Are you tired of your Mac constantly trying to connect to a WiFi network that you no longer use or want to connect to? Perhaps you’ve moved to a new location, changed your internet service provider, or simply want to remove an old network from your Mac’s memory. Whatever the reason, forgetting a WiFi network on your Mac is a relatively straightforward process. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to make your Mac forget a WiFi network, as well as provide some additional tips and tricks to help you manage your WiFi connections.
Why Forget a WiFi Network?
Before we dive into the steps to forget a WiFi network, let’s quickly discuss why you might want to do so. Here are a few reasons:
- Security: If you’re no longer using a particular WiFi network, it’s a good idea to remove it from your Mac’s memory to prevent any potential security risks. This is especially true if you’ve connected to a public WiFi network, which may not be secure.
- Convenience: If you’ve moved to a new location or changed your internet service provider, you may no longer need to connect to a particular WiFi network. Forgetting the network can help declutter your WiFi settings and make it easier to connect to the networks you actually use.
- Troubleshooting: If you’re experiencing issues with your WiFi connection, forgetting a network and then reconnecting to it can sometimes resolve the problem.
How to Forget a WiFi Network on Your Mac
Forgetting a WiFi network on your Mac is a relatively simple process. Here are the steps:
Method 1: Forget a WiFi Network from the WiFi Menu
- Click on the WiFi icon in the top right corner of your screen.
- Click on “Open Network Preferences.”
- Click on “Advanced.”
- Select the network you want to forget from the list of “Preferred Networks.”
- Click the minus (-) button at the bottom of the list.
- Click “OK” to confirm.
Method 2: Forget a WiFi Network from the Keychain Access App
- Open the Keychain Access app. You can find it in the Applications/Utilities folder or use Spotlight to search for it.
- Select “System” from the list of keychains on the left side of the window.
- Search for the WiFi network you want to forget in the list of items.
- Select the network and click “Delete.”
- Enter your administrator password to confirm.
Method 3: Forget a WiFi Network by Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
- Shut down your Mac.
- Locate the following keys on your keyboard: Command (⌘) + Option (⌥) + Shift (⇧) + Power.
- Press and hold these keys while powering on your Mac.
- Hold the keys for 10 seconds, then release them.
- Your Mac will automatically restart.
Note: Resetting the SMC will forget all WiFi networks, so use this method with caution.
Tips and Tricks for Managing WiFi Connections on Your Mac
In addition to forgetting WiFi networks, here are a few tips and tricks to help you manage your WiFi connections:
Use the WiFi Menu to Quickly Connect to Networks
The WiFi menu is a convenient way to quickly connect to available WiFi networks. To access the WiFi menu, click on the WiFi icon in the top right corner of your screen. From here, you can select a network to connect to, or click on “Open Network Preferences” to access more advanced settings.
Use the Network Preferences Pane to Manage WiFi Settings
The Network Preferences pane is where you can manage your WiFi settings in more detail. To access the Network Preferences pane, click on the WiFi icon in the top right corner of your screen, then click on “Open Network Preferences.” From here, you can select a network to connect to, forget a network, or access more advanced settings.
Use the Keychain Access App to Manage WiFi Passwords
The Keychain Access app is where your Mac stores WiFi passwords and other sensitive information. To access the Keychain Access app, open the Applications/Utilities folder or use Spotlight to search for it. From here, you can view and manage your WiFi passwords, as well as other sensitive information.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
If you’re having trouble forgetting a WiFi network or managing your WiFi connections, here are a few common issues and troubleshooting tips:
Issue: Forgetting a WiFi Network Doesn’t Work
If forgetting a WiFi network doesn’t seem to work, try restarting your Mac or resetting the SMC (see Method 3 above).
Issue: WiFi Network Keeps Reconnecting
If a WiFi network keeps reconnecting, even after you’ve forgotten it, try disabling the “Ask to join new networks” option in the Network Preferences pane. To do this, click on the WiFi icon in the top right corner of your screen, then click on “Open Network Preferences.” Select the network you want to forget, then uncheck the box next to “Ask to join new networks.”
Conclusion
Forgetting a WiFi network on your Mac is a relatively straightforward process, and can help improve your WiFi experience by decluttering your WiFi settings and preventing potential security risks. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to forget a WiFi network and manage your WiFi connections with ease. Remember to also use the tips and tricks outlined in this article to get the most out of your WiFi connections.
What is the purpose of making my Mac forget a WiFi network?
Making your Mac forget a WiFi network is useful when you want to remove a network from your list of saved networks or when you’re having trouble connecting to a network. When you forget a network, your Mac will no longer automatically connect to it, and you’ll have to manually enter the network’s password to connect again. This can be helpful if you’re trying to troubleshoot connectivity issues or if you want to remove a network that you no longer use.
Forgetting a WiFi network can also help to resolve issues with network conflicts or duplicate network names. If you’re experiencing problems with your WiFi connection, forgetting the network and then reconnecting to it can often resolve the issue. Additionally, if you’re selling or giving away your Mac, forgetting all saved WiFi networks can help to protect your personal data and prevent unauthorized access to your networks.
How do I know if I need to make my Mac forget a WiFi network?
You may need to make your Mac forget a WiFi network if you’re experiencing connectivity issues or if you’re trying to troubleshoot a problem with your WiFi connection. If you’re having trouble connecting to a network, or if you’re getting an error message when you try to connect, forgetting the network and then reconnecting to it may resolve the issue. You may also want to forget a network if you’re no longer using it, or if you want to remove a network that you no longer need.
Another reason to forget a WiFi network is if you’re experiencing issues with network conflicts or duplicate network names. If you have multiple networks with the same name, your Mac may have trouble connecting to the correct network. Forgetting the duplicate networks can help to resolve this issue and ensure that your Mac connects to the correct network.
Will forgetting a WiFi network delete my network settings?
No, forgetting a WiFi network will not delete your network settings. When you forget a network, your Mac will simply remove the network from its list of saved networks. Your network settings, such as your WiFi password and network preferences, will still be stored on your Mac. However, you will need to re-enter your WiFi password to connect to the network again.
It’s worth noting that if you’re using a network with a complex setup, such as a network with a static IP address or a VPN connection, forgetting the network may cause you to lose these settings. In this case, you may need to reconfigure your network settings after forgetting the network.
Can I forget a WiFi network from the WiFi menu?
No, you cannot forget a WiFi network directly from the WiFi menu on your Mac. To forget a network, you need to go to the Network preferences pane in System Preferences. From there, you can select the network you want to forget and click the “Forget” button. Alternatively, you can also use the Terminal app to forget a network using a command-line interface.
While you can’t forget a network from the WiFi menu, you can use the menu to disconnect from a network or to switch to a different network. To disconnect from a network, simply click on the WiFi menu and select “Disconnect from [Network Name]”.
How do I forget multiple WiFi networks at once?
To forget multiple WiFi networks at once, you can use the Terminal app on your Mac. You can use a command-line interface to forget all saved WiFi networks or to forget a specific list of networks. To forget all saved networks, you can use the command “sudo /usr/libexec/airportd -s” followed by “sudo /usr/libexec/airportd -f”. This will forget all saved WiFi networks on your Mac.
Alternatively, you can also use the Network preferences pane to forget multiple networks one by one. Simply select each network you want to forget and click the “Forget” button. This method can be more time-consuming than using the Terminal app, but it gives you more control over which networks you want to forget.
Will forgetting a WiFi network affect my other devices?
No, forgetting a WiFi network on your Mac will not affect your other devices. Each device has its own list of saved WiFi networks, so forgetting a network on your Mac will only affect your Mac. Your other devices, such as your iPhone or iPad, will still be able to connect to the network as usual.
However, if you’re using a network with a shared password or authentication method, forgetting the network on your Mac may cause you to lose access to the shared password or authentication method. In this case, you may need to re-enter the shared password or re-authenticate on your other devices.
Can I undo forgetting a WiFi network?
No, you cannot undo forgetting a WiFi network. Once you’ve forgotten a network, it’s removed from your Mac’s list of saved networks, and you’ll need to re-enter the network’s password to connect to it again. However, if you’re using a network with a saved password, you may be able to recover the password from your Keychain or password manager.
If you’ve forgotten a network by mistake, you can try reconnecting to the network by selecting it from the WiFi menu and entering the password again. If you’re unable to reconnect to the network, you may need to restart your Mac or your WiFi router to resolve the issue.