To reset network settings on iPhone, open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings and confirm. The reset removes saved Wi-Fi networks and VPN settings not installed by a profile or MDM and returns other network values to defaults, but it does not erase your photos, apps, or other content.［1］ Use it only after the problem follows this iPhone across appropriate networks and lower-risk checks have failed, and first record Wi-Fi access, cellular and APN details, VPN ownership, manually trusted certificates, management status, device name, and roaming state.

Afterward, restore one trusted connection layer at a time.

Key Takeaways

A network reset is a last resort, not the first response to one failed site or one broken router.

It removes previously used network settings and changes more state than forgetting one Wi-Fi network.

VPN settings not installed by a configuration profile or MDM can be removed; managed settings have a different owner.

Manually trusted certificates become untrusted, the device name returns to “iPhone,” and cellular data roaming may turn off.

Reset Network Settings is not Reset All Settings, Delete All eSIMs, Erase All Content and Settings, or a router reset.

The shorter iPhone Wi-Fi no-internet guide handles the common reversible checks. If you have not yet isolated which layer is failing, start with the device and app troubleshooting guide. This article covers the complete reset decision, side effects, and recovery sequence.

Before you reset network settings on iPhone, prove the problem follows it

Do not reset the phone because one Wi-Fi network, app, or website fails. Compare scope first:

Test another app and two unrelated destinations.
Compare another device on the same network.
Compare the iPhone on another trusted Wi-Fi network.
If cellular data is involved, confirm the selected line, signal, plan, and carrier status.
Temporarily restore any DNS or proxy change you own before escalating.

If every device fails on one network, work on the router or provider instead. Apple likewise starts Wi-Fi troubleshooting by comparing the network and other devices before escalating to a network reset.［2］ If only one app fails everywhere, investigate its account, version, permissions, or service. If Wi-Fi works but cellular fails, use the iPhone cellular data guide. Resetting broad device state before identifying the scope creates recovery work without evidence that the reset can help.

What should you record before resetting the network?

Reset Network Settings removes network settings and returns several related values to defaults. Create a recovery checklist that does not expose secrets:

List trusted Wi-Fi network names and make sure you can retrieve their passwords securely.
Record any manual DNS, HTTP proxy, static IP, or network-specific setting.
Record the active cellular line, default data line on Dual SIM, data-roaming state, and any carrier-supplied APN details.
List VPN configurations and identify whether each came from an app, manual setup, configuration profile, or MDM.
Note manually trusted certificates and who supplied them.
Check whether the iPhone is supervised or managed.
Record the current device name if nearby devices or workflows depend on it.
Preserve support case numbers, timestamps, and exact errors.

Do not store Wi-Fi passwords, VPN secrets, or certificate private keys in an ordinary note. Verify that you can recover access through the trusted owner. If the phone is managed, or if a business VPN or certificate is involved, contact the administrator before resetting.

What can Reset Network Settings remove or change?

A network reset is broader than “refresh Wi-Fi.” Apple states that previously used networks and VPN settings not installed by a configuration profile or MDM are removed. Wi-Fi is turned off and back on, disconnecting the current network. The device name is reset to “iPhone,” manually trusted certificates are changed to untrusted, and cellular data roaming may be turned off.

In practical terms, plan for these recovery tasks:

Area	Expected recovery question
Wi-Fi	Do you have the trusted network password and any manual DNS/proxy details?
Cellular	Is the correct line selected, and did roaming or an APN need restoration?
VPN	Was it app-managed, manually entered, or installed by profile/MDM?
Certificates	Was manual trust required by a known organization or service?
Device identity	Did the custom iPhone name support AirDrop, Finder, hotspot, or inventory?

The reset should not be used to remove organization policy. Managed values may remain or return. Do not delete profiles or certificates to force a different outcome.

1. Run Reset Network Settings

After the recovery record and ownership checks are complete:

Open Settings.
Tap General.
Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Reset.
Select Reset Network Settings.
Read the confirmation carefully and authenticate if requested.
Confirm only if the displayed action is still Reset Network Settings.

Menu wording can differ slightly by iOS version or management state. Stop if the phone instead presents an erase workflow, eSIM deletion, or an unfamiliar management prompt. A screen lock passcode may be required, but this procedure never needs your Apple Account password on a third-party page.

2. Restore one trusted connection first

After the iPhone restarts or returns to Settings, avoid restoring every custom layer at once.

Confirm the device name and rename it if your trusted workflows require the previous name.
Join one known Wi-Fi network using its securely retrieved password.
Test two unrelated sites or services before adding manual DNS or proxy settings.
Confirm cellular data on the intended line; check roaming only when it is appropriate for your location and plan.
Reinstall or recreate only the VPN configurations whose owner you recognize.
Restore manual certificate trust only through documented instructions from the trusted issuer.
Test the original symptom after each layer.

This order turns recovery into diagnosis. If the baseline connection works and the problem returns after one trusted VPN, proxy, or DNS configuration is restored, that owner now has useful evidence.

3. Verify Wi-Fi, cellular, VPN, and trust separately

Do not declare success after one webpage opens. Check the connection types actually used:

On Wi-Fi, verify the intended network, captive-portal completion, and known-good destinations.
On cellular, verify the intended SIM/eSIM data line and carrier access.
For VPN, confirm the profile or app owner, connection state, and access to both expected public and approved internal destinations.
For certificates, confirm only the known certificate required by the organization; never trust a new unknown root to silence a warning.
For Personal Hotspot, retest only after cellular data is healthy on the iPhone.

Document which layer reintroduced the failure. If the phone still fails across trusted Wi-Fi and cellular paths while other devices work, Apple Support or the carrier can use the exact errors and recovery timeline.

Do not confuse the iPhone reset options

The Reset menu contains actions with very different consequences:

Reset Network Settings resets network-related state described above.
Reset All Settings returns a broader set of system settings to defaults; it is not required for an ordinary network reset.
Delete All eSIMs removes eSIMs and can require carrier recovery. It is not part of this guide.
Erase All Content and Settings wipes personal content and prepares the phone for transfer or a fresh setup. Do not select it for network troubleshooting.
A router reset changes the router, not the iPhone, and can erase the shared network configuration.

Read the label at the final confirmation. Similar placement in a menu does not make these operations interchangeable.

When a network reset is not the answer

Do not reset for an account lock, one unavailable service, weak Wi-Fi coverage, a carrier outage, an unpaid plan, or a managed policy you do not own. For manual DNS, restore the original per-network setting first with the iPhone DNS guide. For a hotspot failure, complete carrier, cellular, visibility, and compatibility checks before using the Personal Hotspot guide.

If the reset does not help, do not repeat it. Escalate with evidence: iOS version, iPhone model, affected connection type, other-device comparison, exact errors, reset time, and which layers were restored.

Summary

Reset Network Settings only after a scoped diagnosis and a complete recovery record. Expect saved network state, unmanaged VPN configurations, manual certificate trust, device name, and roaming-related state to need attention. Choose the exact reset option, reconnect one trusted layer at a time, and stop repeating the reset if the original symptom remains.

FAQ

Where is Reset Network Settings on iPhone?

Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Does Reset Network Settings delete photos or apps?

It is not the erase-device option, but it removes and changes network-related state. Always read the confirmation before proceeding.

Will it forget Wi-Fi networks and passwords?

Previously used network settings are removed, so plan to rejoin trusted networks with their passwords.

Will it remove VPN settings?

VPN settings not installed by a configuration profile or MDM can be removed. Record each VPN's owner and installation method first.

Does an iPhone network reset delete eSIMs?

Reset Network Settings is separate from Delete All eSIMs. Do not select the eSIM action for this procedure.

Why did my iPhone name change?

Apple says the device name resets to “iPhone.” Restore your previous name if trusted nearby or inventory workflows depend on it.

Why is a certificate no longer trusted?

Manually trusted certificates can return to untrusted. Restore trust only for a known certificate through its owner's documented process.

Should I reset the router too?

No, not by default. A router reset affects every device and may erase shared configuration. Record Wi‑Fi, cellular, proxy, and VPN settings before resetting, then retest any VPN route separately.

Sources

Apple iPhone User Guide — Reset iPhone settings to their defaults — https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/iphone/iphea1c2fe48/ios
Apple Support — If you can’t connect to Wi-Fi on your iPhone or iPad — https://support.apple.com/en-ie/111786

Sources checked 4 October 2026.

How to Reset Network Settings on iPhone