Solve Wi-Fi Issues Forgetting Network Reconnecting Troubleshoot Connection Connectivity

Why Forgetting a Wi-Fi Network Can Help

Forgetting a Wi-Fi network and reconnecting can often resolve connectivity issues, especially after changes like password updates or network configuration adjustments. This simple step can prompt your device to reauthenticate, potentially fixing common connection problems.

How to Forget a Wi-Fi Network on Different Devices

Mac OS (Apple)

To forget a Wi-Fi network on a Mac, follow these steps:

Click the WiFi symbol at the top of your screen and select Open Network Preferences.
Choose Advanced in the lower-right corner.
Under Preferred Networks, select the network you want to forget (e.g., eduroam).
Click the minus (-) button to forget the network.
Click OK to save the changes.

iOS (iPhone)

Forgetting a Wi-Fi network on an iPhone involves:

Going to Settings from the home screen.
Selecting Wi-Fi in the settings menu.
Locating the network (e.g., eduroam) and clicking the blue symbol next to it.
- If the option to forget the network is available, tap Forget this Network and attempt to reconnect.
- If the option is not available, go to Settings > General > Profile, select the profile for the network, and tap Delete Profile.

Windows 7

To forget a Wi-Fi network on Windows 7:

Start the Network and Sharing Center by right-clicking the WiFi icon in the lower-right corner of your screen.
In the Tasks pane, click Manage wireless networks.
Right-click the connection you want to delete and click Remove network.
In the Manage Wireless Networks – Warning dialog box, click OK.

Windows 8 or 10

For Windows 8 or 10:

Click the Network icon on the lower right corner of your screen.
Choose Network settings.
Click on Manage Wi-Fi settings.
Under Manage known networks, select the network you want to forget (e.g., eduroam).
Then click Forget.

Android

To forget a Wi-Fi network on an Android device:

Go to Settings from the home screen.
Select Wi-Fi in the settings menu.
Locate the network (e.g., eduroam) and tap or press and hold it.
Choose Forget.

Common Issues Solved by Forgetting the Network

Password Changes

If you have recently changed your Wi-Fi password, forgetting the network allows your device to prompt you for the new credentials, ensuring you can reconnect successfully.

Connection Drops

Forgetting the network can help if you experience frequent disconnections. This step resets the connection, which may resolve issues caused by temporary network glitches.

Network Configuration Changes

After changes to network settings or configurations, forgetting the network ensures your device updates its settings to match the new configuration, preventing connectivity issues.

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

If forgetting the network does not resolve your issue, consider these additional steps:

Restart Your Router and Modem

A simple yet effective fix is to restart your router and modem. Unplug them from power, wait for 30 seconds, and then plug them back in. This often resolves connectivity issues.

Check for Outages

Ensure there are no outages in your area by checking with your internet service provider. This can save you time troubleshooting a problem that is not on your end.

Update Network Adapter Drivers

For Windows users, updating or reinstalling network adapter drivers can resolve connectivity issues. Go to Device Manager, find your network adapter, and choose to update or uninstall and reinstall the driver.

Reset Network Settings

As a last resort, you can reset your network settings to their default state. This will erase all saved network settings, including Wi-Fi networks and VPN configurations. For Windows 10, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status and click Network reset. For Mac, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Network, select Wi-Fi, and remove it before adding it again.

Conclusion

Forgetting a Wi-Fi network is a straightforward and often effective way to resolve connectivity issues. By following the steps outlined above for your specific device, you can quickly troubleshoot and reconnect to your network. If the issue persists, additional troubleshooting steps such as restarting your router, checking for outages, and updating network drivers can help you get back online.