How to Forget a WiFi Network on a Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tired of your Mac automatically connecting to a WiFi network that you no longer use or want to remove? Forgetting a WiFi network on a Mac is a simple process that can help you manage your WiFi connections and improve your online security. In this article, we’ll show you how to forget a WiFi network on a Mac in just a few easy steps.

Why Forget a WiFi Network on a Mac?

Before we dive into the steps, let’s quickly discuss why forgetting a WiFi network on a Mac is important. Here are a few reasons:

• Improve WiFi connectivity: Forgetting a WiFi network that you no longer use can help improve your WiFi connectivity. When you’re connected to multiple networks, your Mac may have trouble deciding which network to use, leading to connectivity issues.
• Enhance online security: Forgetting a public WiFi network or a network that you no longer trust can help enhance your online security. When you’re connected to a network, you’re vulnerable to hacking and other online threats.
• Simplify WiFi management: Forgetting a WiFi network can help simplify your WiFi management. When you have multiple networks saved on your Mac, it can be confusing to manage them. Forgetting networks you no longer use can help declutter your WiFi list.

How to Forget a WiFi Network on a Mac

Now that we’ve discussed why forgetting a WiFi network on a Mac is important, let’s move on to the steps. Here’s how to forget a WiFi network on a Mac:

Method 1: Forget a WiFi Network from the WiFi Menu

1. Click on the WiFi icon in the top right corner of your Mac’s screen.
2. Select “Open Network Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
3. Click on the “Advanced” button.
4. Select the WiFi network you want to forget from the list of saved networks.
5. Click on the “-” button at the bottom of the list to forget the network.

Method 2: Forget a WiFi Network from the System Preferences

1. Click on the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”
2. Click on “Network.”
3. Select “WiFi” from the list of network connections.
4. Click on the “Advanced” button.
5. Select the WiFi network you want to forget from the list of saved networks.
6. Click on the “-” button at the bottom of the list to forget the network.

Method 3: Forget a WiFi Network Using the Terminal

1. Open the Terminal app on your Mac. You can find it in the Applications/Utilities folder.
2. Type the following command: sudo /usr/sbin/networksetup -removepreferredwirelessnetwork en0 <network_name>
3. Replace `<network_name>` with the name of the WiFi network you want to forget.
4. Press Enter to run the command.

Tips and Variations

Here are a few tips and variations to keep in mind when forgetting a WiFi network on a Mac:

• Forget multiple networks at once: If you want to forget multiple WiFi networks at once, you can select multiple networks from the list of saved networks and click on the “-” button to forget them all.
• Use the WiFi menu to forget a network: If you’re using macOS High Sierra or later, you can forget a WiFi network directly from the WiFi menu. Simply click on the WiFi icon, select “Open Network Preferences,” and then click on the “Forget” button next to the network you want to forget.
• Forget a network on a MacBook: The steps to forget a WiFi network on a MacBook are the same as those for a desktop Mac. Simply follow the steps outlined above to forget a WiFi network on your MacBook.

Conclusion

Forgetting a WiFi network on a Mac is a simple process that can help you manage your WiFi connections and improve your online security. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can forget a WiFi network on your Mac and start fresh with a clean slate. Whether you’re using a desktop Mac or a MacBook, forgetting a WiFi network is a quick and easy process that can help you stay connected and secure online.