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I use "internet sharing" on my Mac, but lately I've been having trouble connecting my iPhone 5 to the resulting WiFi network. I've read advice online to do Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings on the iPhone, but I can only find very vague information on what this actually does. From the name it sounds like a bit of a nuclear option, and before I try it I want to make sure that it's not going to affect my ability to use the cellular network.

So, does the iPhone's "reset network settings" just reset WiFi settings, or does it reset cellular network settings as well? If the latter, is there any danger that this would delete any settings installed by my phone company, causing problems with using internet or telephone services via the 3G or 4G networks?

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1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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According to this Apple support page,

This will clear your current cellular and Wi-Fi network settings, including saved networks, Wi-Fi passwords, and VPN settings.

So, it will reset your network connection options, and it will affect internet connectivity, both GSM/GPRS/EDGE/3G/4G and WiFi, but it shouldn't impact "classic" telephone services, because they are usually auto-configured by the carrier and do not require specific settings on the mobile phone.

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    In IOS 9, the WiFi networks, but not the VPN accounts are also cleared in any Macs sharing the same iCloud account.
    – David Veksler
    Feb 24, 2016 at 5:09
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    What @DavidVeksler said is true, and important: resetting network settings will remove all saved WiFi passwords in iCloud keychain, effectively deleting remembered WiFi networks from all your signed in devices. A workaround: turn off iCloud Keychain, then reset network settings, then turn iCloud Keychain back on. Your saved WiFi networks will then sync back, unharmed.
    – Jacob Ford
    May 23, 2019 at 17:56

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