Quick answer
To reset network settings on iPhone, open Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset, tap Reset Network Settings, enter your passcode and confirm. The iPhone restarts. You lose saved Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth pairings and VPN settings, but no photos, apps or messages. iPad uses the same path; a Mac needs a different approach.
What resetting network settings actually does
A network reset clears the connection settings your device has built up and puts them back to factory defaults. Everything else stays where it is.
| Removed by the reset | Not affected |
|---|---|
| Saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords | Photos and videos |
| Bluetooth pairings, such as AirPods, speakers and car audio | Messages, contacts and calendars |
| VPN and other network configurations | Apps and app data |
| Cellular settings, which return to defaults | Your Apple Account and iCloud data |
The catch is the Wi-Fi passwords. Before you reset, make sure you know the password for your home network, or have it written down on the router or elsewhere.
When a network reset is worth trying
Reset network settings when the simple fixes have not worked. Restart the device and toggle Airplane Mode on and off first, since that clears most short-lived problems.
A reset makes sense when:
- The device joins Wi-Fi but shows no internet connection while other devices on the same network work.
- Bluetooth accessories will not pair or keep dropping.
- Cellular data stops working after a software update or a SIM change.
- Speeds are much slower than on your other devices, on the same network.
If only one Wi-Fi network is the problem, try forgetting just that network first: Settings › Wi-Fi, tap the info button next to it, then Forget This Network, and join it again. For a fuller list of fixes before you reach for the reset, see our guide to Wi-Fi not working on iPhone or iPad.
How to reset network settings on iPhone
On a current version of iOS, the option sits under Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Open
Settings › General. - Scroll down and tap
Transfer or Reset iPhone. - Tap Reset.
- Choose Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
The iPhone restarts by itself, which takes a minute or two. When it is back, join your Wi-Fi network again and enter the password.
Take care in the Reset menu. Erase All Content and Settings lives on the previous screen and wipes the iPhone completely. Reset Network Settings is the one you want.
How to reset network settings on iPad
The steps match the iPhone, with iPad in the menu name.
- Open
Settings › General. - Tap
Transfer or Reset iPad. - Tap
Reset › Reset Network Settings. - Enter your passcode and confirm.
On an iPad with cellular, the reset clears the cellular settings too. Data usually reconnects by itself; if it does not, contact your carrier.
How to reset network settings on a Mac
A Mac has no single Reset Network Settings button. Instead, you remove and re-add the network service, and if needed, refresh the interface and DNS from Terminal.
Remove and re-add Wi-Fi
- Open
System Settings › Network. - Control-click Wi-Fi and choose Delete Service.
- Restart the Mac.
- Go back to
System Settings › Network, click the add button and add Wi-Fi again. - Join your network.
Refresh the interface and DNS in Terminal
If you are comfortable with Terminal, you can turn the main network interface off and on, and clear the DNS cache, which can fix pages that fail to load. Open Applications › Utilities › Terminal and run these one at a time, entering your Mac password when asked:
- Turn the interface off:
sudo ifconfig en0 down - Turn it back on:
sudo ifconfig en0 up - Flush the DNS cache:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
On most Macs en0 is the Wi-Fi interface. If the Mac is still misbehaving after this, our guide on how to reset SMC and NVRAM covers the next level of resets and which Macs they apply to.
What to set up again after the reset
A few minutes of reconnecting gets everything back.
- Wi-Fi: open
Settings › Wi-Fi, choose your network and enter the password. - Bluetooth: put AirPods, speakers or other accessories into pairing mode and connect them again in
Settings › Bluetooth. If one will not pair, our Bluetooth not connecting fix goes through the options. - VPN: if you use a work or school VPN, you may need to install its configuration again or sign back in to the VPN app.
- Cellular: check that cellular data is on and that any carrier settings update has been applied.
Network problems on the iOS 27 beta
If your connection broke right after a beta update, a reset is worth one try, but it will not fix a bug in the build itself. Check our iOS 27 bugs and known issues page for your build, and report anything new to Apple through Feedback Assistant. The current beta is iOS 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a), and the current public release is iOS 27.0.1.
What to do next
If Wi-Fi is still unreliable after a reset, work through the router and device checks in our Wi-Fi not working fix guide, which picks up where this one stops.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when you reset network settings on iPhone?
The iPhone removes its saved network information and restarts. You lose saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, Bluetooth pairings such as AirPods and car audio, and VPN and other network configurations. Cellular settings go back to their defaults too. Your photos, messages, apps and other data are not touched, so this is not the same as erasing the iPhone.
Will resetting network settings delete my photos or apps?
No. Reset Network Settings only clears network-related settings: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular and VPN configuration. Photos, contacts, messages, apps and their data stay on the iPhone. Just make sure you tap Reset Network Settings and not Erase All Content and Settings, which is in the same area and wipes the whole device.
Where is Reset Network Settings on iPhone?
Go to Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset and tap Reset Network Settings. Enter your passcode and confirm. On iPad the path is the same, with Transfer or Reset iPad in place of the iPhone wording. The device restarts once the reset is done, which takes a minute or two.
How do I reset network settings on a Mac?
macOS has no single reset button. The usual approach is to open System Settings › Network, Control-click Wi-Fi, choose Delete Service, restart, then add Wi-Fi back with the add button. If that does not help, flush the DNS cache in Terminal with sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.
Should I reset network settings after installing an iOS beta?
It is a reasonable step if Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cellular data stopped working properly after you installed a beta and a restart did not help. Beta builds can carry network bugs, though, and a reset will not fix those. Check the known issues for your build first, and report the problem to Apple through Feedback Assistant if it persists.