How to forget a Wi-Fi network on your Mac

By default, your Mac will remember settings for any Wi-Fi networks it's connected to in the past. This can make things really convenient as you move around; if it's for networks that you no longer have access to or don't want to use, however, it can be really inconvenient — because sometimes your Mac will try to connect to networks it can no longer work with. Here's how to fix it.

Early one morning I found myself without a Wi-Fi connection when I opened my laptop. I blearily pulled down the AirPort menu and selected the first network that popped up. After a minute or two I realized something was wrong: I only had two bars of coverage, and things were slow. That's when I realized I was connected to the wrong Wi-Fi network.

As it turned out, my next-door neighbor installed a Wi-Fi router with a strong enough antenna that I could pick up the network from my house, and left it open and unprotected to boot. But the connection wasn't strong enough to actually work, so I noticed my error right away.

That's a great practical example of why you should learn how to remove a Wi-Fi network from your Mac's memory. There are other reasons, too: Using common shared networks can be a great temporary way of getting online, but sometimes passwords or logins will change, and you'll have to reconnect from scratch in order to sign in again. Alternatively, maybe your Mac is trying to connect to a network you no longer have access to. Whatever the reason, here's how to fix it.

To make your Mac forget a Wi-Fi network

Click on the AirPort menu.

Select Open Network Preferences.

Click the Advanced button.

Make sure the Wi-Fi tab is active.

Select the network you'd like your Mac to forget. You can shift-click to select multiple networks, or command-click to select networks listed non-contiguously.

Click on the - button.

If you have iCloud Keychain active, the Mac will warn you that removing it will keep any devices connected on the iCloud Keychain from remembering it. Click on the Remove button.