How to Forget a Network on Windows 11

When you connect to a Wi-Fi network on your Windows 11 PC, the system saves the network’s credentials, allowing it to reconnect automatically whenever it is in range. While this feature adds convenience, there may be times when you need to forget a network. Perhaps you’re having trouble connecting to a specific network, or you no longer want your device to connect to it automatically. In such cases, removing the network from your saved list can help resolve issues or prevent unwanted connections.

Method 1: Forget a Wi-Fi Network from the Settings App

To remove any saved Wi-Fi network from your Windows 11 PC, even if it’s out of range, you can use the Settings app to access a list of all known networks and forget the one you no longer want.

Open the Start Menu by clicking the Windows icon on the taskbar, then click on the ‘Settings’ tile from the ‘Pinned apps’ section. If you don’t see it there, type Settings into the search bar and select it from the results.

In the Settings window, click on Network & internet from the left-hand sidebar.

On the Network & internet page, select the Wi-Fi option on the right side.

Under the Wi-Fi settings, click on Manage known networks to view all the Wi-Fi networks your system has connected to before.

In the list of known networks, you can scroll to find the network you wish to forget, or use the search bar under Known networks to locate it quickly.

Once you’ve found the network, click the Forget button next to it. This will remove the network from your saved list.

Method 2: Forget the Wi-Fi Right from the Control Center

To quickly forget a currently connected or in-range Wi-Fi network, you can use the Control Center.

Click on the Wi-Fi icon located at the far right of the taskbar to open the Control Center.

In the Control Center, click on the chevron (sideways arrow) next to the Wi-Fi icon to see available networks.

From the list of networks, right-click on the Wi-Fi network you want to forget. Then, select Forget from the context menu to remove it from your saved networks.

Note: Only currently connected or in-range Wi-Fi networks will appear in this list. To forget an out-of-range network, you need to use the Settings app.

Method 3: Forget All the Saved Networks Using Command Prompt

If you’re experiencing persistent issues with your Wi-Fi connections, you can delete all saved networks using the Command Prompt and start fresh.

Open the Start Menu and type Command Prompt in the search bar. From the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

If prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow Command Prompt to make changes to your device.

In the Command Prompt window, type or paste the following command and press Enter:

netsh wlan delete profile name=* i=*

This command will delete all saved Wi-Fi profiles from your system.

Method 4: Remove Saved Networks Using the Registry Editor

This method involves using the Registry Editor to remove saved Wi-Fi profiles. Use this method if you’re unable to forget networks using the previous methods.

Open the Start Menu and type Registry Editor in the search bar. Click on Registry Editor from the results.

If prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow Registry Editor to make changes to your device.

In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following path by typing or pasting it into the address bar and pressing Enter:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles

Under the Profiles key, you’ll see several subkeys, each representing a saved network profile. Click on each subkey to identify the network.

With a subkey selected, look at the right pane and locate the ProfileName entry. The value will show the name of the Wi-Fi network.

Once you’ve found the network you wish to delete, right-click on its subkey in the left pane and select Delete.

In the confirmation dialog, click Yes to delete the key.

Restart your computer to apply the changes. The network profile will be removed from your system.

How to Reconnect to a Wi-Fi Network

If you need to reconnect to a Wi-Fi network after forgetting it, you can easily do so by following these steps.

Click on the Wi-Fi icon located on the right side of the taskbar to open the Control Center.

In the Control Center, click on the chevron (sideways arrow) next to the Wi-Fi icon to view available networks.

Select the Wi-Fi network you wish to connect to and click the Connect button.

If the network is secured, you’ll be prompted to enter the password. Type the password and press Enter or click Next. The network will be added to your saved networks and your device will connect to it. If the network is unsecured, your device will connect automatically.

Removing saved Wi-Fi networks from your Windows 11 PC can help resolve connectivity issues and manage your preferred networks effectively. Whether you need to forget a single network or all of them, these methods provide simple solutions to keep your connections organized.