e-vitto

Q: Reset network settings on iPhone deleted all my saved wifi networks also my Mac!

I had to perform a "reset network settings" on my iPhone 6 (iOS 8, latest version) to solve a sync problem with Photo. That helped, but not only I lost all the list of saved wifi networks on my phone (the price to pay...), but also on my MacBook Pro (OS X Yosemite, latest version)!

 

Since "reset network settings" seems to be often an issue-solver on iOS and it's very annoying having lost all my wifi settings also on my Mac, is there any way to avoiding sync between the network settings of the two devices?

 

I mean, it's a nice plus when I go to a hotel and I connect my Mac to the wifi and also my iPhone goes on it... but on the other hand I would definitely do without it if when I have to perform a "rest network settings" on my iPhone that deletes all the saved networks on my Mac (which did need to get its network setting reset...)

 

Thanks!

 

Vittorio

iPhone 6, iOS 8.4.1

Posted on Sep 8, 2015 9:07 AM

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Q: Reset network settings on iPhone deleted all my saved wifi networks also my Mac!

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  • Helpful answers

  • by cabakroll,

    cabakroll cabakroll Sep 8, 2015 9:13 AM in response to e-vitto
    Level 3 (840 points)
    Sep 8, 2015 9:13 AM in response to e-vitto

    did you synced you iPhone with iTunes when you wi-fi networks was deleted?

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Sep 10, 2015 2:07 PM in response to e-vitto
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Sep 10, 2015 2:07 PM in response to e-vitto

    If you ever need to do that again, disable iCloud Keychain on the phone first.

  • by e-vitto,

    e-vitto e-vitto Sep 8, 2015 9:37 AM in response to cabakroll
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2015 9:37 AM in response to cabakroll

    Yes, I did after that. I am not sure when all the networks got deleted on my Mac, but probably after that?

  • by e-vitto,

    e-vitto e-vitto Sep 8, 2015 9:38 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2015 9:38 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Thanks, so if I do that and then reactivate the keychain on the iPhone, that should prevent it to impact on my Mac?

  • by cabakroll,

    cabakroll cabakroll Sep 8, 2015 9:39 AM in response to e-vitto
    Level 3 (840 points)
    Sep 8, 2015 9:39 AM in response to e-vitto

    wi-fi networks was deleted before or after you synced iPhone with iTunes?

  • by e-vitto,

    e-vitto e-vitto Sep 8, 2015 9:42 AM in response to cabakroll
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2015 9:42 AM in response to cabakroll

    I can't remember exactly as it was a few days ago, but quite likely it was after that - I just remember that at a certain point I had to re-insert the password, just noticed now that all the other networks were gone

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Sep 8, 2015 12:05 PM in response to e-vitto
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Sep 8, 2015 12:05 PM in response to e-vitto

    It should, but I can't promise anything.

  • by Employee4866,

    Employee4866 Employee4866 Jul 15, 2016 10:25 PM in response to e-vitto
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 15, 2016 10:25 PM in response to e-vitto

    This just happened to me today. MacBook Pro 15 Retina with latest El Capitan and iPhone 6s with latest iOS. My iPhone wasn't joining familiar WiFi networks, staying on LTE instead. I should have just rebooted the iPhone. But instead, I foolishly reset my network settings.

     

    THEN MY MACBOOK LOST ALL NETWORK PASSWORDS!

     

    This is not acceptable! There was no warning about repercussions related to KeyChain on iCloud! Maybe I can re-enter every password (including all of my clients, my home, my university, my friends, my tech incubators, my favorite bars & restaurants...), one-by-one, by going back to Keychain Access every time on my Mac. But this deal *****!

     

    I am former Apple Employee #4866. I used to be an Engineering Project Manager on the Mac OS. I lived and worked in Cupertino for a bunch of years. That was long ago, but listen to me, my children! This ain't no "feature"!!!!

  • by Guinea50,

    Guinea50 Guinea50 Jul 16, 2016 2:09 PM in response to e-vitto
    Level 1 (27 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 16, 2016 2:09 PM in response to e-vitto

    It erased the wifi networks on your mac because your mac must be on your icloud account, so it resets the settings on all devices. If you need to do it again, you should turn off icloud sync when you do it.

  • by Employee4866,

    Employee4866 Employee4866 Aug 1, 2016 12:24 AM in response to Guinea50
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 1, 2016 12:24 AM in response to Guinea50

    There was no warning that I would lose WiFi passwords on all of my other devices using iCloud. Your advice about temporarily disabling iCloud sync might work, but who is going to do that without already suffering this problem. I say again: THIS IS A BUG, NOT A FEATURE!!!!

     

    Now I'm thinking of pulling out one of my older MacBooks and temporarily signing back into iCloud just to get all of those lost passwords back. I have multiple clients (not to mention family and friends) who depend on me to remember their passwords and fix their networks.

     

    Are you listening in Cupertino? Don't make me come back up in there! Because I will make you buy my beer and listen to my stories!

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 1, 2016 10:58 AM in response to Employee4866
    Level 9 (69,891 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 1, 2016 10:58 AM in response to Employee4866

    Apple doesn’t routinely monitor the discussions. These are mostly user to user discussions.

     

    Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem or a suggestion for improvement. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem/suggested change solved sooner.

     

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