To reset network settings on Android, open Settings > System > Reset options on a Pixel (other brands use a similar Reset menu), tap Reset mobile network settings or Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi, and confirm.［1］ Current Pixel devices keep these two resets separate, so choose the smallest matching action, read the on-screen warning, and plan how to reconnect afterward. Do it only after the problem follows one phone and safer checks have failed.

Key Takeaways

Network reset is a last device-side step, not a first response to one broken app or one failed router.

Pixel currently separates Reset mobile network settings from Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi.

Samsung currently presents separate mobile and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth reset choices on supported Galaxy software.

The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth action deletes saved Wi-Fi connections on Pixel; exact effects vary by device.［2］

Network reset is not factory data reset and should not erase the entire phone.

First use the device and app troubleshooting guide to identify whether the failing layer is one app, one account, Wi-Fi, mobile service, Bluetooth, the router, or an upstream provider.

When should you reset network settings on Android?

Consider a network reset only when evidence points to saved network state on one Android device. Examples include:

the same phone fails on more than one trusted Wi-Fi while other devices work;
mobile data remains broken after the carrier, plan, SIM, coverage, and ordinary settings are checked;
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi saved state repeatedly fails after reconnecting individual devices or networks;
or an Android update left several device-side network paths inconsistent.

Do not reset because one website is down, one app account is blocked, every device fails on one router, or the carrier reports an outage. Use the Android Wi-Fi no-internet guide or Android mobile data checklist to narrow those cases first.

On a work, school, supervised, or shared device, stop and contact the administrator. A reset can remove the saved access needed to receive policy again, and you may not be authorized to rebuild organization Wi-Fi, certificates, APN, proxy, or VPN settings.

What should you save before an Android network reset?

The exact effect depends on the manufacturer, Android version, selected reset, carrier, and management state. Do not rely on a generic list; read the confirmation screen on your phone.

Create this recovery record without copying secrets into a public note:

Area	What to record	Recovery concern
Wi-Fi	Network names and a safe way to retrieve passwords	Pixel says Wi-Fi/Bluetooth reset deletes saved Wi-Fi connections
Bluetooth	Paired audio, input, vehicle, health, or accessibility devices	Devices may need pairing again
Mobile	SIM/eSIM labels, preferred data SIM, roaming choice, carrier contact	Mobile settings may return to carrier defaults
APN	Whether it is carrier-managed or manually supplied	Do not guess or copy an APN from the web
Private DNS	Off, Automatic, or exact provider hostname	Restore only the owned value
Wi-Fi proxy	Network, type, host, port, PAC and exclusions	It belongs to a saved Wi-Fi network
VPN or security layer	Product owner and trusted reinstall/profile path	Do not delete management to bypass it

Also confirm local device unlock, account recovery, and another way to reach support if the phone cannot reconnect. Do not remove an eSIM, erase certificates, or delete a work profile as preparation unless the responsible owner gives a separate procedure.

Which Android network reset should you choose?

Choose by symptom, not by the broadest label:

Symptom already isolated	Narrow reset to consider	Avoid combining it with
Mobile calls/data state on one phone	Reset mobile network settings	Wi-Fi/Bluetooth reset or APN guessing
Saved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth state	Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi	Mobile reset or router factory reset
One saved Wi-Fi only	Forget and rejoin that network first	Resetting all networks
One Bluetooth accessory only	Forget and pair that accessory first	Clearing every pairing
One app or account only	App/account troubleshooting	Any network reset

Pixel's current support separates Reset mobile network settings and Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi. Samsung's current Galaxy support similarly offers a mobile reset and a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth reset.［3］ Older devices or other manufacturers may use one combined label, so the phone's own warning is the final local description.

Do not treat menu differences as an error. Search Settings for Reset network settings, Reset mobile network settings, or Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, then consult the device manufacturer's current support page when the labels still differ.

How do you reset mobile network settings on Android?

Use this branch only after the issue is isolated to mobile connectivity:

Save the mobile recovery record and confirm you can unlock the phone afterward.
Open Settings > System > Reset options on a Pixel, or the equivalent manufacturer menu.
Choose Reset mobile network settings.
Read the full confirmation screen for SIM, eSIM, APN, roaming, and other effects on that device.
Confirm only if the displayed scope matches your plan.
Let the action complete without removing the SIM or interrupting the phone.
Restart only if the phone or manufacturer instructs you to.

Google documents the Pixel mobile reset under System > Reset options. Afterward, confirm the intended SIM is enabled, mobile data is on, and the carrier configuration returns. Contact the carrier rather than inventing APN values when service still fails.

How do you reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings?

Use this branch only after individual reconnect steps have failed:

Make sure you can recover required Wi-Fi credentials and pair essential accessories.
Open Settings > System > Reset options on a Pixel.
Choose Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi.
Read the displayed effect and confirm the scope.
Tap Reset settings and complete device authentication if requested.
Wait for the action to finish.

Google warns that this Pixel action deletes saved Wi-Fi connections. Its Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide also places the reset after reconnect, restart, app, router, and captive-portal checks rather than at the start.

On current Galaxy software, the comparable path is Settings > General management > Reset > Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings. That is an OEM example, not a universal Android path.

What should you restore and verify afterward?

Rebuild one layer at a time so a new failure remains attributable:

Confirm the phone starts normally and the expected SIMs are present.
Join one trusted Wi-Fi and test two ordinary HTTPS destinations.
Check mobile data with Wi-Fi off, if your plan allows it.
Pair one essential Bluetooth device and verify its intended function.
Restore the approved Private DNS mode.
Restore the owned Android Wi-Fi proxy only on the correct network.
Reinstall or re-enroll required VPN, security, or organization configuration through its trusted owner.
Test the original failing app last and record whether the symptom changed.

If the phone still fails on every trusted network, do not repeat the reset immediately. Preserve the model, Android version, reset label, exact warning, SIM state, assigned network values, errors, and comparison results, then escalate to the device manufacturer, carrier, or administrator.

Why is network reset different from factory data reset?

A network reset targets network configuration. A factory data reset erases personal data and returns the device to initial setup. They are separate actions with radically different recovery cost.

Do not follow a troubleshooting page from network reset into factory reset merely because both appear in one support flow. Samsung's page places network reset and factory reset in separate sections, and its factory reset warning says all data is erased. This guide stops before that destructive action.

Summary

Prove that the failure belongs to one Android phone before resetting network state.
Save Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile, DNS, proxy, VPN, and managed configuration recovery paths.
Choose mobile or Wi-Fi/Bluetooth reset separately when the phone offers that choice.
Read the device's confirmation screen because OEM effects and labels vary.
Restore and test one layer at a time; do not escalate automatically to factory reset.

FAQ

Will resetting network settings erase my Android phone?

No. Network reset and factory data reset are separate actions. Confirm that the selected menu explicitly says network, mobile, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth reset before proceeding.

Will Android network reset delete saved Wi-Fi networks?

Pixel's Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi action deletes saved Wi-Fi connections. Other devices can differ, so read the local warning and keep a recovery path.

Will it unpair Bluetooth devices?

A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth reset can require accessories to be paired again. Save a list and instructions for essential audio, vehicle, input, health, or accessibility devices.

Does it delete an eSIM?

Do not assume every reset handles eSIMs the same way. Read the confirmation screen for the exact mobile reset on your device and do not select an erase-eSIM option unless that is a separate intended action.

Should I reset mobile and Wi-Fi settings together?

Not when the phone offers separate choices and the problem affects only one layer. Choose the smallest reset supported by the evidence.

Is forgetting one Wi-Fi network safer than resetting all networks?

Yes. If one saved network alone is broken, forget and rejoin that network after preserving its password and organization requirements.

Should I factory-reset Android if network reset fails?

Not automatically. Preserve evidence and escalate first; factory reset erases data and may not fix a carrier, router, account, hardware, or app problem.

Why did the problem return after reset?

A carrier, management policy, security product, restored proxy, Private DNS hostname, VPN, app, or upstream network may recreate the original condition. Identify which layer changed before repeating anything. A VPN cannot tell which Android network setting recreated the failure after a reset; compare proxy, Private DNS, APN, Wi‑Fi, and VPN state one at a time.

Sources:

Pixel Phone Help - Fix mobile connectivity issues — https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/14116080?hl=en
Pixel Phone Help - How to fix Wi-Fi connection problems — https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6183600?hl=en
Samsung Support - Perform a factory reset on your Galaxy phone or tablet — https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10002030/

Sources checked 4 October 2026.

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How to Reset Network Settings on Android