General and system
Reset Network Settings
Most people call this clearing every network and starting again.
This forgets every Wi-Fi network and password, resets cellular preferences and VPN settings, and leaves the rest of your phone untouched.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 15 and later
- Settings
- General
- Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Reset
- Reset Network Settings
What it does
Saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, cellular settings, VPN and APN configurations are all cleared. Your apps, photos and messages are not affected.
What changes
When it is on
Not applicable. This is a one time action.
When it is off
Not applicable.
Should you turn it on?
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Never runs by itself.
Worth reading first
Where this setting used to live
Apple moves settings between releases. This is every location we have on file.
-
iOS 15 and later
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings
-
iOS 4 to iOS 14
Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings
Questions people actually ask
- Will Reset Network Settings delete my photos?
- No. It only clears network configuration. Your data is untouched.
If it is not working
- Write down any Wi-Fi passwords you cannot look up before doing this.
- Passwords saved in iCloud Keychain can be recovered from the Passwords app afterwards.
- Try forgetting the single problem network first. This is the bigger hammer.