Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10  

    Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10

    Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10

    How to Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Network & Sharing
    10 Feb 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10


    When you connect to a new wireless network, Windows will create a profile for the wireless network. A wireless (Wi-Fi) network profile contains the network name (SSID), password key, and security information to be able to connect to a wireless network.

    This tutorial will show you how to delete (forget) a wireless network connection profile created in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: To Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Settings app
    • Option Two: To Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Networks flyout
    • Option Three: To Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Command Prompt
    • Option Four: To Delete All Wireless Network Profiles in Command Prompt






    OPTION ONE

    To Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Settings app


    1 Open the Settings app, click/tap on the Network & Internet icon.

    2 Click/tap on Wi-Fi in the left pane, and click/tap on the Manage known networks link under Wi-Fi on the right side. (see screenshot below)

    Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10-forget_wi-fi_network_in_settings-1.jpg

    3 Click/tap on the wireless network name (ex: Brink-Router2) you want to manage, click/tap on Forget. (see screenshot below)

    Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10-forget_wi-fi_network_in_settings-2.jpg

    4 When finished, you can close the Settings app if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    To Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Networks flyout


    This option is only available with Windows 10 build 16215 and higher.


    1 Click/tap on the network system icon in the notification area to open the Networks flyout.

    2 Right click or press and hold on a known Wi-Fi network (ex: Brink-Router2) you want to delete, and click/tap on Forget. (see screenshot below)

    Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10-forget_wi-fi_network_in_network_flyout.jpg






    OPTION THREE

    To Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Command Prompt


    1 Open a command prompt.

    2 Copy and paste the netsh wlan show profiles command into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    This command will give you a list of all wireless network profiles on each interface on your PC.

    Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10-delete_wi-fi_network_command-1.jpg

    3 Do step 4 (on all interfaces) or step 5 (on specific interface) below for how you would like to delete the profile.


    4 To Delete a Wireless Network Profile from All Interfaces on PC

    A) Type the command below into the command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

    netsh wlan delete profile name="WirelessProfileName"

    For example, if I wanted to delete my listed Brink-Router2 2 (name) wireless network profile, I would type the command below exactly.

    netsh wlan delete profile name="Brink-Router2 2"

    Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10-delete_wi-fi_network_command-2.jpg


    5 To Delete a Wireless Network Profile from a Specific Interface on PC

    A) Type the command below into the command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

    netsh wlan delete profile name="WirelessProfileName" interface="InterfaceName"

    For example, if I wanted to delete my listed Brink-Router2 (name) wireless network profile only from the Wi-Fi interface, I would type the command below exactly.

    netsh wlan delete profile name="Brink-Router2" interface="Wi-Fi"

    Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10-delete_wi-fi_network_command-3.jpg


    6 When finished, you can close the command prompt if you like.






    OPTION FOUR

    To Delete All Wireless Network Profiles in Command Prompt


    1 Open a command prompt.

    2 Copy and paste the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter.

    netsh wlan delete profile name=*

    3 When finished, you can close the command prompt if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 261
    Win 10 Home Single Language, Ver 1809, Build 17763.379
       #1

    Hi Shawn.

    I notice that when deleting unwanted network profiles using any of the methods, that the networks remain listed in the network list in registry under the profiles tab.

    I s it a good idea (or risky?) to delete the profiles for unwanted networks? When travelling a lot, one tends to accumulate many public Wi-Fi profiles that you may never use again.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Sure, you could safely delete them in the registry as well. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 261
    Win 10 Home Single Language, Ver 1809, Build 17763.379
       #3

    Tks.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 51
    W 10 Pro, W 7 Pro & XP Pro.
       #4

    Removing or deleting Wi-Fi networks.


    I have found that the 'Wi-Fi' ¦ 'Manage known networks' only displays the connected network, so the old ones that will never be used again, can't be deleted.

    As above:-

    Delete Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10-image.png

    the forget option is not offered.

    How can these old networks be removed with version 1709?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hello Landyman,

    You should be able to use Option 1 to forget the Wi-Fi network profile.

    "Manage known networks" shows you all network profiles whether you are currently connected or not.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 51
    W 10 Pro, W 7 Pro & XP Pro.
       #6

    Brink said:
    You should be able to use Option 1 to forget the Wi-Fi network profile.

    "Manage known networks" shows you all network profiles whether you are currently connected or not.
    Your Option 1, above, displays only one Wi-Fi network - 'Brink-Router2', which I guess is your current active connection.

    Your Option 2, above, displays four (with possibly two more hidden from view). The one with the 'Forget' option is probably your current active connection.

    Your and mine "Manage known networks" only show the current connection and not the available ones shown in Option 2, above.

    I want to remove all of the others. On Windows 7 Pro only local networks with their signal strength bars are displayed. These are the signals from the homes of my neighbours. It does not list other networks that are not being received - like my Mi-Fi, used when away from home.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Landyman said:
    Your Option 1, above, displays only one Wi-Fi network - 'Brink-Router2', which I guess is your current active connection.

    Your Option 2, above, displays four (with possibly two more hidden from view). The one with the 'Forget' option is probably your current active connection.

    Your and mine "Manage known networks" only show the current connection and not the available ones shown in Option 2, above.

    I want to remove all of the others. On Windows 7 Pro only local networks with their signal strength bars are displayed. These are the signals from the homes of my neighbours. It does not list other networks that are not being received - like my Mi-Fi, used when away from home.
    Ah, I see now.

    Deleting a wireless network profile is different than what you are wanting to do.

    You would want to add any available wireless networks you don't want to see to your blocked filter list and deny them instead.

    Add or Remove Wireless Network from Filter in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 51
    W 10 Pro, W 7 Pro & XP Pro.
       #8

    Brink said:
    Ah, I see now.

    Deleting a wireless network profile is different than what you are wanting to do.
    At one time there were two versions of 'English' - what Brits like me use and the one you use.

    Now we have a third - 'Microsoft English' !!!

    Thanks I'll look at the other thread
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

      My Computers


 

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