Wireless Network Profile - Delete in Windows 8

How to Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Windows 8 and 8.1


information   Information
A wireless (Wi-Fi) network profile contains the SSID (network name), password key, and security information to be able to connect to a wireless network.

This tutorial will show you how to delete a wireless network connection profile created in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.





OPTION ONE

To Delete Wireless Network Profile in PC settings



Note   Note
This option is only available in Windows 8.1 Update.

The Windows 8.1 Update released on April 8th 2014 via Windows Update, adds an option in PC settings to manage known wireless networks.


1. Open PC settings, and click/tap on Network. (see screenshot below)​
Windows_8.1_Update_Forget_Wireless_Network-1.jpg

2. Click/tap on Connections in the left pane of Networks, and click/tap on the Manage known networks link under Wi-Fi on the right side. (see screenshot below)​
Windows_8.1_Update_Forget_Wireless_Network-2.png

3. Click/tap on a wireless network that you want to delete. (see screenshot below)​
Windows_8.1_Update_Forget_Wireless_Network-3.png

4. Click/tap on Forget. (see screenshot below)​
Windows_8.1_Update_Forget_Wireless_Network-4.png

5. When finished, you can close PC settings if you like.​






OPTION TWO

To Delete Wireless Network Profile using "Forget this network"


1. Do step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to open the "Networks" flyout.​
2. On your desktop, click/tap on the Network icon in the taskbar notification area, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​
Network.jpg

3. Open the Charms bar, click/tap on Settings, click/tap on the Network icon, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​
Settings.jpg

4. Do step 5 or 6 below depending on what Windows you have.​
5. In Windows 8, Windows RT, or Windows 8.1 Update, right click or press and hold on the wireless network (ex: Brink-Router) in the network list, click/tap on Forget this network, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​
Note   Note
Windows does not provide the option to "Forget this network" if this is for a Mobile Broadband profile that is provisioned by the carrier. The option only appears when a custom or user profile is created.

Note   Note

"Forget this network" will not be available for the listed wireless networks that you didn't create a network connection profile for.​

Forget_This_Network-1.jpg

6. In Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, click/tap on a disconnected wireless network (ex: Brink-Router) in the network list, uncheck Connect automatically, click/tap on Connect, click/tap on Forget network if it fails to connect, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshots below)​
NOTE: In Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, you will only be able to use Forget network on a saved wireless network profile if you are unable to connect to it. Otherwise you will need to use OPTION ONE above or OPTION THREE below.​
Forget_Network_Profile.jpg

7. After a few moments the saved wireless network profile will now be removed (forgotten).​





OPTION THREE

To Delete Wireless Network Profile in a Command Prompt



Note   Note
This option will let you delete a wireless network profile on your PC from a specific or all WNIC interfaces.


1. Open a command prompt.​
2. In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: This command will give you a list of all wireless network profiles on each interface on your PC.​
netsh wlan show profiles
Delete_Network_CMD-1.jpg

3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.​
4. To Delete Wireless Network Profile from All Interfaces
A) In the command prompt, type the command below, 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-Router (name) wireless network profile, I would type the command below exactly.​
netsh wlan delete profile name="Brink-Router"
Delete_Network_CMD-2.jpg

5. To Delete Wireless Network Profile from a Specific Interface
NOTE: This step would be good if you have the same wireless network profile listed on multiple interfaces, and only wanted to remove the profile from a specific interface.​
A) In the command prompt, type the command below, 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_Profile_from_Interface_Command.png

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



That's it,
Shawn


 

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Tutorial updated with OPTION ONE for Windows 8.1 Update to be released on April 8th 2014 via Windows Update. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
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    Internet Speed
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    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks for this Shawn. The command line method was just what I was looking for in order to delete an old router profile. Bonus... works in Vista in the same way.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 x64 pro and W8.1 x86
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3750/Acer 9301
    CPU
    Intel i5/AMD Turion 64
    Memory
    4Gb/2Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel i5 internal/NVidia GEFORCE GO 6100
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    Realtek
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    HP Z4000
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    76 down, 20 up
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    Defender
You're most welcome Mooly. Glad it could help. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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