How To Remove a WiFi Network on Windows 11: Step-by-Step Instructions

How to Get Rid of Unwanted Wi-Fi Networks on Windows 11

So, it’s time to tidy up those saved Wi-Fi networks on your Windows 11 device. Trust me, keeping that list fresh is a good call—especially if you’ve switched places or just don’t want your laptop trying to connect to your neighbor’s Wi-Fi anymore. Forgetting a network stops it from trying to auto-connect, and it’s surprisingly helpful for keeping things secure.

First Stop: Opening Settings

Start by firing up the Settings app. The easiest way is to click on the Start button—bottom left of your screen—and hit that little gear-shaped Settings icon. Or just hit Windows key + I, and boom, you’re in. This is where all the magic happens for managing what your device is up to.

Time to Dive into Network Settings

Next, look for Network & Internet in the left sidebar. This is your one-stop shop for all things networking. You can access Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and even VPN settings all in one go. Kind of neat, right? You can shortcut this with:

Start menu > Settings > Network & Internet

Let’s Tackle Wi-Fi and Known Networks

After you’re in the Network & Internet menu, hit Wi-Fi to get to the juicy part. You’ll see an option for Manage known networks, which shows everything your device has connected to in the past. To quickly jump there, it’s Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage Known Networks.

If you’re feeling fancy, you can throw down some commands in PowerShell like:

netsh wlan show profiles

to see what’s saved. To delete one of those profiles, just use:

netsh wlan delete profile name="NetworkName"

Saying Bye to Old Networks

Find the network you want to ditch, click on it, then hit Forget. That’s it; your device will stop trying to connect to that network. Many folks find this handy after moving or needing to declutter their list. Make sure you’re choosing the right network—you don’t want to accidentally trash the one you still use.

Some Handy Tips for Wi-Fi Management

Before hitting forget, it’s smart to note down any passwords if you think you might need to reconnect later. To dig out a saved network password, you can run this in Command Prompt or PowerShell:

netsh wlan show profile name="NetworkName" key=clear

and look for the Key Content.

It’s a good idea to review saved networks every now and then, using that Manage known networks feature. If there’s a pesky network causing connection issues, checking your saved list might do the trick. Sometimes things get stale, and cleaning up can make all the difference.

Things Everybody Wants to Know

How do I reconnect to a network I’ve forgotten?

Just pick the network from the list of available Wi-Fi networks, punch in the password, and you’re back in business. Simple as that!

Can I undo a forget action?

Nope, once it’s gone, it’s gone. Gotta re-enter that password to reconnect.

Does forgetting a network just disconnect it?

Forgetting a network completely removes the profile. So, no saved info anymore—it’s not just a disconnect.

Will deleting a Wi-Fi network mess with my other devices?

Nope, only affects the device you did it on. Your other gadgets will still be good to go.

How can I see all my saved Wi-Fi networks?

Head over to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks. Or you can whip out this PowerShell command:

Get-NetConnectionProfile | Where-Object {$_.NetworkCategory -eq 'Private'}

A Few Final Notes

Keeping your Wi-Fi network list clean on Windows 11 isn’t just about aesthetics; it helps with security too. Nobody wants their device getting confused with an old network that could potentially be a security risk. Regularly checking and managing those profiles can make for a smoother experience online. And for those who like getting their hands dirty, PowerShell offers some neat bulk editing tools. Just remember: keeping track of that digital footprint can save some future headaches.

With all that said, take a couple of minutes to check your saved networks. You might be surprised at how many old entries are sitting there, taking up space. It’s worth it—just something that worked on multiple machines.