Dealing with your iPhone stubbornly reconnecting to certain WiFi networks even after you’ve switched spots? Yeah, it can be a bit annoying. Sometimes, your device just remembers that one network you used ages ago and keeps trying to connect, draining your battery and slowing things down. The good news is, there’s a simple way to stop that from happening — basically telling your iPhone to blank out those networks it keeps pulling up. And if you want to maintain control without forgetting the network completely, turning off auto-join works too. Here’s a rundown of practical ways to get it done, with some tips based on real-world setups where things don’t always go perfectly the first time, of course.
1. Forget a WiFi network on iPhone
This method is solid if you’re tired of a network showing up all the time, especially if it’s causing issues or just taking up space in your saved networks list. When you forget a network, your iPhone will stop trying to connect automatically and forget the password, so it’s almost like wiping it clean. Note that on some devices, you might need to be patient — sometimes the changes don’t stick right away, or you have to restart your phone to see the effect.
Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Settings app (yeah, that gear icon).
- Tap on WiFi.
- Scroll through the list, find the WiFi network you want gone, and hit the (i) icon next to it.
- Tap on Forget This Network.
- Confirm by tapping Forget on the pop-up. Sometimes, it feels like a little promise that you won’t be bothered with it anymore.
If you don’t see the changes immediately or your phone still keeps trying to connect, restart the device or toggle WiFi off and on. Sometimes, iOS needs that little nudge to get the message.
2. How to Stop Auto Join for WiFi network on iPhone
This option is kind of sneaky but useful. Instead of completely forgetting the WiFi network (which means losing stored passwords), you just disable auto-join. That way, your iPhone knows the network exists but won’t bother trying to connect unless you tell it to. This approach applies when you want to keep the network info around but avoid constant auto-connection — say, a coffee shop WiFi you only want to use once in a while.
Here’s the trick:
- Launch Settings and open WiFi.
- Find the network you’re interested in turning off auto-join for and tap the (i) icon.
- Look for the toggle labeled Auto-Join and switch it off.
This method helps when your iPhone keeps auto-connecting to networks you’d rather join manually. It’s weird that Apple didn’t make this more obvious in earlier iOS versions, but hey, better late than never, right?
On some setups, this sometimes doesn’t stick after a reboot, or the toggle glitches out. A quick restart can fix that, or toggling airplane mode might help clean things up.
3. How to Reconnect to a WiFi Network on an iPhone
If you’ve previously forgotten a network but now changed your mind, reconnecting is pretty straightforward. Of course, you’ll need the password unless it’s an open network — but if you do, just follow these steps.
- Open Settings and then go to WiFi.
- Find the WiFi network in the list and tap on it.
- Enter the WiFi password when prompted, then hit Join.
After that, your iPhone will remember the network again, and reconnect automatically next time you’re nearby. It’s kind of weird, but sometimes forgetting then reconnecting refreshes the saved info and solves sneaky connection issues.
Be aware: if you’re still having problems reconnecting, double-check the password, toggle WiFi off/on, or even reset network settings via Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Just be ready to re-enter all your WiFi passwords — not the most fun, but sometimes necessary.
All in all, these are some tips to control your WiFi networks better, without losing your mind. Whether it’s forgetting, auto-joining, or reconnecting, these tricks can save some frustration, especially if your iPhone keeps reattaching to stuff you don’t want.