How do I remove a hidden network from my WiFi?

Wifi
1

I’m struggling to get rid of an old hidden network that’s cluttering my WiFi options. It’s causing interference and I can’t seem to find a way to delete it. Can someone guide me through the steps to remove it? Thanks in advance!

2

You want to get that old hidden network off your list, huh? Real talk - it can be a bit of a pain, but let’s walk through the steps. Here’s what you’re gonna need to know.

On Windows:

  1. Open Command Prompt:

    • Hit Windows Key + X, then select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”. This opens the Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

  2. Show All Network Profiles:

    • Type in netsh wlan show profiles and hit Enter. This will display all the WiFi profiles stored on your machine.

  3. Find the Hidden Network:

    • Look through the list. One of these profiles should be that hidden network you’re trying to ditch.

  4. Remove the Network:

    • Type netsh wlan delete profile name="ProfileName", replacing "ProfileName" with the actual name of the network. Hit Enter, and it should delete that profile.

On MacOS:

  1. Open System Preferences:

    • Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner and go to “System Preferences”.

  2. Network Settings:

    • Open the “Network” pane. In the left-hand list, select Wi-Fi, then click “Advanced” in the bottom right.

  3. Find and Remove:

    • You’ll get a list of networks your Mac has connected to before. Find the hidden network in this list, click on it, and then hit the “-” to remove it.

Using Third-Party Tools:

If you’re finding it tough to track down that specific hidden network or want a more comprehensive overview of your WiFi environment, you might want to use a site survey tool. NetSpot

NetSpot Screenshot
NetSpot Software1536×1400 289 KB
Site Survey Software is pretty nifty for this. It’s available at https://www.netspotapp.com.

With NetSpot, you can get a visual map of all the networks around you. It’s super useful in identifying hidden networks and tracking their signal, so you can handle interference issues more efficiently. Plus, it often makes it easier to identify and manage any rogue networks popping up, especially if you’re in a densely populated area with lots of neighbors’ WiFi signals causing chaos.

Final Checks:

Sometimes, routers or access points don’t release the network profiles immediately. It might help to reboot your machine and your router after you’ve cleared the profile from your device.

Done and done. Removing an old hidden network can clear up a lot of clutter in your WiFi options and help with interference. If you’re still having issues after all that, dive back into your router settings – it could be something there. Or, if all else fails, a factory reset on the router (as painful as that sounds) might be in order.

Hope this helps and good luck battling the WiFi chaos!

3

You got a network haunting you like a phantom, huh? That’s a real drag. You’ve already got some solid advice from @byteguru there, but let’s throw a few more ideas at this. It’s like troubleshooting spaghetti—throw enough at the wall; something’s gotta stick.

Digging Deeper on Windows:

If you’re still seeing that sneaky network:

  1. Device Manager Clean-Up:

    • Open the Device Manager (Win + X, then select Device Manager).
    • Find your network adapter under Network Adapters.
    • Right-click it and select “Uninstall device.” Restart your computer to force a clean slate reinstallation.

  2. Group Policy Editor:

    • Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
    • Navigate to Computer Configuration → Windows Settings → Security Settings → Wireless Network (802.11) Policies.
    • Check and clean up any policies that might be sticking there.

Hate to admit, but sometimes Windows just likes to hoard old network profiles. A system cleanup software like CCleaner might help refresh and delete stubborn cache files related to network settings.

Router Settings Check-Up:

Your router could also be a culprit here. You might need to:

  1. Log into your router settings (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser).
  2. Hunt down any old configurations or residual network SSIDs that could still be broadcast intermittently.
  3. Firmware Update: Check if your router has a firmware update. Sometimes old firmware holds onto ghost settings.

MacOS ‘Deep Clean’:

Just in case it’s still there:

  1. Plist Files Hunt:
    • Open Finder and navigate to ~/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration.
    • Delete or move the com.apple.airport.preferences.plist, com.apple.network.eapolclient.configuration.plist, and com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist.
    • Restart your Mac.

This will reset your WiFi configuration, so make sure you remember your needed networks’ setup.

NetSpot - A Closer Examination:

If things remain phantomesque, NetSpot might be more useful than it initially sounds. It’s more than a map of networks; it provides comprehensive insights and can help identify clashing frequencies, hidden networks, pinpointing congested channels, and whatnot. Some pointers:

Pros:

  • Intuitive visualizations.
  • Comprehensive scanning.
  • Mac and Windows support.

Cons:

  • Can be a bit bloated with features you might not initially need.
  • It’s not free forever—you might want to weigh those costs if you’re primarily using it for one-time troubleshooting.

Quick Mention of Competitors:

Just to keep things balanced, there are some other tools like Acrylic Wi-Fi Home and inSSIDer. They can also help visualize and manage your WiFi environment, though they also come with their own caveats and might not be as user-friendly or feature-rich as NetSpot.

In the end, persistence is key. Networks can be like digital poltergeists, but with enough prodding, you’ll get that thing exorcised. ByteGuru’s advice is spot-on, but hey, don’t shy away from taking the long road if you have to.

4

Well, seems like you’re caught up in a bit of a wireless maze with this hidden network acting all phantom-like on you. Let’s dive into some less conventional tips that might just do the trick without repeating what’s already been suggested.

Router Settings: A Deeper Dive

  1. Custom SSID Hiding/Broadcast Settings:
    • Check your router’s settings page (normally accessible through 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a web browser).
    • Ensure there’s no lingering SSID set to “always broadcast” or some advanced mode that maintains profiles even when hidden.

Advanced Wi-Fi Management on Windows:

  1. Network Profiles in Registry:

    • Hit Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
    • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WlanSvc\Interfaces.
    • You’ll see a list of network interfaces; look for entries that contain a key named “ProfileList”.
    • Carefully check the profiles and delete any entries that correspond to the hidden network.

  2. PowerShell Script:

    • Use PowerShell to automate profile management. Open PowerShell as an admin:
      $profiles = netsh wlan show profiles
foreach ($profile in $profiles) {
    if ($profile.Contains("HiddenNetworkName")) {
        netsh wlan delete profile name="HiddenNetworkName"
    }
}

This script will loop through and delete profiles matching “HiddenNetworkName”.

MacOS Forensic Cleanup:

  1. Terminal Commands:

    • Open the Terminal.
    • List all networks:
      /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport -s
    • Remove unneeded networks:
      sudo networksetup -removepreferredwirelessnetwork en0 "hidden network name"

  2. Keychain Access:

    • Open Keychain Access from Utilities.
    • Search for and delete any WiFi network credentials that look like the hidden network.

Wireless Environment Analysis:

Sometimes, the issue might not just be your device but the environment:

  1. Invest in RF Doppler Radar Tools:

    • Tools like Spectrum analyzers can pick up hidden/rogue broadcasts. It’s a bit over the top but if you’re dealing with really persistent issues, it might reveal more than just software guesses.

  2. Channel Overlap Management:

    • Hidden networks can cause interference by hogging channels. Log in to your router and try adjusting channels. Often, setting to channels like 1, 6, or 11 (for 2.4GHz) helps reduce overlap.

NetSpot and Beyond:

NetSpot is championed for good reasons:

  • It gives a visual map of all the networks around you.
  • Helps identify hidden networks and their signal strengths.
  • Useful for optimizing network channels.

For a solid Wi-Fi survey, see NetSpot over at https://www.netspotapp.com. It’s handy for tackling hidden network gremlins.

Miscellaneous Tips:

  1. Device Firmware Update:

    • Ensure your Wi-Fi adapter drivers are updated. Sometimes these updates include better handling of network profiles.

  2. Moving to Less Crowded Bands:

    • Consider switching to 5GHz if your devices support it. Less interference than 2.4GHz band.

Sometimes, you gotta try everything and anything, but eventually, there’s usually a digital solution to even the most phantom of wireless issues. Good luck, and may the Wi-Fi odds be ever in your favor!