What Does ‘Reset Network Settings’ Do? (2024)

Choosing to reset network settings will erase all stored internet and networking-related data on your device, such as Wi-Fi names and passwords, network login information, and information on any paired hardware like headphones or speakers.

What Happens When You Reset Your Network Settings?

Most devices and services will let you manually delete specific information relating to individual internet connections and paired devices. For example, you can delete a single Wi-Fi network you no longer use without affecting any of your other Wi-Fi connections.

Choosing to reset network settings, on the other hand, will delete not just the login information for that Wi-Fi network but also all of the data for all of your other stored Wi-Fi connections, all of your Bluetooth device pairings, mobile network preferences, and stored VPN information.

Will I Lose Anything if I Reset Network Settings?

It’s important to emphasize a network settings reset is not the same thing as a factory reset.

Resetting your network settings clears out all of your internet, local network, and paired devices' data. A factory reset will delete pretty much everything on your device, reverting it to the state it was in when you unboxed it.

A network settings reset will not delete any files, folders, or other media stored on your device. Nor will it delete any web browser data, such as your browsing history or saved bookmarks.

Here’s what a network settings reset deletes:

Wi-Fi network names and passwords.
Bluetooth device connections and preferences.
VPN settings, local history, and preferences.
Cellular network preferences such as data management and 4G/5G settings.

Resetting network settings on an iPhone or Android smartphone will not delete any mobile carrier functionality or account information. The process resets any changes to mobile preferences you may have made since you activated your device.

Your ability to make phone calls, send texts, and access apps will not be affected by resetting your network settings.

Do I Need to Reset Network Settings?

Choosing the Reset Network Settings option is just one of many potential ways to fix internet and connectivity bugs and glitches. You don’t need to perform a network settings reset, but it may help you if you’ve tried everything else and nothing seems to work.

A network settings reset only takes a few seconds. However, it may take you a few minutes to manually re-enter any deleted Wi-Fi login information and reconnect your Bluetooth devices afterward.

Performing a network settings reset on a Windows 10 PC can fix several internet problems. Resetting network preferences can also solve Wi-Fi problems on an iPad and get the internet working again on Android tablets and smartphones.

It’s a prevalent and generally very risk-free way of fixing many problems on numerous devices.

How to Reset Network Settings on a Mac

Alternatives to Resetting Network Settings

Before choosing to reset your network settings, it’s a good idea to try some fixes specific to the problem you’re experiencing. You may also want to try some of the following general strategies known to fix internet and network problems.

Restart your device.
Turn Airplane Mode on and off again.
Check your internet on another device.
Reboot your modem and router.
Install the latest operating system and app updates.

If resetting your network settings doesn’t work, and you feel like you’ve tried every other possible solution, you may need to perform a factory reset. It will delete pretty much everything from your device and is considered by most to be the last resort.