As a seasoned IT consultant and Mac expert, I‘ve helped countless clients optimize and secure their Wi-Fi connections over the years. One of the most common questions I get is: "How do I forget a Wi-Fi network on my Mac?"
It‘s a query that seems simple on the surface, but there‘s actually a lot more to it than meets the eye. In this ultimate guide, we‘ll dive deep into not only the step-by-step process of forgetting networks on your Mac, but also the many reasons why you‘d want to, best practices for Wi-Fi management, and expert tips you won‘t find anywhere else. Let‘s get started!
Why Bother Forgetting a Wi-Fi Network?
Before we jump into the how, let‘s talk about the why. At first glance, forgetting a Wi-Fi network on your MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or other Mac might seem pointless. After all, if you‘ve connected to it before, chances are you‘ll want to connect again at some point, right? Not necessarily.
There are actually several compelling reasons to prune your Mac‘s saved Wi-Fi networks from time to time:
1. Streamline Your Connections
The average American connects to a staggering 12 devices via Wi-Fi.[^1] Just think about all the hotspots your Mac has logged on public Wi-Fi risk exposureto over the years – coffee shops, airports, hotels, offices, friends‘ homes. Each one of those networks is saved on your computer, which can lead to a bloated and cluttered list of available connections.
Forgetting networks you no longer use streamlines things so you can quickly find and connect to the ones that matter without wading through a sea of irrelevant hotspots.
2. Boost Your Security
Here‘s a scary stat: 81% of surveyed public Wi-Fi users said they‘ve accessed sensitive data while on public hotspots.[^2] Logging onto public Wi-Fi comes with inherent risks, like making your data visible to others on the network. And if you‘ve inadvertently connected to a malicious hotspot designed to steal info, you‘re in even bigger trouble.
Removing public networks from your saved list prevents your Mac from quietly auto-connecting again in the future and re-exposing you to those risks. It‘s good cybersecurity hygiene, like washing your hands or changing your passwords frequently.
3. Solve Connectivity Issues
Wi-Fi can be fickle. Sometimes, your Mac seems to get stuck trying to connect to a particular network or keeps latching onto one with a weak signal. Other times, you might have changed a network‘s name or password, but your computer clings to the old info.
Forgetting the problematic network gives you a clean slate to reconnect from scratch, which can resolve many connectivity quirks that crop up.
Step-by-Step: How to Forget a Wi-Fi Network on Mac
Now that we know why forgetting networks is so useful, here‘s exactly how to do it on your Mac, complete with screenshots:
Step 1: Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences.
Step 2: In the System Preferences window, click the Network icon.
Step 3: Select Wi-Fi in the left sidebar, then click the Advanced button in the lower-right corner.
Step 4: In the Wi-Fi tab, find the network you want to forget in the Preferred Networks list.
Step 5: Select the network and click the minus (-) button below the list to remove it. You can Shift-click or ⌘-click to select and remove multiple networks at once.
Step 6: Click Remove in the confirmation dialog, then OK to close the Advanced window.
Step 7: Back in Network Preferences, click Apply to save your changes.
That‘s it! The network is now forgotten. The next time you connect to that network, you‘ll have to re-enter the password as if it were a brand new connection. This process works the same on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, or any other Mac model.
Wiping vs. Whitelisting Networks
In most cases, you‘ll want to forget networks one-by-one using the process above. That way, you can surgically prune your saved list while keeping the networks you still use.
However, there may be times when you want to wipe all saved networks at once and start completely fresh. To do this:
- Follow steps 1-3 above to get to Wi-Fi Advanced settings
- Select all networks in the Preferred Networks list with ⌘A
- Click the minus (-) button and confirm to remove all networks
Poof – your Mac has now forgotten every Wi-Fi network it‘s ever connected to. It‘s a clean slate.
Alternatively, instead of blacklisting individual networks to forget, you can flip things around and whitelist only the networks you want your Mac to auto-join. Here‘s how:
- In Wi-Fi Advanced settings, uncheck the box that says "Remember networks this computer has joined"
- Click the plus (+) button to add specific networks you want to auto-join
- Click OK and Apply to save
With this setup, your Mac will only connect to the networks you‘ve whitelisted and ignore all others. It‘s a more aggressive way to limit your exposure and avoid problematic networks.
Troubleshooting Mac Wi-Fi Issues
Forgetting a network is a useful first step when you‘re having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi on your Mac. If you still can‘t connect or experience other issues after removing the network, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Restart your Mac: A good ol‘ reboot can work connection magic.
- Toggle Wi-Fi off and on: Click the Wi-Fi icon in your menu bar and select "Turn Wi-Fi Off." Wait a moment, then turn it back on.
- Restart your router: Unplug your router or modem, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. Give it a minute to reboot and reconnect.
- Forget the network (again): If you‘ve already forgotten and re-added the network, try removing it and adding it back once more for good measure.
- Reset network settings: Go to System Preferences > Network and click the minus (-) button to remove all connections. Click Apply and re-add each one manually.
If you‘re still having trouble connecting, it‘s time to seek reinforcements. Contact your internet service provider or consult Apple‘s official Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide[^3] for more advanced tips.
Optimizing Your Mac‘s Wi-Fi Performance
Now that you‘re a pro at forgetting networks on your Mac, let‘s look at some ways to optimize your machine‘s Wi-Fi performance and security:
Keep Your Mac Updated
Apple regularly releases updates that include fixes for Wi-Fi vulnerabilities, performance improvements, and compatibility with new network standards. Keeping your Mac‘s software up-to-date ensures you have the latest and greatest connectivity capabilities.
Prioritize 5GHz Networks
If you have a newer Mac and router, you likely have the option to connect over 5GHz in addition to 2.4GHz. The 5GHz frequency offers faster speeds, lower latency, and less interference. When you have the choice between the two frequencies for a network, opt for the 5GHz one for better performance.
Use WPA3 Encryption When Available
WPA3 is the latest security standard for Wi-Fi networks. Connecting to WPA3-enabled networks provides better encryption and protection against password guessing attacks. Most new Mac models support WPA3, so it‘s worth seeking out and using when available, especially on public hotspots.
Turn Off Auto-Join for Public Networks
We covered the security risks of auto-connecting to public networks, but you can take things a step further by toggling off the auto-join feature altogether. In Wi-Fi Advanced settings, uncheck the box for "Remember networks this computer has joined" as described in the whitelisting section above. You‘ll have to manually join networks each time, but it‘s a smart precaution when traveling or frequently using public hotspots.
Leverage Your Mac‘s Built-In Tools
Your Mac has some built-in utilities that can help you analyze and optimize your Wi-Fi connection:
- Wireless Diagnostics: Spotlight search for "Wireless Diagnostics" to open this tool. It can monitor your Wi-Fi performance, log connection data, and troubleshoot issues.[^4]
- Network Utility: Spotlight search for "Network Utility" to access info about your connection and run network performance tests.
- System Information: Hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi menu to open System Information focused on your current connection. You can see technical details like signal strength, noise level, and more.
Get to know these tools and use them to ensure your Mac‘s Wi-Fi is always running at peak performance.
Key Takeaways & Recommendations
We‘ve covered a ton of ground in this guide, so let‘s recap the key points about forgetting Wi-Fi networks on your Mac and optimizing your connectivity:
- Remove old, unused, or problematic networks from your Preferred Networks list in Network Preferences to streamline your connections and boost security
- Use the step-by-step forgetting process on any Mac model running macOS
- Consider whitelisting a core set of trusted networks to avoid auto-joining risky ones
- Keep your Mac and router updated and prioritize 5GHz and WPA3 connections
- Leverage built-in tools like Wireless Diagnostics to monitor and optimize Wi-Fi performance
Take some time to audit and prune your saved networks today, and get in the habit of removing old ones every few months. Combined with smart connection best practices, this will ensure your Mac‘s Wi-Fi experience is always top-notch. Stay safe out there, and happy surfing!
References
[^1]: Study: Average American connects to 12 devices via Wi-Fi[^2]: Why public WiFi is a public health hazard
[^3]: If your Mac doesn‘t connect to Wi-Fi
[^4]: Use Wireless Diagnostics on your Mac
