How to reset Wi-Fi on your phone: A complete guide to resetting networks on Android and iOS

Resetting your smartphone's Wi-Fi settings can be necessary in a variety of situations, from simply forgetting your password to troubleshooting network connectivity issues. For example, maybe your phone suddenly stops detecting your home router after a firmware update, or you bought a used device with other people's networks saved. In such cases, a complete Wi-Fi reset is often the quickest solution.

It's important to understand that there are several ways to reset Wi-Fi, from deleting an individual network to completely resetting all network settings. In this article, we'll cover all the available methods. Android (including Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei) And iPhoneWe'll also explain how to avoid common mistakes. Whether you just need to delete a single saved password or completely clear all networks, you'll find step-by-step instructions with images and videos (for key steps).

Before you begin, check: the problem might not be with your phone, but with your router. If other devices also can't connect to Wi-Fi, first diagnose the networkBut if the problem is with your smartphone, read on.

1. How to delete a single Wi-Fi network on Android

The easiest way is to delete the specific network that's not working correctly. This doesn't affect other saved connections and doesn't require a device reboot.

Instructions for all versions Android 8.0 and later (including Samsung One UI, MIUI, ColorOS):

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi (or Connections → Wi-Fi on Samsung).
2. Click on the name of the problematic network in the list of saved ones.
3. Select Delete (or Forget the network on some firmware).
4. Confirm the action.

On some devices (eg. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12) the path may differ slightly:

Settings → Wi-Fi → Advanced (⋮) → Saved networks → Select network → Delete

The connection data (password) is saved in a secure place.

The phone is not connected to this network at the moment.

The router is turned on and distributing Wi-Fi (to check functionality after removal)

Other devices connect to this network normally-->

Important: After deleting a network, the phone will remember it as "new" the next time you connect. This means that if the problem was in incorrect IP settings (For example, a static IP conflict with the router's DHCP), it may reoccur. In this case, proceed to the next section on resetting all networks.

2. Completely reset all Wi-Fi networks on Android

If deleting a single network doesn't help, or you need to clear all saved connections (for example, before selling your phone), use a hard reset. This method removes:

• 🔹 All saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords
• 🔹 Bluetooth device settings (on some firmware versions)
• 🔹 VPN configurations (if you choose to reset all network settings)
• 🔹 Details of connected USB devices

How to do:

1. Open Settings → System → Reset settings (on Samsung: Device Maintenance → Reset).
2. Select Reset network settings (or Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network, and Bluetooth).
3. Confirm the action (you may be asked to enter a PIN or pattern).
4. After reboot, all networks will be deleted.

On rooted devices, you can remove networks using the ADB command without resetting other settings:

adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.settings

But this method requires technical skills and may lead to system instability.

3. Reset Wi-Fi on iPhone (iOS)

On iPhone the procedure is simpler than on Android, but it has its own nuances. Apple doesn't allow you to reset networks selectively—only all at once.

Instructions for iOS 15–17:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Click on the blue icon i next to the network name.
3. Select Forget this network and confirm.

For a complete reset all networks and network settings:

1. Go to Settings → General → Transfer or reset iPhone.
2. Select Reset → Reset network settings.
3. Enter your device password and confirm.

What else resets on iPhone when you reset network settings?

📱 All saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords

📱 Cellular Settings (APN)

📱 VPN settings and configurations

📱 Bluetooth device settings (headphones, speakers, etc.)

📱 Geolocation settings for networks

⚠️ Attention: There is no way to reset only Wi-Fi on iPhone without affecting your mobile data. If you have eSIM or special APN parameters for mobile communications, they will have to be configured again.

4. What to do if Wi-Fi doesn't work after a reset

Sometimes, after resetting networks, the phone stops detecting Wi-Fi altogether or fails to connect to a previously working network. Here's the diagnostic algorithm:

1. Check your router: Reboot it (unplug it from the power outlet for 30 seconds). Make sure the Wi-Fi indicator is on.
2. Update your phone firmware: Go to Settings → System → Software Update.
3. Change the Wi-Fi region on the router: In the router settings (usually at the address 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) find the parameter Wireless → Region and select your country.
4. Try connecting to a different network: If the phone does not see any networks, the problem may be in the Wi-Fi module (repair required).

If the phone sees the network but does not connect:

• 🔄 Restart your phone.
• 🔒 Make sure you entered your password correctly (case sensitive!).
• 📶 Check if the MAC address filter is enabled on your router (in this case, you need to add your phone's MAC address to the list of allowed MAC addresses).
• 🔄 Change the network security type in the router settings WPA3 on WPA2-PSK (some older phones do not support WPA3).

It never works nearby.

Sometimes it glitches

It works stably.

I don't use Wi-Fi-->

5. Alternative ways to reset Wi-Fi

If standard methods don't help, try these options:

Safe Mode On Android, you can reset networks without risking your essential data:

1. Press and hold the button Nutrition, then hold Turn off before the window appeared Safe Mode.
2. Confirm the transition to safe mode.
3. Remove networks via Settings → Wi-Fi as usual.
4. Restart your phone to exit Safe Mode.

⚠️ Attention: If you use ADB To reset, never execute commands like adb shell su -c "rm -rf /data/misc/wifi/*" — this may cause the Wi-Fi module to malfunction. It's better to use the official commands:

adb shell cmd wifi forget-network <SSID>

6. How to save passwords before resetting

If you're resetting networks to sell your phone but want to save passwords for your devices, use these methods:

For Android:

• 📱 Apps like WiFi Password Viewer (requires root).
• 🔄 Export via Settings → Google → Backup (saves networks if copying to account is enabled).
• 📝 Manual file preview /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml (for root users only).

For iPhone:

• 🔐 Passwords are synced via iCloud Keychain (if enabled).
• 🖥️ On Mac: Open Bunch of keys, find the network name in the section Passwords.
• 📱 Apps like WiFi Passwords (works only on jailbroken devices).

7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Many users make the same mistakes when resetting their Wi-Fi. Here are the most common ones:

1. Reset all settings instead of just Wi-Fi. This will result in loss of app data, accounts, and personalization. Always choose Reset network settings, and not Factory reset.
2. Deleting the network the phone is connected to. This will interrupt your internet connection and you will need mobile data to reconnect.
3. Ignoring firmware updates. Older versions of Android/iOS may have Wi-Fi bugs that are fixed in new updates.
4. Unverified ADB commands. Copying commands from forums without understanding their operation can lead to brick devices.

⚠️ Attention: On some phones (eg. Huawei (with EMUI) After resetting the network, you may lose the ability to connect to hidden Wi-Fi networks (with a disabled SSID). To restore this functionality, you will need to manually add the network via Add a network in the Wi-Fi settings.

Why might a phone not see networks after a reset?

📡 The router is configured for a channel that the phone does not support (for example, 160 MHz in the Wi-Fi 6E standard on older smartphones).

📡 Mode enabled 802.11r (Fast Transition) on a router that is not supported by the phone.

📡 The phone's MAC address is blocked in the router settings.

📡 The phone is in sleep mode Saving traffic, which limits network scanning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to reset Wi-Fi without losing other data?

Yes, all modern smartphones have this option. Reset network settings, which only removes Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth. Personal files, photos, and apps remain intact. The exception is phones with custom firmware, where this feature may work differently.

Why doesn't my phone connect to Wi-Fi after a reset?

There may be several reasons:

• 🔌 The router distributes the network in the range 5 GHz, and the phone is trying to connect to 2.4 GHz (or vice versa). Try manually selecting the range in your router settings.
• 🔒 The password contains special characters (eg. #, $), which are not processed correctly by the phone firmware. Try changing the password to a simple one (for example, 12345678) for the test.
• 📡 It's enabled in the router settings MAC address filter, and your phone is not whitelisted.

If all else fails, try connecting your phone to a different network (for example, at a cafe) – this will help determine whether the problem is with your phone or your router.

How to reset Wi-Fi on a phone without accessing settings?

If your phone is locked or unresponsive, there are two options:

1. Hard Reset (full reset). To do this, turn off the phone, then press a combination of buttons (usually Power + Volume Up) until the Recovery menu appears. Select Wipe data/factory reset. ⚠️ This will remove all data from your phone!
2. ADB (Android only). If USB debugging is enabled on your phone, connect it to your PC and run the command:

   adb shell settings put global wifi_on 0

   This will disable Wi-Fi but won't reset your networks. A full reset will require root access.

Will Wi-Fi resetting the phone's firmware?

Yes, when you reflash (install a new version of Android/iOS), all network settings are reset. This applies to:

• 📱 Official over-the-air (OTA) updates - networks remain intact.
• 📱 Complete reflashing via Fastboot or iTunes — networks are removed.
• 📱 Installing custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) - requires setting up Wi-Fi from scratch.

If you update your phone through the standard update menu, the networks remain in place.

Is it possible to restore deleted Wi-Fi networks?

On Android Without root access, recovery is impossible - network data is stored in a protected area of ​​memory. If you had root access enabled Backup to Google Account, the networks will be restored after logging into the same account on a new device.

On iPhone networks are synced via iCloud if the feature was enabled iCloud KeychainTo restore:

1. Go to Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Keychain.
2. Make sure the feature is enabled.
3. Connect to any network - other saved networks will appear in the list automatically.