Yeah, forgetting a Wi-Fi network on Windows 11 is pretty straightforward—if you know where to look. But sometimes, the usual method doesn’t seem to do the trick, especially if your system’s acting weird or there’s a ghost connection hanging around. So, knowing how to do it right, or even how to troubleshoot when things are wonky, is kinda essential. This guide will walk through that whole process, including some tips for when Windows refuses to let go of a network or you just want to clean up your list without fussing too much. Once you get this down, managing your connection list becomes a breeze, and you won’t be pulling your hair out every time a network refuses to forget itself.
How to Forget a Wi-Fi Network on Windows 11
Method 1: The straightforward way through Settings
This is the kinda classic method—and it works for most. You want Windows to forget that network so it won’t try reconnecting automatically. Usually, it’s quick, but sometimes a network hangs around because of cached credentials or strange glitches. Doing this helps ensure your device is not auto-connecting to old, untrusted networks, especially if you’re moving or troubleshooting connectivity.
- Open Settings — easiest way is clicking on the Start menu, then selecting the gear icon, or press Windows + I.
- Go to Network & Internet. It’s usually the third or fourth option in the sidebar.
- Click on Wi-Fi. Here’s where all your Wi-Fi magic happens, including the list of saved networks.
- Scroll down a bit and click Manage known networks. This is basically the white list of Wi-Fi spots your PC remembers.
- Find the network you want gone, click on it, then hit Forget. Voila, it should vanish from the list, and your PC will no longer try to reconnect automatically.
Note: On some setups, Windows might act weird and not instantly forget it. Sometimes a quick restart or toggling Airplane mode helps finish the job. It’s kind of annoying, but that’s Windows for ya.
Method 2: Using Command Prompt or PowerShell for deeper control
When the GUI fails or you’re just a command-line junkie, the terminal methods are a decent fallback. Using commands like netsh or PowerShell, you can script or manually delete the network entries. This is especially handy if the network is stubborn or you’re troubleshooting a networking profile problem.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator — right-click the Start menu, then select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
- Type this command to see all saved Wi-Fi profiles:
netsh wlan show profiles - Identify the network name you want to forget and then run:
netsh wlan delete profile name="YourNetworkName" - Press Enter. The profile should disappear.
This method helps if Windows GUI just won’t cooperate. Again, it’s kind of weird, sometimes the profile refuses to delete immediately, so a reboot or toggling Wi-Fi might help clear things out.
Tips for Making Sure the Network is Really Gone
- Double-check in Manage known networks that the network isn’t still listed. Sometimes Windows needs a nudge or a restart to fully register the delete.
- If it’s still reconnecting, try toggling Wi-Fi off/on or rebooting. Sometimes, the cache makes it stubborn.
- If all else fails, manually forget the network on your router or those external devices if you’re troubleshooting shared networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if Windows keeps reconnecting after forgetting?
This can happen if there’s a saved password elsewhere in Windows or some backup profile. Check in Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks to see if it’s still listed. Or, sometimes, the network’s alpha profile is stored in your system somewhere else, in which case a full system reboot or resetting network settings might be needed.
Can I undo forgetting a network without re-entering the password?
Not really. Once you forget a network, Windows has no way of ‘remembering’ it unless you add it back and re-enter credentials. Just have your password handy if you want to reconnect later.
Is forgetting a network the same as disconnecting?
Nope. Disconnecting just stops the connection temporarily. Forgetting actually deletes the profile from your device’s memory, so it’s like Windows doesn’t even remember it existed.
Will deleting a network from one device delete it from all devices?
Nope, each device manages its own profiles. Forgetting a network on your laptop doesn’t affect your phone or tablet.
How do I see all my saved networks?
Head over to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks. You’ll get a list of everything saved—old networks, ones you quit using, everything.
Summary
- Navigate to Settings > Network & Internet
- Click on Wi-Fi and then Manage known networks
- Find the network, click it, then hit Forget
- If needed, use
netsh wlan delete profile name="network"in Command Prompt as an alternative
Wrap-up
Forgetting Wi-Fi networks in Windows 11 isn’t tough, but sometimes Windows throws a little tantrum and keeps old profiles around. Hopefully, one of these methods works without too much fuss. The command line might feel intimidating, but it’s brutally effective when GUI stuff fails. Just be aware that if Windows is acting really stubborn, a quick restart or resetting network settings might be your last resort.
Getting rid of old networks helps keep things tidy and secure, especially if you’re bouncing between different networks all the time. A little cleanup now and then prevents automatic reconnects to networks that are no longer trustworthy or no longer there. Good luck, and hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone.