How to forget a network on Mac ?

While automatic Wi-Fi connections on our devices can save us time, mixing networks is frustrating. Consequently, Macs make it easy to prevent unwanted login and forget a network on Mac.

In this busy world, our computers help by storing Wi-Fi passwords. As a result, no more typing credentials every time – it’s done with just one click.

However, if we connect to a network that we don’t own or trust, we waste valuable time that we could use for other purposes.

The good news is that macOS provides full control over the links our laptops connect to.

Furthermore, with just a few selections, any unauthorized connections can be removed from memory.

• First, go to your device settings.

• Nest, select the Wi-Fi option.

• In last, for the network you’re currently connected to, tap the information icon next to it and then select Forget this network.

As a result, there will be no chance of accidentally jumping to the wrong access point again.  

Follow the methods in the next section to forget a network on Mac in detail.

How to forgot a Wi-Fi network on Mac ?

If you’ve previously connected to a Wi-Fi network on your Mac, your Mac will remember it and automatically connect to it whenever it’s available.

Consequently, this can be convenient, but sometimes you may want to forget a Wi-Fi network on Mac for various reasons.

For example, you may want to avoid connecting to a public or unsecured network, or you may want to reset your network settings.

Therefore, in this section, we will show you how to forget a Wi-Fi network on Mac in a few easy steps.

Follow below mentioned steps to forgot a network on Mac:

MacOS Ventura or later

Follow the steps to forgot a network you are currently using:

• First, go to the Apple menu in the top left of your screen.

• Next, choose System Settings from the menu.

• Then, select Wi-Fi from the sidebar.

• Now, locate the network you are currently connected to and click the small “I” icon next to its name.

• Subsequently, select “Forget this network” from the menu.

• Finally, click “minus” from the drop-down menu to confirm removing your device from the network.

Follow these steps to forget a network you joined before but are not currently using:

• First, go to Apple menu > System Settings.

• Next, select Wi-Fi in the sidebar.

• Then, scroll down to the bottom right and click Advanced to see the networks known to your Mac.

• Now, click the More button located next to the network you want to forget.

• Subsequently, choose Delete from the list that appears.

• Finally, click Delete to confirm and remove the network from your Mac’s memory.

Earlier versions of macOS

• First, navigate to the Apple menu in the top left of your screen.

• Next, tap on “System Preferences“.

• Then, click the “Network” icon.

• After that, select “Wi-Fi” in the sidebar.

• Subsequently, click the “Advanced” button to view your saved networks.

• Now, find the network you want to remove from the list and click the minus/remove button below.

• Then, choose “minus” icon to confirm the deletion.

• Furthermore, click “OK” and then “Apply” from the confirmation dialog to save the change.

Also Check: How to find passwords on Mac ?

How to forget a network on Mac without admin password ?

Sometimes you may want to forget a Wi-Fi network on your Mac for various reasons, such as an unsecured network, or you may want to reset your network settings. To do this, you will need to select the network you wish to forget.

However, if you don’t have your Mac’s administrator password, you may find it difficult to select the network and make changes to your settings.

Consequently, in this section, we will show you some possible ways to forget a network on Mac without administrator password.

Follow below mentioned methods to forget a network on Mac without admin password:

Forget the network you are currently using

• First, click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar and choosing Wi-Fi Settings.

• Next, click the ellipsis (…) button next to the network name under Known Networks.

• Then, choose Forget this network.

• Finally, click Delete to confirm.

Forget a network that you previously joined

• First, click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar and choosing Open network preferences.

• Next, click Advanced to view your saved network.

• Then, choose network from the list.

• Subsequently, click the minus (-) button at the bottom of window.

• Finally, click Delete to confirm.

Don’t have permission to unlock the Network Preferences panel

You can try forgetting a network by removing its password from your Keychain Access, which is a part of your Mac’s network preference settings.

• First, open the Keychain Access app and search for the network name.

• Then, right click on the network and choose Delete.

• In last, enter your user password to confirm.

If none of the above methods work, you may need to use a third-party app like CleanMyMac X to forget Wi-Fi networks.

Furthermore, this app can scan your Mac for unwanted Wi-Fi networks and help you remove them easily.

However, you may need to purchase a license to use this application.

Also Check: How to drag and drop on Mac ?

How to forget a network password on Mac using Keychain Access ?

One of the ways to forget a Wi-Fi network on your Mac is to use the Keychain Access app.

Furthermore, this app stores all the passwords and credentials you use on your Mac, including Wi-Fi network passwords for your correct network, any additional network, and even those for a hidden Wi-Fi network.

Consequently, by removing the network password from the Keychain Access app, you can effectively forget the correct network or any additional network, especially if it’s a hidden Wi-Fi network, on your Mac.

Therefore, in this section, we will show you how to forget a network password on Mac using Keychain Access in a few simple steps

• First, open the Keychain Access app by pressing Command + Spacebar and type Keychain Access in Spotlight Search.

• Next, click Passwords in the top menu bar to view the list of passwords stored in your keychain.

• Then, search for the name of the Wi-Fi network connectivity you want to forget in the search bar in the upper right corner.

• Subsequently, right click on the network and choose Delete. Enter your user password to confirm.

• Finally, restart your Mac and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network. You will be asked to enter the network password again.

Consequently, this method can help you forget a network password on Mac without needing the administrator password.

Why I don’t have the option to forget this network on Mac ?

If you don’t have the option to forget this network on Mac, it may be due to one of the following reasons:

• Firstly, you are using a supervised device that manages your connection to the Wi-Fi network. In this case, you may not have permission to forget that network. You can learn more about supervised devices here.

• Secondly, your device never joined the Wi-Fi network, so you can’t forget it. Your device can only forget known Wi-Fi networks, which are networks you previously joined.

• Furthermore, you are using an older version of macOS that does not have the option to forget this network. In this case, you can try using the Advanced button in the Network Preferences panel to view the networks known to your Mac and remove them from the list.

• Alternatively, you can try turning off auto-connect for the redundant network, so that your device doesn’t rejoin automatically.

• Finally, you can also try to delete the network password from your Keychain Access app. The steps are outlined in the above section.

Also Check: How to find saved passwords on Mac ?

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have shown you how to forget a Wi-Fi network on Mac in different situations and scenarios.

Forgetting a network on Mac can help you avoid unwanted connections, improve your network performance, and protect your privacy. Additionally, managing your list of networks ensures that your device connects only to networks you trust.

You can use System Settings, the Wi-Fi icon, or the Keychain Access app to forget a network on Mac, depending on your version of macOS and your access level.

This process removes the network from your list of networks and prevents automatic reconnection.

Furthermore, you can also use a third-party app like CleanMyMac X to easily forget about saved Wi-Fi networks.

Reference:

Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)