Reset OS X Network Preferences

The Network Preferences pane of System Preferences can have its settings restored to factory default by renaming a single configuration file.  

OS X 10.1.x and OS X 10.2.x

In early implementations of OS X (before 10.3.x) the relevant file is located here...

 /private/var/db/SystemConfiguration/preferences.xml

To see how to reset this file, click here.

OS X 10.3.x

In OS X 10.3.x, the relevant file is located here...

/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist

To see how to reset this file, click here.

After you have reset the network preferences file, you will need to make a new network Location.  For more information on this, click here...

How to make a new Network Location

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OS X 10.1.x and OS X 10.2.x

NOTE: You DO NOT need to have enabled the root user in order to carry out this procedure.  However, you do need to be logged in as a user who has administration rights.

In early implementations of OS X (before 10.3.x) the relevant file is located here...

 /private/var/db/SystemConfiguration/preferences.xml

  1. Quit the System Preferences application, if it is running.
  2. Launch the Terminal application (found in /Applications/Utilities/).
  3. Type sudo -s and press Return
  4. Enter the password for the current user profile (NOT the root password).
  5. Type cd /private/var/db/SystemConfiguration and press Return (note case sensitivity).
  6. Type mv preferences.xml preferences.old and press Return.
  7. Launch the System Preferences application and check the Network pane.  All Locations and PPP / LAN configurations should have been reset to OS default.

NOTE: This procedure can be reversed by using the mv command again to rename the preferences.old file back to preferences.xml

If the preferences.xml file does not exist in this pathway, the attempt to rename it will fail as illustrated below.  If this happens, the Mac may be storing its preferences at the alternate location, in which case click here.

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OS X 10.3.x

NOTE: You DO NOT need to have enabled the root user in order to carry out this procedure.  However, you do need to be logged in as a user who has administration rights.

In OS X 10.3.x, the relevant file is located here...

/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist

  1. Quit the System Preferences application, if it is running.
  2. Launch the Terminal application (found in /Applications/Utilities/).
  3. Type sudo -s and press Return
  4. Enter the password for the current user profile (NOT the root password).
  5. Type cd /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration and press Return (note case sensitivity).
  6. Type mv preferences.plist preferences.plist.old and press Return.
  7. Launch the System Preferences application and check the Network pane.  All Locations and PPP / LAN configurations should have been reset to OS default.

NOTE: This procedure can be reversed by using the mv command again to rename the preferences.plist.old file back to preferences.plist

 

If the preferences.plist file does not exist in this pathway, the attempt to rename it will fail as illustrated below.  If this happens, the Mac may be storing its preferences at the alternate location, in which case click here.

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