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To stop a device reconnecting to a saved Wi‑Fi network, turn off that network’s Auto-Join setting if your device offers it; this keeps the password so you can connect manually later. If there is no such control—or you want to remove the saved credentials—forget the network. The steps differ by platform, and work- or school-managed devices may restrict them.
Choose between disabling Auto-Join and forgetting the network
| Choice | Keeps the saved password? | What happens | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turn off Auto-Join | Yes | The device stops automatically joining that network, but you can select it and connect manually later. | Documented for Apple devices; a supervised or managed profile may hide or restrict the control. The change takes effect after the device disconnects. |
| Forget or remove the network | No | The saved credentials are removed, so the device will not automatically rejoin unless you connect and save it again. | You will need to enter the credentials again to use it. On Apple devices using iCloud Keychain, forgetting a network can remove it from other devices signed in to the same Apple Account. |
| Turn off Wi‑Fi | Not a per-network control | Wi‑Fi connections are disabled while Wi‑Fi is off. | This also prevents connection to networks you do trust, so it is a broader measure than changing one network’s setting. |
A saved network is one the device has joined before or received through device management. Apple and Google both describe automatic reconnection in terms of known or saved networks. A setting that asks whether to join newly detected networks is not the same as disabling auto-join for a network already saved.
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iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, and Mac
Apple documents both options: retain a network’s credentials while disabling automatic joining, or forget the network and password. Use the first if you might want to connect manually later.
Turn off Auto-Join on iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro
- Open Settings > Wi‑Fi.
- Tap Edit to view known networks, then tap the information button beside the network.
- Turn off Auto-Join.
The device must disconnect before the change takes effect. You can toggle Wi‑Fi off and back on or leave the network’s range.
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Forget a network on iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro
- Open Settings > Wi‑Fi, then tap Edit.
- Tap the information button beside the network you want to remove.
- Tap Forget This Network and confirm.
Change a saved network on Mac
- Open Apple menu > System Settings > Wi‑Fi.
- Choose Advanced to see known networks, then open the options beside the target network.
- Turn off Auto-Join to keep the credentials for manual use, or remove the network and confirm Forget to delete it.
Forgetting a network does not make it disappear from Wi‑Fi discovery: it may still appear as available. Apple also explains that device selection among known networks uses priority behavior influenced by user actions; if one network must not be joined automatically, change that network’s Auto-Join setting or forget it rather than relying on priority alone. See Apple’s instructions for forgetting a network or preventing automatic joining and its explanation of how Apple devices choose known Wi‑Fi networks, published June 12, 2026.
Android
Google says an Android device automatically connects to a saved network when it is nearby and Wi‑Fi is on. Its consumer instructions document forgetting a network, not a universal Android-wide per-network switch that preserves the password while disabling auto-connection.
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- Open Settings > Network & internet > Internet.
- Touch and hold the saved network.
- Tap Forget.
Labels and paths can vary by Android version and manufacturer; Google notes that some steps apply only to Android 12 and later. Check your device maker’s instructions if the menus differ. Google’s steps are at Connect to Wi‑Fi networks on your Android device.
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Microsoft’s documented method is to remove the saved network. Its support instructions do not establish one separate auto-connect toggle path that applies to every Windows release.
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- Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks.
- Select the network, then choose Forget.
To use it again, select the network and enter its password. See Microsoft’s Wi‑Fi connection troubleshooting instructions for the documented path.
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Some supervised Apple devices and managed networks do not allow users to disable Auto-Join or forget the network. On managed Android devices, Microsoft Intune lets administrators configure a Wi‑Fi profile’s Connect automatically setting; that is an administrator control, not a general consumer-phone menu.
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- If the device belongs to work or school, ask its administrator whether the network is managed and whether the profile can be changed.
- If a carrier or another organization installed the profile, contact that provider about the restriction.
- If you only want to stop one saved network from reconnecting, avoid relying on public-network prompts or turning off Wi‑Fi globally; use the per-network control when available, or remove that network.
Apple’s restrictions are described in its network instructions; Microsoft documents the managed Android setting in Add Wi‑Fi settings for Android devices in Microsoft Intune.
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