How to Forget a WiFi Network on iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows

Every time you connect to a WiFi network, your device saves the name (SSID), password, and security settings as a “network profile.” That saved profile is useful — it lets you reconnect automatically next time. But when the network’s password changes, when you want to stop auto-connecting, or when a corrupted profile is causing connection errors, you need to delete that saved profile. That’s what “forgetting” a WiFi network does.

Why You’d Want to Forget a WiFi Network

The most common reasons to forget a saved network:

• Password changed: Your device keeps trying the old password and failing. Forgetting it lets you re-enter the correct one.
• Connected but no internet: A stale DHCP lease or corrupted profile can leave you connected to the network name but unable to load anything. Forgetting and rejoining forces a clean reconnection.
• Unwanted auto-connect: Your laptop jumps onto a neighbor’s open network or a weak hotspot instead of your home router. Forgetting removes it from the auto-connect list.
• New router, same network name: If you replaced your router but kept the same SSID, the old profile may carry wrong security settings. Start fresh by forgetting it first.
• Security hygiene: Forgetting public WiFi networks (hotels, airports, coffee shops) prevents your device from auto-connecting to spoofed networks with the same name in the future.

How to Forget a WiFi Network on iPhone (iOS 17 and Later)

1. Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the (i) circle to the right of the network name you want to forget.
3. Tap Forget This Network.
4. Tap Forget in the confirmation dialog.

The network disappears from your saved list immediately. To reconnect, tap the network name in the Wi-Fi list and enter the password. The same steps apply on iPad.

If you want to forget a network you’re not currently near, go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Edit (top right) to see your full list of saved networks, then tap the red minus button next to any network to remove it.

How to Forget a WiFi Network on Android

The exact path varies by manufacturer, but the concept is the same on all Android devices.

Stock Android (Pixel, Android 12 and Later)

1. Open Settings → Network & internet → Internet.
2. Tap the network name you want to remove.
3. Tap Forget.

Samsung Galaxy (One UI)

1. Open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the gear icon next to the network name.
3. Tap Forget at the bottom of the screen.

On other Android skins (OnePlus, Xiaomi, etc.), the path is similar — look in Settings → Wi-Fi, long-press or tap the network name, and find the Forget option in the menu that appears.

How to Forget a WiFi Network on Mac (macOS Ventura and Later)

macOS separates currently connected networks from saved-but-not-connected networks, so the process differs slightly depending on which one you want to remove.

Forget the Network You’re Currently Connected To

1. Click the Apple menu → System Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Click Details next to the active network name.
3. Click Forget This Network, then click Remove to confirm.

Forget a Saved Network You’re Not Currently Using

1. Click the Apple menu → System Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Scroll down and click Advanced to see all saved networks.
3. Click the three-dot (…) menu next to the network you want to remove.
4. Choose Remove From List, then click Forget to confirm.

On macOS Monterey and earlier, this was under System Preferences → Network → Advanced → Wi-Fi tab, where you selected the network and clicked the minus (−) button.

How to Forget a WiFi Network on Windows 11

1. Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi.
2. Click Manage known networks.
3. Find the network in the list and click Forget.

Faster alternative: Click the WiFi icon in the taskbar, then click the right-arrow next to the network name and select Forget.

How to Forget a WiFi Network on Windows 10

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi.
2. Click Manage known networks.
3. Click the network name, then click Forget.

Faster alternative: Click the WiFi icon in the system tray (bottom-right), right-click the network you want to remove, and click Forget.

What Forgetting Actually Does

Forgetting a network removes the saved password and profile from your device only. It has no effect on the router, other devices, or anyone else connected to the network. All other devices keep their saved passwords. The network itself keeps working normally. You simply need to re-enter the password the next time you want to connect from that device.

When Forgetting Doesn’t Fix the Problem

Forgetting and rejoining solves a wide range of connection glitches, but not all of them. If you forget the network, re-enter the correct password, and still can’t connect, the issue is likely elsewhere:

• Router issue: Try restarting your router (unplug for 30 seconds).
• IP address conflict: Another device may have the same IP address. See our guide on fixing WiFi IP address conflicts.
• Connected but no pages load: You may have a DNS issue. See our guide on fixing WiFi DNS errors.
• ISP outage: Run a speed test to check if your connection is actually working.

If everything reconnects fine but speeds are still disappointing, our guide on why WiFi is slow covers the most common culprits and fixes.