If you’re like most people, you probably connect to multiple Wi-Fi networks throughout your day. Whether it’s at home, work, or a coffee shop, your Mac stores the information for each network you connect to. While this can be convenient, it can also lead to a cluttered list of saved networks. In this article, we’ll show you how to forget a Wi-Fi network on your Mac, so you can keep your network list organized and secure.
Why Should You Forget a Wi-Fi Network?
There are a few reasons why you may want to forget a Wi-Fi network on your Mac.
Security
One of the main reasons to forget a Wi-Fi network is for security purposes. If you’ve connected to a public Wi-Fi network, such as at a coffee shop or airport, it’s important to forget the network once you’re done using it. This will prevent your Mac from automatically connecting to the network in the future, which could potentially put your personal information at risk.
Cluttered Network List
As mentioned earlier, connecting to multiple Wi-Fi networks can lead to a cluttered list of saved networks on your Mac. This can make it difficult to find the network you want to connect to, especially if you have a lot of networks with similar names. Forgetting networks you no longer use can help keep your network list organized and make it easier to find the networks you need.
Network Performance
In some cases, forgetting a Wi-Fi network can actually improve your network performance. If you’re experiencing slow or unreliable connections, it may be due to your Mac constantly trying to connect to a network with a weak signal. By forgetting this network, your Mac will no longer try to connect to it, and you may see an improvement in your network performance.
How to Forget a Wi-Fi Network on Mac
Now that you know why you may want to forget a Wi-Fi network, let’s go over how to do it. The process is simple and can be done in just a few steps.
Step 1: Open System Preferences
The first step is to open System Preferences on your Mac. You can do this by clicking on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and selecting “System Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Click on “Network”
In the System Preferences window, click on the “Network” icon. This will open the Network preferences where you can manage your network connections.
Step 3: Select Wi-Fi
In the left-hand menu, select “Wi-Fi” to view your Wi-Fi network settings.
Step 4: Click on “Advanced”
In the bottom right corner of the Wi-Fi settings, click on the “Advanced” button. This will open a new window with more advanced Wi-Fi options.
Step 5: Select the Network to Forget
In the list of saved networks, select the network you want to forget. You can use the scroll bar on the right to view all of your saved networks.
Step 6: Click on “Remove”
Once you’ve selected the network you want to forget, click on the “-” button at the bottom of the list. This will remove the network from your saved networks.
Step 7: Confirm Removal
A pop-up window will appear asking you to confirm the removal of the network. Click on “Remove” to confirm.
Step 8: Click on “Apply”
Back in the Wi-Fi settings, click on the “Apply” button in the bottom right corner to save your changes.
Tips for Managing Your Wi-Fi Networks
Now that you know how to forget a Wi-Fi network on your Mac, here are a few tips for managing your networks and keeping your network list organized.
Rename Networks
If you have multiple networks with similar names, it can be difficult to tell them apart. To avoid confusion, you can rename your networks to something more descriptive. To do this, simply select the network you want to rename and click on the gear icon at the bottom of the list. Then, select “Rename Service” and enter the new name for your network.
Prioritize Networks
If you have multiple saved networks in the same location, you can prioritize them to ensure your Mac connects to the network with the strongest signal. To do this, click and drag the networks in the list to rearrange them in order of priority. Your Mac will automatically connect to the network at the top of the list if it is available.
Turn Off Automatic Connections
If you want more control over which networks your Mac connects to, you can turn off automatic connections. This means your Mac will not automatically connect to any saved networks and you will have to manually select a network to connect to. To do this, go to the Wi-Fi settings and uncheck the box next to “Automatically join this network”.
Conclusion
Forgetting a Wi-Fi network on your Mac is a simple process that can help improve your network security, organization, and performance. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily manage your saved networks and ensure your Mac is only connecting to the networks you want it to.
