The Invisible Connection
Windows 11 allows you to connect to Wi-Fi networks that do not publicly broadcast their name (SSID). These are known as “Hidden Networks.” When you successfully connect to a hidden network for the first time, Windows saves the profile. However, because the network is hidden, Windows cannot simply listen passively to see if it is in range. Instead, if you leave the “Connect automatically” box checked, your Windows 11 device will constantly and actively broadcast the name of the hidden network everywhere you go, desperately asking, “Are you there?” This is a massive privacy and security risk, as anyone with a packet sniffer can see the names of the hidden networks you frequent.
Managing the Hidden Profile
To protect your privacy and stop Windows 11 from automatically trying to reconnect to hidden Wi-Fi networks, you must disable the automatic connection feature for that specific saved profile.
Press the Windows Key, type Settings, and press Enter. In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Network & internet. In the main panel, click on Wi-Fi. Next, click on Manage known networks. You will see a list of every Wi-Fi router your PC has ever connected to. Find the specific hidden network in this list and click on it to open its properties. Look for the toggle switch labelled Connect automatically when in range. Click this toggle to turn it Off. Furthermore, ensure the toggle directly below it, Connect even if this network is not broadcasting its name, is also turned Off. You will now have to manually select and connect to this network when you need it.