Forgetting a wireless network on your Mac can be necessary for various reasons. Maybe you no longer use a particular network, or you want to troubleshoot connectivity issues by starting fresh. Whatever the reason may be, this tutorial will guide you through the steps to forget a wireless network on a Mac.
Step 1: Click on the Wi-Fi icon located in the menu bar at the top-right corner of your screen.
Step 2: From the drop-down menu, click on "Open Network Preferences."
Step 3: In the Network Preferences window, select "Wi-Fi" from the left sidebar.
Step 4: On the right side of the window, click on the "Advanced" button.
Step 5: In the list of Preferred Networks, find the network you want to forget and highlight it by clicking on it once.
Step 6: Once the network is selected, click on the minus (-) button located below the list of networks. This will remove the network from your preferred list.
Step 7: Click on the "OK" button to save the changes.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Helps resolve connectivity issues by eliminating problematic networks. | 1. You will have to re-enter the network password next time you want to connect. |
| 2. Streamlines the list of available networks by removing unnecessary ones. | 2. Forgetting a network removes its password from Keychain, and you’ll need to re-enter it if you want to connect again. |
| 3. Provides a clean slate for discovering and connecting to preferred networks. | 3. You may forget a network by accident and need to reconnect it manually later. |
Forgetting a wireless network on your Mac is a simple process that can help declutter your network preferences and potentially resolve connectivity issues. Remember that, when you forget a network, you’ll need to re-enter the password the next time you want to connect.
Video Tutorial: Why is forget this network not an option?
How do I restore a saved network?
Restoring a saved network can be a straightforward process, and the steps might slightly vary depending on the operating system you’re using. Follow the guide below to restore a saved network:
For Windows:
1. Open the "Network & Internet Settings" by clicking on the network icon in the system tray or navigating through the Control Panel.
2. In the Settings window, select the "Wi-Fi" or "Ethernet" option, depending on the type of network you wish to restore.
3. Under the Wi-Fi or Ethernet section, you’ll find a list of available networks. Scroll down and click on "Network & Sharing Center."
4. In the Network & Sharing Center, click on the "Manage wireless networks" or "Manage network connections" option from the left-hand sidebar.
5. A list of saved Wi-Fi networks will appear. Select the network you want to restore and right-click on it.
6. Choose the "Connect" option to establish a connection with the selected network.
For macOS:
1. Click on the "Apple" menu at the top left corner of the screen and select "System Preferences."
2. In the System Preferences window, click on the "Network" icon.
3. On the left-hand side, select the Wi-Fi or Ethernet option, depending on the network you want to restore.
4. Click on the "Advanced" button in the bottom right corner to open the advanced settings.
5. Switch to the "Wi-Fi" or "Ethernet" tab, depending on the network you want to restore.
6. A list of preferred networks will be displayed. Select the network you wish to restore and click on the "OK" button.
7. Finally, click on the "Apply" button to save the changes and reconnect to the network.
For iOS (iPhone):
1. Open the "Settings" app from the home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on the "Wi-Fi" option.
3. A list of available Wi-Fi networks will appear. At the top of the list, you’ll find the saved networks under the "My Networks" or "Other Networks" section.
4. Locate the saved network you want to restore and tap on it.
5. If necessary, enter the network password and tap "Join" to reconnect to the selected network.
These steps should help you restore a saved network on the respective operating systems. Remember to choose the appropriate steps based on the device and operating system you are using.
How do I reset network settings on Mac?
To reset network settings on a Mac, follow these steps:
1. Click on the Apple menu at the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select "System Preferences" from the drop-down menu.
3. In the System Preferences window, click on "Network."
4. On the left-hand side, you will see a list of network connections such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, etc. Select the connection you want to reset.
5. Once the connection is selected, click on the "Advanced" button at the bottom-right corner.
6. In the Advanced settings, navigate to the "TCP/IP" tab.
7. Click on the "Renew DHCP Lease" button to obtain a new IP address from the DHCP server.
8. Next, go to the "DNS" tab and click on the "DNS Servers" field to select it.
9. Press the "-" button to remove any existing DNS servers.
10. After removing the DNS servers, click on the "+" button to add new DNS servers. You can use public DNS servers like Google DNS (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1).
11. Once the new DNS servers are added, click on "OK" to save the changes.
12. Finally, click on "Apply" in the Network preferences window to apply the network settings reset.
Please note that resetting network settings will remove any customized settings and preferences related to the selected network connection. It can resolve issues such as network connectivity problems, DNS issues, or sluggish network performance. However, it won’t fix hardware issues or problems with internet service providers.
How do I forget a wireless network?
Forgetting a wireless network can be useful in situations where you no longer want your device to automatically connect to a particular network. Here are the steps to forget a wireless network on an iPhone running iOS 16:
1. Open the Settings app: Tap on the "Settings" icon, which is usually located on the home screen.
2. Select Wi-Fi: Scroll down and tap on the "Wi-Fi" option.
3. View available networks: A list of available Wi-Fi networks will appear. Locate the network that you want to forget.
4. Forget the network: Tap the (i) icon next to the network name (SSID). This will take you to the network details page.
5. Forget this Network: On the network details page, tap on the "Forget This Network" option. A confirmation dialog may appear.
6. Confirm the forget action: If prompted, tap "Forget" to confirm that you want to forget the network.
7. Network forgotten: The selected network will now be removed from the list of known Wi-Fi networks on your device.
By following these steps, you have successfully forgotten a wireless network on your iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, or iPhone 14 Plus running iOS 16.
How do I reset my network settings on my computer?
To reset network settings on your computer, you can follow these steps:
1. Open the "Settings" app: On Windows, click on the "Start" button and then select the "Settings" gear icon. On macOS, click on the Apple menu at the top-left corner and choose "System Preferences."
2. Locate the "Network" or "Network & Internet" option: In Windows, you’ll find it among the list of settings categories. On macOS, it is a standalone option.
3. Access network settings: In Windows, click on "Network & Internet" and then select "Status" from the left sidebar. On macOS, simply click on the "Network" icon.
4. Reset network settings: In Windows, click on the "Network reset" option, usually found at the bottom of the network settings page. This will open a new window with information about network reset. Click on the "Reset now" button and follow the prompts to confirm. On macOS, you can typically reset network settings by clicking on the small gear icon at the bottom-left corner. Look for an option like "Reset Network Settings" or "Renew DHCP Lease" and select it.
5. Restart your computer: After resetting the network settings, it’s recommended to restart your computer to apply the changes effectively.
Please note that resetting network settings can remove saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings, and other network configurations. Make sure to have any necessary information handy to set up your network again, such as Wi-Fi passwords and VPN configurations.
Remember, specific steps may slightly vary depending on your operating system version, so it’s always a good practice to consult the official documentation or support resources provided by your computer’s manufacturer for accurate instructions.
How do I turn my network back on?
To turn your network back on, follow these steps:
1. Check Airplane Mode: First, make sure that Airplane Mode is turned off on your device. Airplane Mode disables all wireless connections, including Wi-Fi, cellular data, and Bluetooth. You can usually find the Airplane Mode setting in the Control Center or the Settings app on your device. Toggle it off if it is enabled.
2. Restart your device: Sometimes, network connectivity issues can be resolved by simply restarting your device. Press and hold the power button until you see the options to power off or restart. Tap on the restart option and wait for your device to reboot. After the restart, see if the network connection is restored.
3. Check Wi-Fi settings: If you are trying to connect to a Wi-Fi network, ensure that you are in range of the network and that the Wi-Fi functionality is enabled on your device. Go to the Settings app, select Wi-Fi, and make sure the Wi-Fi toggle is switched on. Your device should display available networks. Tap on the desired network and enter the password if necessary.
4. Reset network settings: If the above steps didn’t work, you can try resetting your network settings. This can help fix any incorrect network configurations that may be causing the issue. Go to the Settings app, select General, then scroll down and tap on Reset. Choose the option to Reset Network Settings. Keep in mind that this will erase saved Wi-Fi passwords and other network settings, so you may need to manually re-enter them.
5. Update iOS: It’s important to ensure that your device is running the latest version of iOS. Apple regularly releases software updates that can address network issues and improve overall performance. Go to the Settings app, select General, then tap on Software Update. If an update is available, download and install it following the on-screen instructions.
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you may need to contact your internet service provider or seek technical assistance from a professional for further troubleshooting.
How do I reset my network settings manually?
To reset your network settings manually, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on "General."
3. In the General settings, scroll down again and tap on "Reset."
4. Among the reset options, locate and tap on "Reset Network Settings."
5. A warning message will appear, informing you that this action will delete all network settings, including Wi-Fi passwords and VPN configurations. Confirm your decision by entering your device passcode, if prompted, and tap on "Reset Network Settings" again to proceed.
6. Your iPhone will now reset its network settings. This process may take a few moments, and your device will restart once it’s completed.
After the reset, your iPhone will no longer remember Wi-Fi networks you previously connected to, so you’ll need to re-enter their passwords. Additionally, any customized network settings or configurations will be erased, including VPN setups or static IP addresses.
Resetting network settings can be helpful when you’re experiencing issues with Wi-Fi connectivity, cellular data problems, or other network-related glitches. It restores your iPhone’s network settings to their default state, potentially resolving network-related issues that may have occurred due to misconfigurations or corrupted settings.
Remember, resetting network settings will not affect any other data on your device, like your photos, apps, or personal files. It solely focuses on network-related settings and configurations.
Please keep in mind that technology and software can change over time, and these instructions are based on the knowledge background provided in this hypothetical scenario. Always refer to the official documentation or consult the latest resources from Apple for accurate instructions on resetting network settings on your specific iPhone model and iOS version.