How to Reset Network Settings on Your iPhone

It's frustrating when your iPhone appears to be connected to the internet, but data doesn’t flow. Safari won’t load sites, email won’t send, messaging apps won’t work, yet your phone’s Wi-Fi and signal bars indicate a network connection.

Network settings control how your iPhone connects to Wi-Fi as well as cellular networks. When you reset network settings on your iPhone, the configurations for all Wi-Fi and cellular networks return to the default settings. A reset also clears virtual private network (VPN) configurations. After a reset, your iPhone should automatically reconnect to your carrier, but you’ll need to manually re-configure Wi-Fi and VPN settings. A network reset resolves most connection problems, but other, simpler actions may help, too.

Tips to Try Before Resetting Network Settings

Before you reset your network settings, try the following tips when you experience a network connection problem with your iPhone. They are quicker than going through resetting your network, and they often solve the problem.

Toggle Airplane Mode

Put your phone in Airplane Mode for a minute or so.

1. Tap Settings on your iPhone. Move the slider next to Airplane Mode to the right, so you can see green, indicating Airplane Mode is on and Wi-Fi is off.

2. Wait a minute and then move the slider next to Airplane Mode to the left to turn Airplane Mode off and Wi-Fi on again.

   

3. Check to see if your connections work.

Power Off, Then Power On Your iPhone

If toggling Airplane Mode doesn’t work, turn your iPhone off and back on.

1. Hold down the Power button on the iPhone for a few seconds.

2. Move the Slide to power off slider to the right to power off the phone.

3. Wait for the phone to power down and then hold down the power button for a few seconds until the Apple logo appears to turn your phone back on. You need to enter your passcode to sign in when your device starts.

4. Check to see if your connections work.

Forget and Reconnect to Your Wi-Fi Network

If you still can’t connect, remove and then reconnect your Wi-Fi network.

1. Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi to open the Wi-Fi settings screen. The name of the network your device is currently connected to is displayed right beneath Wi-Fi and its on/off slider near the top of the screen.

2. Tap the i within the circle to the right of the current network name.

   

3. Tap Forget This Network and confirm by tapping Forget.

   

   Forgetting a network forces your iPhone to disconnect from the network and returns you to the screen that shows the available wireless networks.

4. Tap the name of the network you want to join. Enter the network password and tap Join.

5. Check to see if your connections work.

Reset iPhones Network Settings

If network connection problems persist, complete the following steps to reset the network settings on your iPhone.

1. On your iPhone, open the Settings app.

2. Tap General.

3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap Reset.

   

4. Tap Reset Network Settings.

5. If prompted, enter your passcode.

6. Tap Reset Network Settings.

   

Your iPhone resets its network settings and then restarts, which takes a minute or so. When you can use your phone again, enter your passcode. Your phone should automatically reconnect to your cellular provider. If your iPhone doesn’t auto-connect to your mobile network, contact your carrier or Apple for support.

You also need to rejoin Wi-Fi networks. Tap Settings > Wi-Fi and then tap the name of the network you want to join. If prompted, enter the network password and then tap Join.