How to Forget a WiFi Network on Any Device

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How to Forget a WiFi Network on Any Device

"Forget this network" deletes the saved password and settings for a Wi-Fi network. It is one of the most useful fixes when a device won't reconnect after a router change, keeps joining the wrong network, or shows connected but no internet. Here is how to do it on each device, and how to reconnect afterwards.

Have the Wi-Fi password ready before you start: you will need to type it again.

Windows 11

From Quick Settings (fastest):

Click the network icon on the taskbar.
Click the arrow (>) next to the Wi-Fi button.
Right-click the network and choose Forget.

From Settings (also works for networks out of range):

Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
Find the network and click Forget.

Windows 10

Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, select the network and choose Forget.

Windows: Command Prompt (netsh)

Useful when Settings won't open or you want to remove many profiles. Open Command Prompt or Terminal and list the saved networks:

netsh wlan show profiles

Then delete one by name (keep the quotes if the name has spaces):

netsh wlan delete profile name="Network Name"

Windows replies that the profile was deleted from the interface. Some profiles pushed by a workplace can only be removed by the administrator.

Mac

On macOS Ventura and later:

Open Apple menu > System Settings > Wi-Fi.
For the network you are on, click Details and then Forget This Network.
For other saved networks, scroll to Known Networks, click the More button (three dots) next to the name and choose Forget This Network.

On older macOS versions the list is in System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced: select the network and click the minus button.

iPhone and iPad

Open Settings > Wi-Fi.
Tap the info button (i) next to the network.
Tap Forget This Network, then Forget.

To remove a network that is out of range, tap Edit at the top of the Wi-Fi page, authenticate, and delete it from the known networks list.

Android

Menu names vary by maker and Android version. The two most common:

Google Pixel and near-stock Android:

Open Settings > Network & internet > Internet.
Tap the gear icon next to the network.
Tap Forget.

For out-of-range networks: Settings > Network & internet > Internet > Saved networks.

Samsung Galaxy (One UI):

Open Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi.
Tap the gear icon next to the network.
Tap Forget at the bottom.

If your phone looks different, search Settings for "saved networks".

Reconnecting Afterwards

Open the Wi-Fi list and pick the network.
Type the password carefully; passwords are case-sensitive.
On phones, check the privacy setting: Android's Use randomized MAC and iPhone's Private Wi-Fi Address are fine at home, but a router with MAC filtering may block them.

If the network doesn't appear at all, the router may be hiding its name or broadcasting only on a band your device doesn't support.

When Forgetting Doesn't Help

Windows still can't connect: see cannot connect to this network on Windows 11.
Connected but no internet on every device: the router or provider is the problem, not the saved profile. Start with WiFi connected but no internet.
Keeps dropping after reconnecting: see Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What happens when I forget a Wi-Fi network?

The device deletes the saved password and settings for that network and stops joining it automatically. Nothing else is removed. To use it again you pick the network and type the password.

Why should I forget a network?

It fixes connections that fail after the router's password or security type changed, stops your device joining a network you no longer want, and gives a clean start when a network says connected but has no internet.

Can I forget a network that is not in range?

Yes. On Windows use Manage known networks or netsh; on Android the Saved networks list; on Mac the Known Networks list. On iPhone, the Edit button on the Wi-Fi page shows known networks.