How To Stop Android From Turning Wi-Fi On Automatically (2026)

Your Android phone turns Wi-Fi back on after you switched it off, usually when you get home or walk past a saved network.

That is a deliberate feature rather than a bug, and you can switch it off.

This guide shows the exact paths on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy, plus the extra settings to check if Wi-Fi still comes back.

Why does Android turn Wi-Fi back on by itself?

Android has a setting that turns Wi-Fi back on when you are near saved networks you use often.

On Pixel it is called Turn on Wi-Fi automatically, and Google says it needs Location on.

Samsung calls its version Intelligent Wi-Fi, and it also has a “Switch to mobile data” option that affects how Wi-Fi is handled on weak signal.

Where is the setting on each phone?

Phone	Path	Setting to turn off
Google Pixel	Settings → Network & internet → Internet → Network preferences	Turn on Wi-Fi automatically
Samsung Galaxy	Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → three-dot menu → Intelligent Wi-Fi	Turn Wi-Fi On/Off Automatically
Other Android phones	Search Settings for “Wi-Fi automatically”	Names vary by phone and Android version

How to stop Wi-Fi turning on automatically on a Pixel

Open Settings.
Tap Network & internet, then Internet.
Scroll down and tap Network preferences.
Switch off Turn on Wi-Fi automatically.

Google notes that some of these options need Android 11 or later.

How to stop it on a Samsung Galaxy

Open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi.
Tap the three-dot menu and choose Intelligent Wi-Fi.
Switch off the automatic Wi-Fi on/off toggle.
Switch off Switch to mobile data if you do not want Wi-Fi handled automatically on weak signal.

Menu wording differs a little between One UI versions, so use the Settings search box if you cannot find it.

What do the other Intelligent Wi-Fi options do on a Samsung?

The same Intelligent Wi-Fi menu holds several switches, and some of them move your phone between networks.

Option	What it does
Switch to mobile data	Uses mobile data when Wi-Fi is unstable, then returns to Wi-Fi when the signal is strong (needs a SIM)
Switch to better Wi-Fi networks	Moves to a faster or more stable Wi-Fi network, but only while the screen is off
Turn Wi-Fi on/off automatically	Turns Wi-Fi on or off in frequently used locations (needs a SIM)
Auto Hotspot connection	Sets when to connect to an Auto Hotspot, and only works with Wi-Fi on and a hotspot nearby

Some options may not appear, depending on your model and carrier.

How to stop a Samsung rejoining one saved network

Open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi.
Tap the three-dot menu, then Advanced settings.
Tap Manage networks.
Set the network to stop reconnecting automatically, or forget it.

This lets you keep a network saved but stop the phone from joining it by itself.

Does Wi-Fi scanning make Wi-Fi turn back on?

On Pixel, Google says Wi-Fi will not turn on automatically if background Wi-Fi scanning is off.

You can check it under Settings → Network & internet → Internet → Network preferences.

How do you forget a saved network that keeps triggering it?

Wi-Fi is most likely to come back near a network your phone has saved.

Open Settings → Network & internet → Internet on a Pixel.
Touch and hold the saved network.
Tap Forget.

On a Samsung, use the Manage networks screen described above.

Is Adaptive connectivity on a Pixel the cause?

Adaptive connectivity is a separate Pixel feature at Settings → Network & internet → Adaptive connectivity.

Google describes it as automatically managing your network connections to extend battery life and improve performance.

In an Android 16 QPR3 beta, 9to5Google reported that the single switch splits into two toggles, Auto-switch to mobile network and Optimize network for battery life, both on by default.

It manages the mobile-versus-Wi-Fi choice rather than the saved-network setting above, so treat it as a second thing to check if Wi-Fi behaves oddly.

Can Wi-Fi Calling affect your Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi Calling is a separate feature that lets calls run over Wi-Fi.

On a Pixel you can turn it off at Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Wi-Fi calling → Use Wi-Fi calling.

Not every carrier supports it, so check with your carrier before relying on it.

How to reset network settings as a last step

Phone	Path	What it clears
Google Pixel	Settings → System → Reset options → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth	Saved Wi-Fi credentials and Bluetooth connections
Samsung Galaxy	Settings → General management → Reset → Reset network settings	Saved Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairings and mobile network settings

You will need to rejoin your Wi-Fi networks afterward, so keep passwords handy.

What if Wi-Fi still turns on after these changes?

Symptom	What to check
It returns after a system update	Open the setting again, because an update may have changed your preference
It only returns near one place	Forget that saved network and rejoin it only if you need it
It happens on a work phone	Your employer may manage the device, so ask your IT team

Official guides: Google Pixel Wi-Fi help and Pixel Wi-Fi calling.