Quick Answer: On iPhone, go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings, enter your passcode, and confirm — the phone restarts in about two minutes. On Android, it’s Settings → System → Reset options → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth (on Samsung: Settings → General management → Reset → Reset network settings). It erases saved Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth pairings, VPN and cellular settings — and nothing else. Your photos, apps, messages, and eSIM stay exactly where they are.
Resetting network settings is the most useful troubleshooting step most people never use — and the one they’re most afraid of, because “reset” sounds like “erase everything.”
It isn’t. This reset touches only the connection settings: Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairings, VPN configurations, and cellular preferences. Everything else on your phone is untouched. When Wi-Fi won’t connect, texts won’t send, Bluetooth keeps dropping, or your phone loses signal after an update, this single step clears the corrupted configuration behind all of it — without the pain of a factory reset.
Below: exactly how to do it on every phone, precisely what you lose and keep, what to save first, and when it’s the right move (plus when it isn’t).
What Reset Network Settings Actually Does
| Erased ❌ | Kept ✅ |
|---|---|
| Saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords | Photos, videos, and files |
| Bluetooth pairings (headphones, car, watch) | Apps and their data |
| VPN configurations you added manually | Messages, contacts, and call history |
| Cellular/APN preferences and network selection | Your SIM and eSIM profiles |
| Mobile data limits and per-app data restrictions | Accounts, passwords, and app logins |
| Trusted website certificates (iPhone) | Wallpaper, home screen layout, settings |
Two details worth knowing before you tap it:
- On iPhone, Apple also resets your device name back to “iPhone” (if you’d renamed it), and data roaming may be switched off — worth re-checking if you’re travelling. VPN profiles installed by a work or school configuration profile survive; ones you added yourself don’t.
- eSIM profiles are not deleted. This is the question travellers ask most, and the answer is reassuring: the eSIM itself stays installed — only the settings controlling how it connects are reset.
How to Reset Network Settings on iPhone
iOS 15 and later
- Open Settings → General.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset (not “Erase All Content and Settings” — that’s the factory reset).
- Choose Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode, then confirm.
- The iPhone restarts on its own. Total time: about two to three minutes.
iOS 14 and earlier
- Settings → General → Reset → Reset Network Settings, then confirm with your passcode.
Can’t find it? Pull down on the Settings screen and search “reset” — it jumps straight there.
One precaution for iPhone users
Wi-Fi passwords stored in iCloud Keychain can be cleared along with the local ones. If you rely on Keychain for network passwords, turn sync off before resetting — Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Passwords and Keychain → Sync this iPhone (off) — then switch it back on afterwards.
How to Reset Network Settings on Android
The steps differ slightly by manufacturer. If you can’t find the menu, open Settings and search “reset” — every modern Android has a Settings search bar, and it’s faster than hunting.
Pixel and stock Android
- Settings → System → Reset options.
- Tap Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
- Tap Reset settings, enter your PIN, and confirm.
Samsung Galaxy
- Settings → General management → Reset.
- Tap Reset network settings → Reset settings → confirm with your PIN.
- Restart the phone afterwards — Samsung devices settle better with a reboot.
Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and others
- Usually Settings → Additional settings → Backup & reset → Reset network settings, or under System → Reset.
- Some brands combine Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth into a single option; others split them — reset all of them if given the choice.
Before You Reset: A 60-Second Checklist
- Write down your Wi-Fi passwords — home, work, and anywhere you connect often. This is the one thing people regret skipping.
- Note any manual VPN settings (server, username) if you configured one yourself.
- Know your APN details if you’re on a prepaid or MVNO plan that required manual setup — our APN settings guide covers restoring them.
- Have your phone’s PIN or passcode ready — the reset won’t proceed without it.
- You do not need a backup. Nothing personal is deleted.
After the Reset: What to Set Up Again
- Rejoin your Wi-Fi networks and re-enter the passwords.
- Re-pair Bluetooth devices — headphones, smartwatch, car stereo. In the car, delete the phone from the car’s list too and pair fresh from both ends.
- Check cellular data and roaming are on (Settings → Cellular / Network & internet).
- Reconnect your VPN if you use one.
- Rename your iPhone if you’d given it a custom name: Settings → General → About → Name.
When Reset Network Settings Is the Right Fix
It’s the step to reach for when a connection problem survives restarts and toggles — because those problems are usually a corrupted configuration, and this rebuilds it. Common cases, with the full guide for each:
Wi-Fi and internet
- Wi-Fi connected but no internet — the classic candidate
- Hotspot connected but no internet on Android
- Streaming devices refusing to join Wi-Fi (reset the phone and the router side)
Signal, SIM, and calls
- iPhone No Service after an update
- No Service / No Signal on Android
- Emergency Calls Only / SOS Only
- Not registered on network / SIM not provisioned
- SIM not detected / Invalid SIM
- SIM Not Supported on iPhone
- Call drops and poor call quality
- Can’t make or receive calls but data works
- VoLTE / 4G calling not working
- Wi-Fi calling not working
Mobile data and 5G
- Mobile data not working on Android
- 5G shows but no internet
- LTE works but 5G has no internet
- 5G keeps switching to 4G
- 4G/5G not showing after an update
- Data roaming not working
Messaging and Bluetooth
- iPhone not receiving texts
- iPhone texts not delivering to Android
- Can’t send or receive texts on Android
- iPhone Bluetooth not working
- Bluetooth keeps disconnecting
- Headphones not working on iPhone
When It Won’t Help
A network reset fixes your phone’s configuration. It can’t fix anything outside the phone, so save yourself the setup work when:
- Every device in the house is offline — that’s the router or your internet provider. Restart the modem instead.
- Your carrier hasn’t provisioned the line — a new SIM that was never activated, an unpaid account, or a half-finished number port. Only the carrier can clear those.
- The phone is carrier-locked and you’ve inserted another network’s SIM.
- The hardware is damaged — a phone that reads no SIM at all after a drop or water exposure needs service, not settings.
- One app alone is failing — that’s an app problem; clearing its cache is the right step, not a network reset.
Reset Network Settings vs the Other Resets
| Reset type | What it does | Data lost? |
|---|---|---|
| Reset Network Settings | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VPN, cellular settings only | No |
| Reset All Settings (iPhone) | Every setting to default, including network | No |
| Reset App Preferences (Android) | App permissions, defaults, background limits | No |
| Factory Reset / Erase All Content | Wipes the entire device | Yes — back up first |
Work from the top down: network reset first, then Reset All Settings if the problem is broader, and factory reset only as a genuine last resort with a fresh backup in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does resetting network settings delete photos or apps?
No. It only clears connection settings — saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, Bluetooth pairings, VPN configurations, and cellular preferences. Photos, videos, apps, messages, contacts, and accounts are all untouched, and no backup is needed.
Will I lose my eSIM if I reset network settings?
No — your eSIM profile stays installed. Only the settings controlling how it connects are reset, so you may need to re-check data roaming and network selection afterwards.
How long does a network settings reset take?
Two to three minutes, including the automatic restart. Rejoining your Wi-Fi networks and re-pairing Bluetooth devices takes a few minutes more.
Will I lose my Wi-Fi passwords?
Yes — every saved network and password is erased on that device, so write down the ones you need first. On iPhone, passwords stored in iCloud Keychain can also be cleared, so turn Keychain sync off beforehand if you rely on it.
What’s the difference between Reset Network Settings and Reset All Settings?
Reset Network Settings clears only connection settings. Reset All Settings returns every setting on the phone to default — including network, display, sounds, and accessibility — while still keeping your data. Neither deletes personal files.
Where is Reset Network Settings on Samsung?
Settings → General management → Reset → Reset network settings. On Pixel and stock Android it’s Settings → System → Reset options → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. If you can’t find it, search “reset” in the Settings search bar.
