It can be frustrating when your iPhone has problems connecting to a WiFi or cellular network. There are several reasons this is happening, and unless you’re a Steve Jobs-Esque, narrowing down on the exact cause is tricky. However, resetting your network settings is the simplest and most common solution for this issue. So, how do you do it?
To reset the network settings on iPhone, go to Settings and select General. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone, then Reset, then Reset Network Settings. You’ll need to enter your phone’s passcode to begin the process, which will take around a minute or so. The phone will restart.
An internet connection is crucial for many features and functions of the iPhone. You may need to reset your network settings if you discover that yours can’t access the internet, even if it shows it’s connected to WiFi or the mobile data is on. Let’s get into the details so you fix this issue and get back to enjoying an uninterrupted network connection.
Why Would You Need to Reset the Network Settings on an iPhone?
Resetting network settings on your iPhone is a fix you can fall back on when you’re experiencing the following issues:
- Your WiFi keeps disconnecting, meaning you have to reconnect it to your phone quite often.
- Your WiFi is extremely slow even though you have high-speed internet.
- Your phone signal gets jammed, or it’s unavailable sometimes.
- Your phone has problems establishing a Bluetooth connection with other devices.
- Your mobile data is turning on automatically.
- The VPN doesn’t connect to a server.
What Will Happen When You Reset Network Settings on iPhone?
When you reset the network settings on your iPhone, you should expect a total wipeout of all the internet and network-related data stored on your device. The data includes:
WiFi Networks
The reset will remove all the WiFi networks you had connected to initially. Unfortunately, their passwords will also be erased, so you need to write the passwords somewhere you won’t forget before kicking off the reset.
Bluetooth Devices
The same goes for all the Bluetooth devices you had already paired to your phone. Apart from clearing out your paired devices list, it’ll also reset your Bluetooth display name (the name that appears on other devices) and your Bluetooth preferences, like the visibility timeout.
VPN Settings
Resetting your network settings will affect your VPN settings, too. It’ll also erase the server names you used recently and your login passwords. Additionally, it’ll switch off the VPN and forget all the VPN networks.
Cellular Settings
The reset will automatically switch your mobile network type from your preferred network, whether 2G, 3G, 4G, or LTE, back to default. Similarly, it’ll set the network selection to automatic. It will also turn off data roaming and clear the data usage statistics.
Network Setting Reset vs. Factory Reset vs. Restart
Keep in mind that a network setting reset differs from a factory reset. While the latter erases all your files and personal data, the former is entirely safe, and after performing this operation, all your data, like photos and music, remain intact. Your contacts will also stay untouched.
The only catch with performing the network settings reset on your iPhone is that you’ll face slight inconveniences, such as having to log in manually and re-enter the passwords on all your previous WiFi connections, which can be tedious.
You’ll also have to repeatedly pair all your audio devices, like headphones and speakers, so that you can play audio via Bluetooth.
You can simply restart the phone first to see if that fixes things. We recommend restarting at least every few weeks. but this isn’t the same as resetting the phone, and it’s not the same as resetting network settings (although it may clear some WiFi connection issues).
How to Reset Network Settings on iPhone
Resetting your iPhone’s network settings is pretty simple, and you can pull it off in your phone’s settings with just a few clicks. Here’s how to do it:
- First, head on over to your phone’s settings and select General.
- Next, scroll down to the bottom of the list and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Click the button that says Reset
- A pop-up menu will appear, showing a bunch of options depending on what you want to reset. Here, you can reset all content and settings, keyboard settings, location and privacy settings, the home screen layout, and network settings.
- To start the process, tap Reset Network Settings and enter your iPhone’s passcode.
- Your iPhone will reset its network settings within a minute and then restart. When it’s back on, enter your passcode again.
Your phone should automatically reconnect to your cellular network. If it doesn’t, contact your carrier or Apple customer support for expert help.
Reconnecting Your WiFi Networks
You’ll have to reconnect your WiFi networks using the passwords you noted down earlier.
- Go to Settings and select WiFi.
- Then tap the name of the network you want to connect your phone.
- When triggered, enter the network’s password and tap connect and you’re all set.
If you use a VPN, get the instructions from your VPN provider and follow them to reconfigure it back in your phone.