile using the saved details.
6. Test mobile data with Wi-Fi turned off. If mobile data does not return, restart the phone and allow time for carrier settings to load.

Re-pair vehicle systems and wearable devices only while parked or otherwise in a safe place. A companion device may also need its old phone pairing removed before it can pair again.

What Should You Do If the Connection Problem Is Not Fixed?

If a reset network settings Android procedure does not solve the problem, identify whether the failure affects one connection, one location, or the entire phone.

• If only one Wi-Fi network fails, restart its router and test another device on the same network. A failure on every device points to the router or internet service rather than the phone.
• If only one Bluetooth accessory fails, remove the phone from the accessory's saved-device list, restart both devices, and pair them again.
• If mobile data or calls fail, confirm that airplane mode is off, mobile data is enabled, and the SIM or eSIM is recognized. Check for a carrier outage using another connection if possible.
• If every Wi-Fi network fails, restart the phone and install any system update already offered through Settings when a working connection is available.
• If the problem started after physical damage, liquid exposure, or overheating, the phone may need device support or repair.

Contact the carrier when calls, texts, or mobile data remain unavailable, the SIM is not recognized, or service fails in multiple locations. Contact the phone manufacturer when Wi-Fi or Bluetooth cannot be enabled, repeatedly turns itself off, or fails with several known-working networks and accessories.