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How to Remove Saved Wifi Password in Android? Easy Device Reconnection Steps

Introduction For most Android users, connecting to a Wi-Fi network is a one-time action. After entering the password once, your device remembers it and automatically reconnects whenever that network is in range. This is convenient for home, work, or school net

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Introduction

For most Android users, connecting to a Wi-Fi network is a one-time action. After entering the password once, your device remembers it and automatically reconnects whenever that network is in range. This is convenient for home, work, or school networks, but there are plenty of times when you might want to break that automatic link. Learning How to Remove Saved Wifi Password in Android? is a simple skill that can help with troubleshooting, privacy, and managing your list of known networks.

There are many reasons to forget a saved network. Maybe you changed your router password and want to force your phone to ask for the new one. Maybe you’re selling or giving away your phone and want to clear old connections. Maybe you keep auto-connecting to the wrong network by mistake. Or perhaps you’re troubleshooting slow speeds and want to reconnect from scratch. Whatever the reason, removing a saved Wi-Fi password on Android only takes a few taps once you know where to look.

The tricky part is that Android doesn’t look exactly the same on every device. Different brands use different custom interfaces on top of Android, so the menu names can shift slightly. This guide walks through every common way to forget a network, covers older versions, points out small differences between UIs, and answers the most common questions along the way. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to clear any saved Wi-Fi entry from your Android device with confidence.

Table of Contents

Why Remove a Saved Wi-Fi Password From Android?

Forgetting a saved Wi-Fi entry isn’t just about clearing space in a list. It directly affects how your device behaves and can solve a surprising amount of connection issues. Here are the most practical reasons to do it:

  • New router password: If you recently updated your network password, your Android phone will keep trying the old one unless you remove the saved entry and connect again.
  • Fixing connection failures: Corrupted saved network data can cause failed handshakes. Forgetting and reconnecting forces a fresh authentication.
  • Switching to a better band: Some routers use the same name for 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Removing the saved network can help your phone pick the band you prefer on your next connection.
  • Privacy and security: If you’ve connected to public hotspots, work networks, or guest networks, it’s good practice to forget them after use, especially if you won’t return.
  • Preparing to sell or lend your device: Clearing known networks is a small but smart step when passing your phone to someone else.
  • Avoiding auto-connection: Some saved networks are open but unreliable. Removing them stops your device from connecting automatically the moment you’re nearby.

No matter your reason, the goal of this guide is to teach you How to Remove Saved Wifi Password in Android? in a way that works for the vast majority of modern devices.

Things to Know Before You Start

Before jumping into the steps, keep these points in mind to avoid confusion:

  • Forgetting is different from disabling Wi-Fi: Turning Wi-Fi off doesn’t erase saved networks. You need to use the “Forget” or “Remove” option for each network.
  • You can’t view saved passwords from this menu: On most stock Android builds, the list of saved networks lets you forget them, but it won’t show the plaintext password here. Password visibility depends on your Android version and device OEM.
  • Menu names vary: You might see “Network details”, “Forget”, “Remove network”, or “Forget network”. All of these do the same thing.
  • Some enterprise networks behave differently: If a network is managed by a work profile or device policy, certain options may be restricted.
  • Location services can affect scanning: On newer Android versions, having Wi-Fi scanning available works better with location enabled, but forgetting an already saved network usually doesn’t require it.

Method 1: Forget a Saved Network on Stock Android

Stock Android is the closest to Google’s original vision and is found on many AOSP-based devices. The path below matches most builds from Android 11 up to Android 14.

  1. Open Settings: Go to your device’s Settings app.
  2. Go to Network & Internet: Tap on “Network & Internet”. On some very old builds this may say “Connections”, but on modern stock Android this is the correct entry.
  3. Open Wi-Fi: Tap “Internet” or “Wi-Fi” depending on your exact version to view available and saved networks.
  4. Find saved networks: Look for a section called “Saved networks”, “Previously connected Wi-Fi”, or simply tap the gear icon next to the network you want to remove.
  5. Open network details: Tap the network name that you wish to forget. This will open its details page.
  6. Forget the network: Tap “Forget”, “Remove”, or “Forget network”. Confirm if prompted.

After this, that network will no longer auto-connect. If you want to use it again, you’ll need to select it from the list and enter the password manually.

Method 2: Forget a Saved Network on Google Pixel Devices

Google Pixel phones run a clean version of Android, so this is very close to stock. However, menu ordering can shift slightly between major Android releases.

  1. Open Settings: Launch the Settings app from your app drawer.
  2. Go to Network & Internet: Tap this option.
  3. Tap Internet: This shows your current Wi-Fi status.
  4. Access saved networks: Tap “Saved networks” near the bottom of this screen to see all networks your Pixel has remembered.
  5. Select the network: Tap the name of the Wi-Fi network you want to remove.
  6. Forget it: Tap “Forget” at the bottom of the network details panel and confirm your choice.

This is one of the most direct routes when figuring out How to Remove Saved Wifi Password in Android? on a Pixel device, as it keeps everything in one clear list.

Method 3: Forget a Saved Network on Samsung Devices With One UI

Samsung’s One UI has its own layout, but forgetting a network is still straightforward. The wording is slightly different from stock Android.

  1. Open Settings: Go to the Settings app.
  2. Go to Connections: On One UI, Wi-Fi is usually found under “Connections” instead of “Network & Internet”.
  3. Tap Wi-Fi: Turn Wi-Fi on if it isn’t already to view networks.
  4. Open the network list options: Tap the three-dot menu in the top right, then tap “Manage networks”, “Saved networks”, or directly go to the network if visible. On many recent One UI versions, you can tap the gear icon next to a saved network directly from this screen.
  5. Access details: Tap the gear icon next to the network name you want to remove.
  6. Forget the network: Tap “Forget” at the bottom of that page and confirm.

On some older One UI builds, the path goes through “Advanced” settings, but the “Forget” button is always present on the network detail page.

Method 4: Forget a Saved Network on OnePlus, OPPO, realme, and vivo

These brands share a lot of UI DNA, especially with ColorOS and OxygenOS/realme UI. The general flow is similar, with only minor name changes.

  1. Open Settings: Launch Settings.
  2. Go to Wi-Fi & network: Tap “Wi-Fi & network” or “Connection & sharing” depending on your model.
  3. Open Wi-Fi: Tap “Wi-Fi” to view the network list.
  4. Find the saved network: Look for the network name. If it’s currently connected it will say “Connected”, if saved it will appear in range or in the known list.
  5. Open details: Tap the network name or the settings/gear icon next to it.
  6. Remove it: Tap “Forget”, “Forget network”, or “Cancel saved network”. Accept the prompt to remove it.

On some OPPO/realme builds, you may need to tap “Saved networks” from the Wi-Fi screen before seeing the full list. If you don’t see that option, using the gear icon next to the specific entry works just as well.

Method 5: Forget a Saved Network on Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO (MIUI or HyperOS)

Xiaomi devices use MIUI or the newer HyperOS. The Wi-Fi menu is functional but can bury saved networks slightly differently.

  1. Open Settings: Go to your Settings app.
  2. Go to Connection & sharing: Tap “Connection & sharing”, then tap “Wi-Fi”.
  3. View known networks: With Wi-Fi enabled, you’ll see available networks. To see only saved ones, look for “Manage saved networks” or “Saved networks” on this screen.
  4. Select the network: Tap the network you want to remove from that saved list.
  5. Forget it: Tap “Forget network” and confirm when asked.

Alternatively, on some builds, tapping the network from the main Wi-Fi list also brings up a “Forget” option directly. Either route will achieve the same result when learning How to Remove Saved Wifi Password in Android? on Xiaomi devices.

Method 6: For Older Android Versions (Android 9 and Below)

If you’re using an older device still on Android 8, 9, or earlier, the menu structure is a little more direct but less unified across brands.

  1. Open Settings: Go to Settings.
  2. Go to Wi-Fi: Tap “Wi-Fi” directly from the main Settings list.
  3. Long-press the network: Find the saved network name. If it’s in range, long-press it. On some builds, saved networks are shown even if out of range.
  4. Choose to forget: A small pop-up will appear with options. Tap “Forget network”.
  5. Confirm: Approve the action if prompted.

On a few OEM skins from this era, you’ll instead tap the network name and see a “Forget” button on the details page, which matches the modern flow.

Removing Multiple Saved Networks and Dealing With Hidden Networks

Android does not have a universal “Forget all” button on most consumer builds. For the vast majority of devices, you’ll need to forget each network one by one using the methods above.

A few things to know about edge cases:

  • Hidden networks: If you manually added a hidden SSID, it will appear in your saved list just like any other network. Use the same “Forget” process to remove it.
  • Networks out of range: On modern Android, saved networks often stay visible in “Saved networks”. On some older builds, a network only appears when in range. If it’s out of range and missing, move closer to it or use the “Saved networks” section if available.
  • Auto-join behavior: Forgetting a network stops auto-join entirely for that entry. It won’t affect other saved networks.
  • Work or school profiles: If your device has a managed profile, some networks may be locked by policy and cannot be forgotten from your personal settings.

If you truly need to clear everything at once for a reset, the only reliable built-in route on many phones is a network reset. We’ll cover that in the troubleshooting section, but use it with caution as it affects more than just Wi-Fi.

Comparison of UI Paths For Forgetting Wi-Fi

To make this easier at a glance, use the table below as a quick reference for the most common Android interfaces.

Device/UI Main Settings Path Where to Find Saved List Action to Remove
Stock Android (AOSP) Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi Saved networks or gear icon next to entry Open details > Forget
Google Pixel Settings > Network & Internet > Internet Saved networks (bottom of screen) Select network > Forget
Samsung One UI Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi Gear icon next to network or Manage networks Network details > Forget
OnePlus/OxygenOS or ColorOS variants Settings > Wi-Fi & network > Wi-Fi Gear icon or Saved networks Details > Forget/Remove network
OPPO/realme (ColorOS/realme UI) Settings > Wi-Fi & network > Wi-Fi Saved networks or tap the entry Details > Forget network
Xiaomi Redmi POCO (MIUI/HyperOS) Settings > Connection & sharing > Wi-Fi Manage saved networks Select entry > Forget network
Android 9 and below Settings > Wi-Fi Long-press in-range saved network Pop-up > Forget network

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, even when following the correct steps for How to Remove Saved Wifi Password in Android?, things don’t behave as expected. Here are fixes for the most common problems:

Forget Button Is Missing

  • Check current connection: Some very old skins behave oddly, but usually the forget option is on the details page regardless.
  • Look for a different name: Try “Remove network” instead of “Forget”.
  • Work profile restriction: If it’s a corporate network, your admin may have locked removal. Contact your IT admin if needed.
  • Use long-press on older UI: If there’s no details page with a forget button, try long-pressing the network name from the list.

Network Keeps Reconnecting After Forgetting

  • Toggle Wi-Fi: Turn Wi-Fi off for 10 to 15 seconds, then turn it back on.
  • Restart your phone: A quick reboot clears any lingering network cache.
  • Check nearby hotspots: Some routers have multiple access points with the same name. Forgetting one doesn’t affect another if they’re treated as separate entries, though rare.
  • Disable Wi-Fi auto-connect features: A few OEMs have extra toggles like “Connect to open networks” or “Turn on Wi-Fi automatically”. Disabling these can prevent unwanted reconnects.

Saved Network Doesn’t Appear in the List

  • Move closer: On older Android versions, out-of-range saved networks may not show up until you’re near them.
  • Use “Saved networks” directly: On Pixel and some stock builds, go straight to the dedicated saved networks screen instead of relying on the available list.
  • Check if it was never actually saved: If you used a one-time connection with certain captive portals, some devices don’t persist the entry.

Last Resort: Network Settings Reset

If nothing else works and you need to wipe all saved Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth connections at once, you can use a network reset. Use this only as a final option.

  1. Open Settings: Go to Settings.
  2. Find reset options: Look for “System”, “General management”, or “About phone” followed by “Reset”. On many devices this is under “System > Reset options”.
  3. Choose network reset: Tap “Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth” or “Network settings reset”.
  4. Confirm: Read the prompt carefully, then confirm. Your device may restart.

After this, every saved Wi-Fi password, paired Bluetooth device, and mobile network preference will be cleared. You’ll need to reconnect to everything from scratch.

Tips and Best Practices

  • Forget public networks after leaving: Hotels, cafes, and airports are convenient, but forgetting them reduces unnecessary scanning.
  • Reconnect from scratch for router changes: Whenever you change your router’s password, SSID, or security type, forgetting the old entry is far more reliable than relying on a cached connection.
  • Don’t forget your home network by accident: Keep a note of your home Wi-Fi password somewhere safe before forgetting it, just in case you need to reconnect quickly.
  • Test after forgetting: After removing a saved network, try to connect again. If it connects smoothly with the correct password, the issue was likely the corrupted saved entry.
  • Be mindful of dual-band naming: If your router broadcasts one name for both bands, forgetting once is enough for that SSID. If they have different names, forget each one separately.
  • Use saved networks view when available: The dedicated “Saved networks” screen is the clearest way to manage everything without getting distracted by nearby open networks.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does forgetting a Wi-Fi network delete the password from my router?

No. Forgetting only removes the saved password from your Android device. The router’s password remains unchanged for everyone else.

2. Can I see a saved Wi-Fi password after forgetting it?

Once you forget a network, your device no longer stores that password. On most current Android versions, you cannot recover it from the Wi-Fi settings after removal. Some older methods or third-party tools exist in very specific cases, but they aren’t reliably available on stock Android and aren’t covered here for safety reasons.

3. Is there a way to forget all saved Wi-Fi networks at once?

Not through the regular Wi-Fi list on most devices. You’ll need to use “Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth” from the reset options to clear everything. Remember, this also removes paired Bluetooth devices.

4. Why do I need to know How to Remove Saved Wifi Password in Android? if I can just turn off Wi-Fi?

Turning Wi-Fi off stops connections temporarily, but it doesn’t remove the saved entry. The moment Wi-Fi is back on and the network is in range, your phone will auto-connect again using the saved password. Forgetting is the only way to prevent that.

5. Will forgetting a network affect other devices on the same Wi-Fi?

No. This action is strictly local to your Android phone or tablet. Other phones, laptops, or smart devices will remain connected with their own saved credentials.

6. What if the “Forget” option is greyed out?

This is usually caused by a device policy, work profile, or parental control restriction. If it’s a personal network, try restarting your device. If it’s from a managed work profile, removal may be blocked by design.

7. Do I need an internet connection to forget a saved Wi-Fi network?

No. Forgetting a saved network is an offline action. You can do it with mobile data off, Wi-Fi on or off, and with no active internet connection at all.

8. Will I lose anything else by forgetting a single network?

Only the automatic connection for that specific network. Your data, apps, settings, and all other saved Wi-Fi networks will remain exactly as they are.

Conclusion

Knowing How to Remove Saved Wifi Password in Android? is one of those small tasks that pays off the moment you run into a stubborn connection, a changed password, or a need for better network control. While the exact buttons differ between stock Android, Pixel, Samsung, OnePlus, OPPO, realme, vivo, and Xiaomi, the core idea is always the same: find the network, open its details, and choose to forget it.

For most people, the dedicated “Saved networks” screen is the safest and quickest route. If you’re on a much older Android version, the long-press method still gets the job done. And if all else fails, a targeted network reset is there as a last resort.

Take a moment to clean up any networks you no longer need, especially old public hotspots. Not only will it stop unwanted auto-connections, but it’ll also make troubleshooting far easier the next time your Wi-Fi acts up. With the steps in this guide, you’ll be able to handle any saved network on just about any Android device without guesswork.