Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Windows 8 and 8.1

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

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

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)

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)

3. Click/tap on a wireless network that you want to delete. (see screenshot below)

4. Click/tap on Forget. (see screenshot below)

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)

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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 your PC.

netsh wlan show profiles

3. In the command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This command will delete the wireless network profile.

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"

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