Q: Why does Reset Network Settings affect WiFi networks on my Mac?
In an attempt to resolve issues with AT&T's carrier update 24.2 under iOS 9.3.2, I Reset my Network Settings per Apple's suggestion at If you can't connect to a cellular network or cellular data - Apple Support . As soon as I did so, I watched the WiFi signal on my Retina MacBook Pro disappear; and, OS X then prompted me to re-enter my WiFi credentials (no known networks were available). I then checked my stored WiFi networks, and only attwifi and my current work access point were listed (out of many that were previously there).
I have enjoyed the convenience of syncing my WiFi networks across my iPhone and MacBook in recent releases of their respective OSes; however, there was no warning that resetting the network settings on my iPhone would wipe out all the networks on my MacBook Pro. There is also no warning on the aforementioned Apple website page of this.
Is this a bug I should report? Since there is no mention of this side-effect on Apple's documentation, I am inclined to think this was not intentional.
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
Posted on Jul 12, 2016 3:08 PM