How to Delete the Wi-Fi Networks Saved on the Computer and Mobile

Is it recommended to delete the saved Wi-Fi networks if we do not use them?

In all operating systems we will be able to see the list of saved Wi-Fi networks that we have accumulated over the years, in this way, we will not have to re-enter the access credentials every time we want to connect. However, it is very useful from time to time to delete these Wi-Fi networks that we have not used anymore, since there may be a case of a possible AP spoofing attack (Rogue AP), and we would be vulnerable to this type of attack since the equipment would automatically connect to these saved Wi-Fi networks. For security, it is always advisable to remember the Wi-Fi networks that you usually connect to, and delete all other networks, such as public Wi-Fi networks or where you will not connect more.

Another reason to delete a Wi-Fi network, is when we have some kind of problem in the wireless network, and the operating system of our computer or mobile phone returns an error. In this way, we will ensure 100% that it is not the fault of the Wi-Fi network that we have previously saved.

Next, we are going to teach you how to erase the Wi-Fi networks of the different operating systems for computers, and also for mobiles that currently exist.

So you can delete the Wi-Fi network saved in Windows 10

If you want to eliminate the Wi-Fi networks saved in the Windows 10 operating system, the first thing to do is enter ” Start / Windows Settings “, once inside, click on the ” Network and Internet ” icon that we have on the top right of the menu.

In this section, in the menu on the left we click on ” Wi-Fi “, and we click again on ” Manage known networks “, which is in the central part, just below “Show available networks” and “Hardware properties”.

This section is where we will get the entire list of wireless networks to which we have previously connected.

Once we are in this menu, we can both add a new network manually, as well as search the list of Wi-Fi networks for all of them. If we want to delete any of them, just click on the Wi-Fi network and click ” Stop remembering “, we will automatically have removed it from the list, and we will not be able to automatically connect to them.

As you have seen, it is very easy to eliminate the Wi-Fi networks that we have saved in Windows 10.

Delete Wi-Fi networks saved on Linux operating systems

To delete the Wi-Fi networks saved in Linux operating systems, we have several options available, we have used Debian and Ubuntu for the realization of this tutorial.

Delete Wi-Fi network saved in Debian

The first option to delete a Wi-Fi network saved in Debian, is to do it through the graphical user interface. We go to the Wi-Fi menu, this will be in the lower right if your desktop is KDE, although depending on the chosen graphic environment, it could be elsewhere.

We click on the ” Configure network connections ” button, this button is in the upper right, just above “Disconnect”.

Once we have entered « Configure network connections «, we choose the Wi-Fi network that we want to eliminate, and press the «-« button that appears just below us and that indicates «Delete the selected connection».

The second option is to do it through the command line, but it will also depend on the Linux distribution you are using, and the network manager you use. In the case of using NetworkManager, you must go to the following route:

/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections

And delete the Wi-Fi network that you want, this Wi-Fi network will have the name of the SSID of the wireless network, for example, we delete it like this:

sudo rm Bron.nmconnection

Superuser permissions are required to delete it this way.

Delete Wi-Fi network saved in Ubuntu

The first option to delete a Wi-Fi network saved in Ubuntu, is to do it through the graphical user interface. We go to the Wi-Fi menu, this will be in the upper right, and click on “Settings”:

Once we are in this menu, we go to the ” Wireless ” section, in the upper right, in the menu of three vertical points click on ” Known wireless networks ” so that the entire list appears.

In this menu, we select the Wi-Fi network or networks that we want to eliminate, and click on the “Forget” button that we have in the lower left. Once we have done that, we will have removed all the Wi-Fi networks that we have remembered so far.

As you have seen, it is very easy to delete a Wi-Fi network saved in Ubuntu.

The second option is to do it through the command line, in the case of Ubuntu it also uses NetworkManager by default, therefore, you should go to the following path:

/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections

And delete the Wi-Fi network that you want, this Wi-Fi network will have the name of the SSID of the wireless network, for example, we delete it like this:

sudo rm Bron.nmconnection

Superuser permissions are required to delete it this way.

Easily remove Wi-Fi networks on macOS

To delete a Wi-Fi network already known in the macOS operating system, the first thing we have to do is go to the Apple menu and then to “System Preferences”, then click on “Network” to bring up the menu of computer networks.

In the left menu we must select the Wi-Fi part, as you can see below.

Once we are in this Wi-Fi menu, click on the “Advanced” button, and all the Wi-Fi networks that we currently have stored on the Mac will appear. The only thing we will have to do is click on the delete button «-» below the list, just to the right of the add network «+» button that we have in the same area.

By clicking on the «-« button, it will ask us for confirmation to delete the remembered Wi-Fi network. Finally, we click on «Delete» and we will have it deleted.

As you have seen, it is very easy to delete the Wi-Fi networks stored in macOS.

So you can forget Wi-Fi networks on Android phones and tablets

If you want to eliminate Wi-Fi networks saved in Android operating systems, we must take into account the manufacturer’s customization layer, but in all of them the process is very similar:

1. Go to the ” Settings ” section of our mobile
2. Select the ” Wi-Fi ” option and enter its menu

In the Wi-Fi menu we will see the Wi-Fi networks to which we can connect, also to which we are currently connected. If we want to delete the Wi-Fi network to which we are currently connected, click on it and then click on ” Forget “.

In case we are not connected, we will have to go to ” Saved Networks “, and that’s when we can eliminate one by one all the Wi-Fi networks that we want.

As you have seen, it is very easy to delete Wi-Fi wireless networks on Android, although we must take into account the manufacturer’s customization layer.

Eliminate Wi-Fi networks on iOS systems

In iOS systems the process is very similar to the previous one in Android, in this case the procedure is exactly the same for everyone since iOS is the same operating system and has no customization layer. The process would be as follows:

1. Go to the “Settings” section of our iPhone
2. Select the “Wi-Fi” option and enter its menu

In the Wi-Fi menu we will see the Wi-Fi networks to which we can connect, and also the Wi-Fi network to which we are currently connected. If we want to delete the Wi-Fi network to which we are connected now, to later reconnect or forget it forever, we must click on it and click ” Skip this network” :

In case we are not connected, we have no option in iOS to delete a Wi-Fi network, we would have to be close to the saved network in order to delete it, otherwise we do not have access to this information.

We hope that with this complete guide on how to eliminate a Wi-Fi network on computers and mobiles you will be able to clean up known networks, since they could be a vector of attack on your device.