How to Forget a WiFi Network on a Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your Mac is designed to make your life easier, and one way it does this is by remembering every WiFi network you connect to. From your home office to your favorite coffee shop, your computer diligently stores these network details so you can reconnect automatically. While this feature is incredibly convenient, there are times when telling your Mac to “forget” a network is not just helpful but necessary.

You might need to forget a network to troubleshoot a persistent connection issue, especially if the network password has changed. Perhaps you’re trying to prevent your Mac from automatically joining a slow or unsecured public network. Or maybe you’re simply performing some digital housekeeping to enhance your privacy and security. Whatever the reason, managing your saved WiFi networks is a simple yet powerful skill for any Mac user.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll cover step-by-step instructions for the latest versions of macOS as well as older ones. You’ll also learn practical tips for managing network settings and understand the important security benefits of keeping your list of known networks tidy.

Why You Should Forget a WiFi Network

Forgetting a WiFi network is more than just removing a name from a list. It’s a key troubleshooting and security practice. Here are the main reasons why you might need to do it:

• Troubleshooting Connection Problems: If you’re having trouble connecting to a network that used to work, forgetting it and rejoining can often solve the problem. This forces your Mac to re-establish the connection from scratch, clearing out any corrupted settings or outdated information. This is particularly useful if a network’s password has changed but your Mac keeps trying to use the old one.
• Improving Connection Speeds: Does your Mac keep connecting to a weaker, slower network even when a faster one is available? This often happens in places with multiple access points, like large offices or homes with WiFi extenders. Forgetting the less desirable network ensures your device prioritizes the stronger signal.
• Enhancing Privacy and Security: Your Mac stores a list of every network you’ve ever joined. While convenient, this list can become a security risk. Each network profile contains information that could potentially be exploited, especially if you frequently connect to public WiFi. Regularly clearing out old and unused networks from hotels, airports, and cafes reduces your digital footprint and minimizes potential security vulnerabilities.
• Preventing Automatic Connections to Unsecured Networks: Public WiFi is a lifesaver when you’re on the go, but not all networks are created equal. Some are unsecured, leaving your data exposed. By forgetting these networks after you’re done, you prevent your Mac from automatically rejoining them without your consent the next time you’re in range, protecting you from potential man-in-the-middle attacks.
• Decluttering Your Network List: A long list of saved networks can be cumbersome to manage. Keeping it clean makes it easier to find and manage the networks you actually use. Think of it as digital spring cleaning for your Mac’s connectivity settings.

How to Forget a WiFi Network on macOS Ventura and Later

Apple redesigned the System Settings app in macOS Ventura, changing where you find network options. If your Mac is running macOS Ventura, Sonoma, or a newer version, the process is slightly different from older systems.

Here’s how to forget both a network you are currently connected to and one you’ve joined in the past.

Forgetting the Current WiFi Network

This is the network your Mac is actively using right now. Forgetting it will disconnect you immediately, so make sure you have another network to join or are prepared to be offline temporarily.

1. Open System Settings: Click the Apple logo () in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings from the dropdown menu.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot showing the Apple menu with System Settings highlighted.
2. Navigate to the Wi-Fi Section: In the System Settings window, click on Wi-Fi in the left-hand sidebar.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot of the System Settings window with the Wi-Fi option selected in the sidebar.
3. Access Network Details: You will see the name of the network you are currently connected to at the top of the window. Click the Details… button next to it.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot of the Wi-Fi settings page, with an arrow pointing to the ‘Details…’ button next to the current network name.
4. Forget the Network: A new window will pop up with various settings for that network. Click the Forget This Network… button.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot of the network details window, highlighting the ‘Forget This Network…’ button.
5. Confirm Your Choice: A confirmation dialog will appear to make sure you want to proceed. Click Remove to confirm. Your Mac will immediately disconnect from the network and remove it from your saved list.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot of the confirmation pop-up asking to remove the WiFi network.

Forgetting a Previously Joined (Known) Network

You can also remove networks that you’ve connected to in the past but are not currently using. This is perfect for cleaning up your list of old networks.

1. Open Wi-Fi Settings: Follow the first two steps from the previous section. Click the Apple logo () > System Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Access Advanced Settings: Scroll down to the bottom of the Wi-Fi settings panel. You will see a button labeled Advanced…. Click it to open the list of all known networks.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot pointing to the ‘Advanced…’ button at the bottom of the Wi-Fi settings page.
3. Find and Select the Network: In the “Known Networks” list, scroll through to find the network you want to forget.
4. Remove the Network from the List: Click the three-dot icon (…) to the right of the network’s name. A small menu will appear.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot of the Known Networks list, highlighting the three-dot icon next to a network name.
5. Choose to Remove: Select Remove From List from the menu.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot showing the ‘Remove From List’ option in the three-dot menu.
6. Confirm the Removal: A final confirmation prompt will appear. Click Remove to permanently delete the network profile from your Mac.
7. Exit Advanced Settings: Once you’ve removed all the networks you wish to forget, click OK to close the “Known Networks” window and return to the main Wi-Fi settings.

How to Forget a WiFi Network on macOS Monterey and Earlier

If your Mac is running an older version of macOS, such as Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, or earlier, the process involves using System Preferences, which has a different layout.

The steps are straightforward and allow you to manage your network list from a central location.

1. Open System Preferences: Click the Apple logo () in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences from the menu.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot of the Apple menu with ‘System Preferences’ highlighted on an older macOS version.
2. Go to Network Settings: In the System Preferences window, find and click on the Network icon.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot of the System Preferences window, with the ‘Network’ icon circled.
3. Select Wi-Fi: In the Network window, select Wi-Fi from the list of connection types on the left side. Make sure it’s highlighted.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot of the Network settings panel, showing ‘Wi-Fi’ selected in the left-hand list.
4. Open Advanced Options: With Wi-Fi selected, click the Advanced… button located in the bottom-right corner of the window.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot pointing to the ‘Advanced…’ button in the Network preferences window.
5. Find the Network to Forget: A new window will open, displaying a list of “Preferred Networks.” This is the list of all WiFi networks your Mac has saved. Find the network you want to remove.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot showing the ‘Preferred Networks’ list inside the Advanced Wi-Fi settings.
6. Remove the Network: Click to highlight the network you want to forget. Then, click the minus button (–) located beneath the list of networks.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot highlighting a network in the list and the minus button below it.
7. Confirm Removal (if prompted): Some macOS versions may ask you to confirm. If a dialog box appears, click Remove.
8. Save Your Changes: After clicking the minus button, you will be taken back to the advanced network window. Click OK to close it.
9. Apply the Changes: This final step is crucial. Back in the main Network window, click the Apply button in the bottom-right corner. This saves the changes you’ve made. If you close the window without clicking Apply, the network will not be forgotten.
   Image ALT Text: Screenshot highlighting the ‘Apply’ button in the Network preferences window after removing a network.

By following these steps, you can easily clean up your network list on any older Mac, ensuring better performance and security.

Pro Tips for Managing Your Mac’s WiFi Connections

Forgetting networks is just one part of effective WiFi management. To gain full control over how your Mac connects, you should also understand settings like Auto-Join and how to use the network diagnostics tools.

Managing Auto-Join Settings

The “Auto-Join” feature is what tells your Mac to connect to a known network automatically when it’s in range. While useful for your home or office WiFi, you might want to disable it for other networks.

For example, if your phone’s personal hotspot is a known network, you probably don’t want your Mac to connect to it automatically and use up your mobile data. Similarly, you may prefer to manually connect to public WiFi networks.

To disable Auto-Join on macOS Ventura and later:

1. Go to System Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Click the Details… button next to the network in question (for current networks) or find it in the Advanced… > Known Networks list.
3. In the details window, locate the “Auto-Join” toggle and switch it off.

To disable Auto-Join on macOS Monterey and earlier:

1. Go to System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced….
2. In the “Preferred Networks” list, you will see a checkbox for “Auto-Join” next to each network name.
3. Simply uncheck the box for any network you don’t want your Mac to join automatically.
4. Click OK, and then Apply.

Disabling Auto-Join gives you the best of both worlds: your Mac still remembers the password, but you have full control over when it connects.

Using the Wireless Diagnostics Tool

If you’re experiencing persistent WiFi problems that aren’t solved by forgetting and rejoining a network, your Mac has a powerful built-in tool called Wireless Diagnostics. It can help you identify a wide range of issues, from poor signals to hardware conflicts.

How to open Wireless Diagnostics:

• Hold down the Option (⌥) key on your keyboard.
• While holding the key, click the WiFi icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
• From the dropdown menu, select Open Wireless Diagnostics….

The tool will guide you through a series of tests and provide a report at the end. It can monitor your connection in the background to look for intermittent drops and can even suggest solutions for common problems.

Forgetting Networks via Keychain Access

Every WiFi password your Mac saves is stored in an application called Keychain Access. This app is a secure database for all your passwords, certificates, and other sensitive information. You can also forget a network by deleting its entry directly from Keychain Access. This method is a bit more advanced but can be useful if the standard methods aren’t working.

1. Open Keychain Access. You can find it in Applications > Utilities, or by searching for it with Spotlight (Command + Spacebar).
2. In the Keychain Access window, use the search bar in the top-right corner and type the name (SSID) of the WiFi network you want to forget.
3. The network should appear in the results list. It will be listed as an “AirPort network password.”
4. Right-click (or Control-click) on the network entry and select Delete “[Network Name]”.
5. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

This action removes the saved password, effectively “forgetting” the network. The next time you try to connect, you will be prompted to enter the password again.

The Privacy and Security Benefits of a Clean Network List

In our hyper-connected world, we rarely think twice about joining a new WiFi network. But each time you do, a record is stored on your device. Over time, this digital trail can become a security liability. Regularly curating your list of known networks is a simple but effective step toward better digital hygiene.

Reducing Your Attack Surface

Every saved network on your Mac is a piece of data. While macOS has strong security, this data could theoretically be targeted. A long list of networks from hotels, airports, conferences, and cafes you’ve visited creates a history of your movements. In a worst-case scenario where your device is compromised, this information could be exposed. By routinely deleting networks you no longer use, you minimize this data trail and reduce your device’s overall attack surface.

Preventing Unintentional Connections to Malicious Networks

A common threat in public spaces is the “evil twin” attack. A hacker can set up a malicious WiFi hotspot with a common name, like “Free Public WiFi” or the name of a nearby cafe. If you have connected to a network with that same name in the past, your Mac might automatically connect to the malicious one without you even knowing. Once connected, a hacker could monitor your internet traffic, steal passwords, or inject malware.

By forgetting public networks as soon as you are done with them, you ensure your Mac won’t automatically connect to a similarly named network in the future. This forces you to manually select the network each time, giving you a chance to verify its legitimacy.

Protecting Your Network Preferences File

Your Mac stores network configurations in a special file known as a Property List (.plist) file. Though rare, it’s possible for this file to become corrupted. A corrupted file can lead to a host of strange connectivity issues, like being unable to join any network or constant disconnections.

While forgetting a single network doesn’t directly fix a corrupted file, keeping your network list small and tidy can reduce the complexity of this file and lower the chances of corruption. In severe cases of network trouble, advanced users sometimes delete the network preferences .plist file entirely, forcing the system to create a fresh one. Regularly pruning your network list is a less drastic, preventative measure.

A Best Practice for Digital Minimalism

Beyond the technical security benefits, cleaning your network list is a good habit of digital minimalism. It’s about being intentional with your device’s settings and data. Just as you’d declutter your desktop or organize your files, managing your known networks ensures your Mac runs efficiently and securely. It puts you in control of your digital environment rather than letting it become a cluttered archive of past connections.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Mac’s Connections

Your Mac’s ability to remember and automatically connect to WiFi networks is a feature designed for convenience. However, true mastery of your device comes from knowing when to override these automatic behaviors for the sake of security, performance, and troubleshooting. Forgetting a WiFi network is a fundamental skill that empowers you to solve common connection problems, protect your privacy, and ensure your Mac always connects to the best available network.

Whether you’re using the latest version of macOS or an older one, the process is simple and takes only a few moments. By incorporating this practice into your regular digital maintenance routine—along with managing Auto-Join settings and knowing how to use tools like Wireless Diagnostics—you can maintain a faster, safer, and more reliable connection to the online world.

Take a moment now to review your Mac’s known networks. You might be surprised by how many old and unnecessary connections are still there. Clean them up, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a more secure and efficient Mac.