How to Reset Network Settings on iPhone

To reset network settings on an iPhone, open Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone, tap Reset, and then tap Reset Network Settings. This network reset removes saved connection settings without deleting your photos, apps, messages, or other personal data.

What Does a Network Reset Do on an iPhone?

A network reset on an iPhone returns the phone’s connection settings to their defaults. It is a troubleshooting step for Wi-Fi that will not connect, cellular data that has stopped working, or a VPN that is preventing a connection.

Reset Network Settings removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings. An APN, or Access Point Name, is a group of settings the phone may use to connect to a carrier’s data network.

The network reset does not delete photos, videos, contacts, messages, apps, documents, or other personal data. It is different from Erase All Content and Settings, which should not be selected for this procedure.

Apple also notes that manually trusted certificates may become untrusted and the device name may return to “iPhone.” Cellular data roaming may be turned off. VPN settings installed through a work or school configuration profile may remain on the device.

What Gets Erased Before You Reset Network Settings?

Before you reset network settings on an iPhone, write down the passwords for Wi-Fi networks you still use. The iPhone forgets all previously saved Wi-Fi networks, not only the network that is currently causing trouble.

• Have the password for your home Wi-Fi ready.
• Record any work, school, or guest-network details you are authorized to use.
• Save any manually entered VPN or APN information.
• If a workplace or school manages the iPhone, ask its IT administrator before removing or changing managed settings.
• Make sure you know the iPhone passcode required to approve the reset.

You do not need to remove apps or sign out of accounts before performing a network reset for an iPhone. However, an app may appear offline until the phone reconnects to Wi-Fi or cellular data.

How Do I Reset Network Settings on My iPhone?

Use the following menu path to reset network settings on an iPhone. Read the final confirmation carefully so you do not select the option that erases the entire device.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap Reset. Do not tap Erase All Content and Settings.
5. Tap Reset Network Settings.
6. Enter the iPhone passcode when prompted.
7. Confirm that you want to reset the network settings.

The labels above match Apple’s current iPhone instructions. If the iPhone is managed by an employer or school, some options may be restricted by its administrator.

What Happens After a Network Reset on an iPhone?

After the network reset, the iPhone restarts or briefly disconnects while its connection settings return to their defaults. Wi-Fi switches off and back on, but the phone is no longer connected to previously saved networks.

Open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, select the network you want, and enter its password again. Check cellular data separately if Wi-Fi is unavailable. If cellular roaming was enabled before the reset, review that setting before traveling or attempting to connect while away from your carrier’s normal network.

Manually configured VPN connections and APN details may need to be entered again. A VPN installed by a work or school profile may need help from the organization’s administrator. If a Bluetooth accessory no longer connects after the reset, open the Bluetooth settings and pair the accessory again; do not assume that every saved Bluetooth pairing was removed by Reset Network Settings.

How Do I Sign Back Into an Account or App After the Reset?

Reconnect the iPhone to Wi-Fi or confirm that cellular data works before trying to sign in. Open a simple page in the browser or refresh an online service to confirm that the phone has an active internet connection.

1. Join a Wi-Fi network and enter its password, or turn on cellular data.
2. Open the app or service’s sign-in page.
3. Enter the same account username and password you used before the reset.
4. Complete any verification prompt sent by text, email, or an authenticator app.

A network reset does not change an account password. If the existing password is rejected, use the service’s official password-recovery option rather than repeating the network reset.

What Should I Do If the Network Reset Did Not Help?

If resetting network settings on the iPhone did not restore the connection, identify whether the problem affects Wi-Fi, cellular data, one app, or every online service. That distinction helps show whether the problem is with the phone, the network, or a particular account.

• Restart the iPhone and test the connection again.
• Open Settings, tap General, and tap Software Update to check for an available iOS update.
• Test the same Wi-Fi network with another device. If no device connects, restart the router and contact the internet provider.
• Try the iPhone on a different Wi-Fi network. If it connects there, the first network is likely the problem.
• Check the carrier’s official service-status information or contact the carrier to ask whether there is an outage.
• Turn off a manually configured VPN temporarily and test the connection, if your organization permits this.

If only one app fails after the network reset, check that app’s service status and sign-in details. A working browser and other working apps usually indicate that the iPhone’s general network connection is available.

When Should I Contact Official iPhone Support?

Contact Apple Support if the iPhone cannot connect to any Wi-Fi network, cellular service remains unavailable after the carrier confirms there is no outage, or the network controls are missing or unresponsive. Open {site}, choose iPhone support, and follow the prompts for connection help or live support.

You can also use the Apple Support app on another connected Apple device. For a carrier-managed APN, eSIM, or cellular activation problem, contact the carrier through its verified support channel. For a work- or school-managed VPN or configuration profile, contact that organization’s IT administrator.