Network Reset vs Factory Reset: Which Fixes Mobile Signal Issues?

A network reset is usually the best place to start when your phone has signal, mobile data, calling, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth problems. 

It clears connection settings without deleting your photos, apps or messages. 

A factory reset is the nuclear option. It wipes the phone and takes it back to how it was when you first switched it on. 

Put simply, a network reset tidies the wiring. A factory reset empties the whole house. 

What Does a Network Reset Actually Do? 

A network reset clears the settings your phone uses to connect to mobile networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and sometimes VPNs. 

Afterwards, the phone rebuilds most of those settings automatically. 

You may need to enter Wi-Fi passwords again and reconnect devices such as earbuds, smartwatches or your car. 

That is mildly annoying, but still much better than reinstalling every app you have ever downloaded. 

Your photos, contacts, messages and files should stay exactly where they are. 

A network reset can help when: 

• Mobile data suddenly stops working 
• Calls keep dropping 
• Your phone shows “No Service” 
• Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting 
• Bluetooth refuses to behave 
• Signal problems start after an update 
• Roaming settings get muddled after travelling 

It is not guaranteed to fix every issue, but it is a sensible move before doing anything drastic. 

What Does a Factory Reset Do? 

A factory reset wipes the phone and returns it to its original setup. 

That usually means removing: 

• Apps 
• Accounts 
• Photos and videos 
• Messages 
• Downloads 
• Saved settings 
• Wi-Fi passwords 

Anything stored safely in the cloud can often be restored, but only if it was backed up properly. 

This is not the sort of button you press “just to see”. 

A factory reset makes more sense when the entire phone is acting up. Perhaps it keeps freezing, restarting or crashing even after updates. 

For one dodgy signal bar in the spare bedroom, though, it is complete overkill. 

Ahmed’s Mobile Data Mystery 

Ahmed’s phone was fine until a software update. 

After that, calls worked, but mobile data kept disappearing. The 4G symbol appeared for a few seconds, then vanished. 

He restarted the phone several times. It helped briefly, then the problem came back. 

An online forum told him to factory reset everything. 

Luckily, he tried a network reset first. 

The phone restarted, reconnected to the network and the data began working again. 

He had to reconnect the Wi-Fi and pair his earbuds, but that was it. 

A factory reset would probably have worked too. It would also have cost him an evening reinstalling apps, remembering passwords and wondering why half his photos had not backed up. 

Sometimes the smaller fix really does the trick. 

Network Reset vs Factory Reset 

Try These Fixes Before Resetting Anything 

Before pressing reset, run through the easy checks. 

Turn aeroplane mode on for about 30 seconds, then switch it off. 

Restart the phone. 

Check whether your network has an outage. 

If you use a physical SIM, remove it and put it back in carefully. If you use an eSIM, make sure the right line is active for calls and mobile data. 

Try the phone somewhere else too. 

If the signal works outside but disappears indoors, the problem may be thick walls, coated windows or weak coverage in the building. 

No amount of resetting will convince a mobile mast to move closer to your house. 

When a Network Reset Makes Sense 

A network reset is worth trying when the issue started after: 

• A software update 
• Changing networks 
• Replacing the SIM 
• Travelling abroad 
• Editing mobile data settings 
• Installing a new eSIM 
• Connecting to several unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks 

Before doing it, make sure you know your Wi-Fi password. 

Otherwise, you may end up crawling behind the router with your phone torch, trying to read a tiny faded label. Not ideal. 

When a Reset Will Not Help 

Neither type of reset can fix everything. 

A reset will not repair: 

• A faulty mobile mast 
• A damaged SIM 
• A suspended account 
• A phone locked to another network 
• Physical antenna damage 
• Poor coverage in your area 
• A nationwide network outage 

If everyone nearby on the same network has lost signal, your settings are probably innocent. 

If another SIM works fine in your phone, the issue may be with your original SIM or account. 

A quick bit of testing can save you from wiping the phone for no reason. 

When Is a Factory Reset Worth It? 

Think about a factory reset only when the signal problem is part of a much bigger mess. 

Maybe the phone is freezing, apps are crashing, settings refuse to save, and the handset keeps restarting for no obvious reason. 

Even then, try the network reset first. 

You should also update the software, test another SIM and contact your provider. 

Before a factory reset, back up your photos, contacts, messages and authentication codes. 

Make sure you know your Apple ID or Google account password too. The phone may ask for it during setup, and that is not the moment to discover you last changed it in 2022. 

Which One Should You Choose? 

Choose a network reset when the problem is limited to signal, calls, mobile data, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. 

It is faster, safer and far less of a faff. 

Choose a factory reset only when the whole phone is misbehaving, and every smaller fix has failed. 

If the network reset changes nothing, speak to your mobile provider before wiping the device. 

It can check the SIM, account, local coverage and network settings from its side. 

The best rule is simple: start small. 

There is no need to demolish the kitchen because the toaster is playing up.