I accidentally connected to the wrong WiFi network and now it keeps trying to reconnect. How can I delete this network from my device to stop it from happening? Any help would be appreciated!
Oh boy, we’ve all been there. It’s reallly annoying when your device keeps trying to connect to the wrong WiFi network. No worries, removing a WiFi network is pretty simple. I’ll break it down by device type:
On a Windows PC:
- Click on the WiFi icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner).
- In the list of networks, right-click the network you want to forget.
- Choose “Forget.”
On a macOS:
- Click the Apple menu and go to “System Preferences.”
- Choose “Network” and then select “Wi-Fi” in the sidebar.
- Click “Advanced.”
- In the list of preferred networks, find the one you don’t want and hit the “-” button.
- Click “OK,” then “Apply.”
On iPhone/iPad:
- Go to “Settings,” then tap “Wi-Fi.”
- Find the WiFi network you want to remove and tap the “i” icon next to it.
- Tap “Forget This Network.”
On Android:
- Go to “Settings” and tap on “Network & Internet” or “Connections,” depending on your phone’s setup.
- Tap “Wi-Fi.”
- Find the network you want to forget, then tap and hold it.
- Select “Forget network.”
If you’re still having trouble or want more control over managing your WiFi networks, you might want to check out NetSpot
But be careful though—when you’re removing a network, ensure it’s really the right one! I once had a frantic moment when I removed my own home network by mistake. Took me a good 10 minutes to figure out why I wasn’t getting any internet! 
Good luck!
While @byteguru has already covered the basic steps for removing a WiFi network on different devices, there’s another tip worth mentioning—especially for those of you who find yourselves repeatedly connecting to the wrong WiFi network. Some of these methods are platform agnostic and could be a game-changer for you.
First, I noticed byteguru didn’t mention an essential aspect—automatic connections and their priority. Sometimes your devices are set to connect to the strongest signal by default, which might not always be the one you want. Heck, it could be your neighbor’s open network with a decent signal, and we all know that’s just bad news.
Let’s talk about prioritizing networks:
On Windows:
Windows 10 and 11 don’t have a native feature to prioritize WiFi networks, but you can prioritize connections using the Command Prompt:
- Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
- Type:
netsh wlan show profiles
- Note the name of the WiFi network you want to prioritize.
- Then type:
netsh wlan set profileorder name="YOUR_NETWORK_NAME" interface="Wi-Fi" priority=1
Replace YOUR_NETWORK_NAME with your preferred network’s name.
For macOS:
macOS kinda does this visually, when you move networks up and down in the preferred networks list:
- In the “Advanced” menu, drag your preferred networks to the top of the list in the Wi-Fi section.
- Make sure they are in the order you prefer.
On Android:
Managed networks don’t quite allow for a prioritization order in many standard UIs. But if you’re a power user, there are third-party apps like WiFi Prioritizer that can help manage this for you.
As for iOS: Unfortunately, you can’t prioritize WiFi networks, but forgetting irrelevant ones will help mitigate the inconvenience.
Bonus Tip - Managing Interference and WiFi Performance:
It’s no joke swatting your router or worrying about dead spots in your house. After curating your WiFi networks, congestion might still cause problems. I highly suggest you check out NetSpot. It’s visually intuitive and could be handy to analyze your home or office’s WiFi landscape. It might look a bit technical at first, but its site survey software helps in optimizing and managing your network settings better.
And just to add a personal touch, be vigilante when removing networks–ain’t nothin’ worse than nuking the wrong one and realizing your internet’s AWOL! I’ve been there—scouring through settings like it’s some sort of digital treasure hunt.
Also, ensure your devices aren’t jumping ship to neighboring open networks by disabling auto-connect to open networks if available in your settings. This applies to almost all device platforms. Safety first, right?
I’m seeing a lot of great advice here, but let me throw in my two cents. Sometimes, connectivity issues might not just be about forgetting networks; it could also be due to network interference or mismanaged priorities.
First off, @codecrafter and @byteguru hit the nail on the head with the device-specific steps. But let’s delve into the psychology of your device’s WiFi behavior for a minute.
Your device is programmed to latch onto the strongest and most familiar network. If you find your device reconnecting to the wrong network, it might be because it perceives it as “stronger” or it’s simply higher in the priority list. Now, fixing priority often isn’t straightforward without delving deep into settings or using third-party tools. For this reason, let’s explore a few advanced yet simple tweaks:
On Routers/Access Points
If your device sticks like glue to a wrong or intermittent network, it partly could be due to bad network management on the router end. Try:
- Changing the WiFi channel to less congested ones.
- Assigning static IPs for critical devices to ensure better signal reception.
- Enabling dual-band features to let devices jump between 2.4GHz and 5GHz for optimal performance.
Wi-Fi Auto-Connect Settings Amendment
One crucial aspect missing in the previous replies is the Auto-Connect feature found on most devices. To prevent automatically reconnecting to unwanted networks, modify auto-connect settings:
On Windows:
- Go to “Settings” > “Network & Internet” > “Wi-Fi”.
- Click on “Manage known networks”.
- Select the unwanted network and ensure the “Connect automatically when in range” box is unchecked.
On macOS:
- Open “System Preferences” > “Network”.
- Go to “Wi-Fi” in the sidebar, click on “Advanced”.
- Highlight the network and uncheck the “Remember networks this computer has joined” option.
On Android/iOS:
For some Android devices, you can head into the specific WiFi settings and toggle off the “Auto-connect” feature for each network. Unfortunately, iOS doesn’t offer a built-in priority system, so your best bet is to clear out the unwanted networks periodically.
Advanced Tools and Analytics
I see NetSpot mentioned. This software not only handles WiFi surveying but can also help visualize and troubleshoot connectivity issues. Pros: Detailed visual heatmaps of your network, a comprehensive performance analyzer, and user-friendly documentation. Cons: It may be overkill for simple network forgetting and it isn’t free, though there’s a trial version.
Competitors like Wireshark and Acrylic WiFi also offer good tools for network analysis, albeit they require more technical know-how and aren’t as user-friendly. Using such tools can warn you in advance if there are stronger networks infringing on your space, allowing you to effectively prioritize and avoid a mishap.
NetSpot is a great option if you’re looking to deep-dive into network management without becoming a full-fledged network engineer, but ensure it serves your needs before committing.
Big Picture: Network Hygiene
Sometimes, the simplest answer is regular cleanup. Frequently auditing your known networks and getting rid of the ones you don’t need ensures you don’t get stuck in unwanted connections.
Extra Nudge: Signal Strength & Congestion
Assess the clutter level of your network environment. Other networks fighting for attention can mess up connection priorities, making your device’s job harder.
Practical Implementation:
- Windows, as @codecrafter suggested, utilize Command Prompt to set profiles, making sure your preferred networks stay up top.
- macOS, reorder networks in “Advanced” settings.
- Android, use tools like WiFi Prioritizer if basic settings don’t suffice.
Security Aspect: Beware of Open Networks
Disabling auto-connect to open networks on all devices is prudent. This prevents your precious data from being hijacked by an insecure network.
Overall, removing a network isn’t the only step; it’s also about managing and optimizing existing ones. If you consistently face issues, performance-oriented tools like NetSpot help, but keep them as part of a holistic strategy including cleaning old networks, and prioritizing critical connections.
Alright, roll with these ideas, dodge those flaky networks, and hope this instills some digital zen in your WiFi world.