6 Ways to Forget a Network in Windows 11

Whenever you hook up with a network, Windows will autosave the passwords and different connection information so as to log back into it once more when it’s inside vary. But what if you wish to neglect a Wi-Fi network? 

Though it’s not one thing that individuals usually do, it’s possible you’ll find yourself in a state of affairs the place you don’t have any different selection however to neglect a network. Well, right here’s every thing it is advisable find out about it and when try to be doing it.

How to neglect Wi-Fi networks and network profiles [6 ways]

There are a number of methods by which you’ll neglect the Wi-Fi networks that your Windows PC saves. Let’s begin with the only ones first and progress step by step to the more technical ones.

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Method 1: Forget a network inside the vary from Quick Settings

There is a conveniently positioned network choice in Quick Settings that allows you to entry all of the Wi-Fi connections which are at the moment inside vary, and delete their profiles, supplied you may have related to them earlier. 

1. Click on the Wi-Fi icon within the system tray (in direction of the proper of the Taskbar).
   
2. Click on the arrow next to your Wi-Fi.
   
3. Right-click on a Wi-Fi network that you simply’ve related to earlier than and choose Forget.
   

You may even neglect the network that you simply’re at the moment related to. You can’t, nonetheless, neglect networks that you simply’ve by no means related to earlier than as there’s nothing there to neglect.

Also, do word that the network will nonetheless be found by Windows and, when inside vary, will present up within the record of obtainable networks so that you’ve the choice to connect with it later if you wish to.  

Method 2: Forget a saved network from the Settings app

If you wish to neglect a network that’s not inside vary presently, yow will discover that saved network from inside the Settings app. Here’s how:

1. Right-click on the Wi-Fi icon within the Action Center (proper of the Taskbar).
   
2. Click on Network and Internet settings.
   
3. Click on Wi-Fi.
   
4. Click on Manage identified networks.
   
5. Here, you will see that all of the networks that you’ve related to earlier than. Click on Forget next to the one that you simply wish to take away. 
   

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Method 3: Forget a network from Command Prompt 

Using the command immediate is a surefire means of getting issues carried out, and forgetting a network is a breeze. Here’s how to go about it.

1. Press Start, kind cmd, and click on on Run as administrator.
   
2. Now, kind the next command to get a listing of all of your saved Wi-Fi networks: netsh wlan present profiles
   
3. Press Enter. The Command Prompt will now record all saved network profiles.
   
4. To neglect one, kind this command: netsh wlan delete profile identify="network name"
   Make certain to vary ‘network name’ to the precise identify of the network that you simply wish to neglect. Then press Enter.
   
5. You will get a affirmation message telling you that the network profile “is deleted from interface ‘Wi-Fi’”.
   

Method 4: Forget a network from PowerShell

The steps to neglect a network for PowerShell are the identical as on the Command Prompt.

1. Press Start, kind PowerShell, and click on on Run as administrator.
   
2. To get a listing of all saved Wi-Fi profiles, kind the next command: netsh wlan present profiles
   
3. Then press Enter. Just as with the Command Prompt, you’re going to get a listing of Wi-Fi network profiles that you simply’ve related to earlier than.
   
4. To delete a network, kind this command: netsh wlan delete profile identify="network name"
   
   As earlier than, exchange ‘network name’ with the precise identify of the network that you simply wish to delete. Then press Enter.

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Method 5: Delete all identified network profiles immediately from the Command Prompt

You can even delete all saved networks in a single go. Here’s how:

1. Open an elevated instance of the Command Prompt (from Start) and kind the next command: netsh wlan delete profile identify=* i=*
   
2. Press Enter to take away these networks. All the eliminated networks can be listed right here.
   

Method 6: Remove network profiles from the Registry Editor

You can even delete saved networks from the registry editor. Follow the steps under to know the way:

1. Press Win+R to open the RUN field, kind regedit, and press Enter.
   
2. Then navigate to the next Registry tackle: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListingProfiles
   
3. On the left, beneath the Profiles folder, you will notice an extended record of subkeys with scrambled numbers and letters. Each one is linked to a selected Wi-Fi network profile.
   
4. To discover out the precise identify of the Wi-Fi profile, choose one after which take a look at the ‘ProfileName’ key on the proper. The identify can be proven beneath the ‘Data’ column.
   
5. If it’s a network profile that you simply wish to delete, right-click on the subfolder within the left panel and choose Delete.
   
6. Click Yes to substantiate.
   

All the details about this wi-fi network can be forgotten. 

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How to take away LAN or ethernet connection

Though it makes more sense to delete Wi-Fi network profiles, it’s possible you’ll generally wish to take away prior LAN or ethernet connections as nicely, if solely to clear the litter. Here’s how to take action:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and choose Device Manager.
   
2. Once ‘Device Manager’ opens up, click on on Network adapters to broaden its department.
   
3. Then discover the LAN connection that you really want eliminated, right-click on it and choose Uninstall Device (verify).
   
4. When prompted, place a verify next to Attempt to take away this driver for this device, and click on Uninstall.
   

How to reconnect to a forgotten network

Deleting or forgetting a network profile doesn’t imply that it received’t be found by Windows once more. It solely deletes its password and different connection information saved in your laptop. So, if you wish to reconnect, simply hook up with it as you’d to every other network for the primary time. The quickest means is thru the Action Center.

1. Click on the Wi-Fi icon within the taskbar.
   
2. Click on the arrow next to the Wi-Fi icon.
   
3. Select your Wi-Fi connection and click on on Connect.
   
4. Enter your password and click on Connect.
   

And that’s it. Your network is reconnected and the info is saved once more.

What occurs if you neglect or take away a network

When you neglect or delete a network, its password and connection information are deleted. Windows additionally received’t routinely hook up with the network when it’s inside vary. You will nonetheless be capable to hook up with it if you wish to, however you’ll have to take action manually, not least since you’ll need to kind within the password once more.

Why must you neglect a network on Windows 11

There are quite a lot of situations the place forgetting a saved network is the prudent factor to do. For instance, if Windows retains connecting to the identical network each time it’s inside vary, forgetting the network will keep it from doing and also you’ll be free to decide on which network you really wish to hook up with. 

Another instance when it’s possible you’ll wish to neglect a network is if you happen to’re letting another person borrow your device for some time however don’t need them accessing your wi-fi network. Unless you’ve given them the password, they received’t be capable to hook up with the network. 

Forgetting a network that you simply used earlier than can also be a very good safety measure to forestall hackers and malware from accessing your network info. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here we reply the generally requested queries to forgetting saved network profiles.

How do I discover the password of a saved network profile?

Because Windows is saving the passwords for us, many people are likely to neglect them over time. So if you happen to’re cautious of forgetting a profile since you are nervous you received’t be capable to join once more, right here’s how to define your Wi-Fi network password on Windows 11:

1. Press Win+R to open the RUN window, kind management panel, and hit Enter.
   
2. Click on Network and Internet.
   
3. Then click on on Network and Sharing Center.
   
4. On the left, click on on Change adapter settings.
   
5. Double-click in your network.
   
6. Click on Wireless Properties.
   
7. Switch over to the ‘Security’ tab.
   
8. Here, verify Show characters to disclose the password above.
   

Note down the password and put it aside someplace so you may reconnect to the network later if you need.

How do I utterly neglect a network in Windows?

All the strategies talked about on this information assist neglect a network in its entirety. But if you happen to actually wish to ensure of it, you may rely on the strategies involving Windows terminals like CMD or PowerShell, or deleting it from the registry (Methods 3-6). 

Being capable of neglect network profiles is a helpful little know-how that provides you more management over your Wi-Fi settings and the way you need it to behave. We hope the strategies proven on this information helped you obtain it.