Your iPhone is designed to be helpful, automatically remembering the passwords and settings for every Wi-Fi network you have ever joined. This means you instantly connect to your home or office network as soon as you walk in the door. However, this feature can sometimes cause problems. If a public network requires a new login page, or if a router’s password has changed and your phone keeps stubbornly trying to use the old one, the best troubleshooting step is to force your iPhone to completely “forget” the network and start fresh.
How to Forget a Network You Are Currently Near
If you are currently in range of the problematic network and your phone is trying (and perhaps failing) to connect to it, removing it is very simple.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on Wi-Fi.
- Ensure the main Wi-Fi toggle switch is turned On so you can see nearby networks.
- Look at the list of available networks. The network you are currently connected to (or trying to connect to) will be at the top.
- Tap the small blue “i” icon (information icon) located to the far right of the network name.
- At the very top of the network details page, tap the blue text that says Forget This Network.
- A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm. Tap Forget.
Your iPhone will immediately disconnect and delete the saved password. The network will drop down into the “Other Networks” list. If you want to reconnect, you will have to tap it and enter the password manually, just like it was your first time using it.
How to Forget a Network You Are Not Currently Near (iOS 16 and later)
In older versions of iOS, it was notoriously difficult to delete a network unless you were physically standing within range of the router. However, Apple fixed this frustration in iOS 16, allowing you to manage your entire history of saved networks from anywhere.
- Open the Settings app and tap Wi-Fi.
- In the top right corner of the screen, tap the Edit button.
- Your iPhone will use Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to authenticate you, as you are about to view sensitive saved passwords.
- A list of every single Wi-Fi network your iPhone has ever saved will appear.
- Scroll through the list to find the network you want to delete.
- Tap the red minus (-) button on the left side of the network name.
- A red Delete button will slide out from the right. Tap it.
- Alternatively, you can simply swipe left across the network name and tap Delete.
- Once you have removed all desired networks, tap Done in the top right corner to save your changes.