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I have an iPod Touch that I upgraded to iOS 4 (but this an issue that also existed in iOS 3.1). When I travel, and I join a WiFi networks (e.g. hotel, etc), I don't always remember to forget the network before I leave.

iPod touch: Wi-Fi Information and Settings tells you to "Forget this Network" if you can choose it from the list of Wi-Fi Networks. However, when the network is not in range, you cannot select it to forget it.

Is there either a way I am not seeing in iOS to do this, or a third party application I can download? Does the fact I have extra WiFi networks in the list affect the performance of my device when it is trying to join known networks?

Update: I now have doubts a third party app exsits based on that Apple Drops Wi-Fi Sniffers from iPhone App Store reports "sniffers were dropped because they use a private framework, hooks in the operating system that are not documented nor allowed for third-party developers to use."

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  • I have this problem now, because my company requires I change my password every year. The problem is that once I change my password, as soon as the iPad is in range of the network, it tries to connect with the old password. If I don't forget the password fast enough, my account is blocked because of failed attempts to connect with a bad password.
    – Fuhrmanator
    Sep 17, 2015 at 13:56

7 Answers 7

Reset to default
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Seems like no way to do this at the moment. Workaround:

The only solution seems to be to rename a spare access point to the SSID of the network you want to forget, connect to it with the iPhone, and choose the option to forget the network. This kludge seems like a lot of work and something that an average user probably doesn’t know how or want to do

via http://www.novainfosecportal.com/2010/07/08/forget-this-network-pretty-please/

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8

As user83905 pointed out, syncing your iPod and Mac with iCloud Keychain will enable you to manage both devices' remembered networks from either one. This means you can simply delete it from your Mac and the change will sync to your iPod.

If you do not have a Mac available to sync with, however, you can still forget unwanted networks by going to Settings > General > Reset and tapping Reset Network Settings. You'll need to add the networks you use again, but it will clear everything out so you can start fresh.

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5

IF you have a Mac: Sync your iOS device and Mac with the same iCloud Apple keychain. The wifi information will sync via iCloud to the Mac's keychain. You can then edit the keychain on the Mac, and delete the unwanted networks.

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3

You shouldn't worry too much as it only stores the settings (minimal storage impact), should you find a Wifi network with the same SSID, it may show up and ask you for the wap/wep passkey.

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  • 6
    This article by Troy Hunt suggests there is a security risk to leaving unsecured networks in the list.
    – Martin
    Aug 6, 2013 at 12:53
  • There are also security risks of your iDevice disclosing the details of networks which it has previously connected to. youtube.com/watch?v=NiiI_oZ7y64
    – Luke Stevenson
    Aug 9, 2016 at 13:59
  • Connecting to a wifi network, secure or not, is showing your location to the network owner. When that network owner is your grandmother, NBD. If it's a large corporation, it's an issue. Some corporations run big wifi networks - the obvious example is comcast, which publishes xfinitywifi from everyone's cable modem.
    – Dan Pritts
    Mar 23, 2017 at 22:10
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I have this problem when I'm on a tram. I once joined a network that was from a D-Link router, and the config hadn't been changed so that the network name was still the default - "D-LINK". Now,whenever I'm using my iPhone on public transport and we pass a similarly configured D-Link modem (there are several on my route) a pop up appears asking me for a password. It's actually kind of annoying - it interrupts me about twice per trip, every day.

I need to be faster getting into settings before we travel out of range of the networks.

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1

You can reset your network settings and it will forget all networks

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  • How? (more chars, as the website requires it; ignore)
    – David Balažic
    May 4, 2019 at 22:02
  • @DavidBalažic Take a look at the answer by Timothy Mueller-Harder.
    – Dirk
    Jan 11, 2020 at 15:17
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You can now open Keychain access on the Mac, and search for the wifi by name. It will give 2 results: One on the iCloud, and one from the System keychain. The Mac side can delete the iCloud only key, which leaves the system key copy on the Mac. The deletion will propagate to the iPhone in 10 minutes.

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