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How to Prevent Wi-Fi From Connecting Automatically
Change settings to prevent automatic Wi-Fi connections to public hotspots
By Bradley Mitchell Bradley Mitchell Writer Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Illinois An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 18, 2021 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Networking Wi-Fi & Wireless The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading What to Know
Windows 10: In Network & Internet settings, uncheck Connect Automatically When This Network is in Range.iOS: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi. Tap the (i) next to the network name and then toggle off Auto-Join.Android: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi preferences. Toggle off Connect to public networks. This article explains how to manage your Wi-Fi settings if you want to turn off Wi-Fi auto-connect. Turning off Wi-Fi auto-connect is a good idea because connecting to an open Wi-Fi network, such as a free wireless hotspot, exposes your computer or mobile device to security risks. How to Disable Automatic Wi-Fi Connections
Computers and mobile devices work differently, but the process of disabling automatic Wi-Fi connections is simple to do on all of them. On Windows 10
To disable automatic Wi-Fi Connections in Windows 10: Go to the Network and Internet settings. Select Wi-Fi Status > Change Adapter Options. Double-click the Wi-Fi connection. In the General tab, select Wireless Properties. In the Connection tab, uncheck Connect Automatically When This Network is in Range. The process is similar for Windows 8 and older versions of Windows. How to Disable Automatic Wireless Connections on Windows On iOS
iPhone and iPad devices associate an option called Auto-Join with each Wi-Fi profile. When enabled, your device connects to that network automatically when it's within range. To stop that from happening for any specific Wi-Fi profile: Open to the Settings app and select Wi-Fi. Tap the small (i) next to the network name. Turn off the switch next to Auto-Join. If you want your phone or tablet to quit asking you to connect each time you're within range of a network you haven't used before, such as an open network in a hotel or restaurant, go to the Wi-Fi settings page and disable Ask to Join Networks. If you keep it on, you're prompted to connect to each network your device finds, so turning off the feature means you have to open this screen to manually select the networks you want to join. This works in iOS 14 through iOS 11 versions of iPhone. On iPads with iPadOS, the path is Settings > Wi-Fi > Auto-Join Hotspot > Never. On Android
To stop your Android device from auto-connecting to open networks: Open the Android settings and go to Network & Internet. Select Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi preferences. Turn off the Connect to public networks toggle switch. This is confirmed to work in Android 10 Q for Pixel, but might work in older versions of Android, too. If you don't see these specific screens, look through Settings for Mobile Networks or Connections. Select the Settings icon (the gear) next to the network to which you're currently connected to forget the connection details so that you don't auto-join the next time you're in range. Instead of turning off Wi-Fi auto-connect, consider completely disabling Wi-Fi to avoid using it altogether, regardless of the network type or whether it's a saved, new, open, or secured network. Forgetting Wi-Fi Networks
Something else to remember beyond open networks is that your device may be set up to remember connections you used in the past, whether open or not. Saving network information is a great feature so that you don't have to re-enter or reselect each network you want to reuse. However, if you want total and complete control over which networks you connect to, forget the network. Most devices have an option to delete the profile associated with the connection. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Connecting a PC to a Wireless Home Network How to Connect Chromecast to Hotel Wi-Fi When and How to Turn Off Wi-Fi on Your Devices Fixing an iPad That Won't Connect to Wi-Fi How to Set up USB Tethering on Windows 10 How to Fix Wi-Fi Authentication Problems on Android What to Do When Windows 11 Can't Connect to a Network How to Fix Wi-Fi Connection Drops How to Forget a Network on Mac Connect to a Wireless Network on Windows How to Share Your Wi-Fi Password on Android How to Add a Wi-Fi Network to Any Device How to Fix It When Windows 11 Is Stuck in Airplane Mode How to Change Your IP Address How to Block a Wi-Fi Network How to Reset Network Settings on Your iPhone Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies