Forgetting and Rejoining WiFi Networks

Forgetting and Rejoining WiFi Network

This is Join Digital’s most recommended action for troubleshooting WiFi network issues. If you were previously connected to the WiFi, but now find it’s having issues or no network at all. Let’s start with this simple step. 

Note: Join always recommends restarting your device when attempting any of the methods below. While network certificates and sessions are often the issue, a restart helps us test with a clean environment. 

Windows Users

1. Click on the WiFi icon on the bottom of the Windows taskbar
   
   
2. Find the network and right click on it
   
   
3. Click “Forget”
   
   
4. Simply double click the SSID to enter the passphrase
   
   
5. Once connected you are all set!

Identical or same network name with (2)

The Windows specific issue of having the same wifi with a (2) amended is related to the device NIC card not properly recognizing a network name for any bevy of reasons. Some examples include devices creating 2.4 and 5ghz WiFi profiles which sometimes can confuse the device to say there are 2 identical networks concurrently. 

Additionally, network items that automatically launch and persistent VPN connections cause this as they alter WiFi certificates due to admin/policy management conflicts. We've also seen this with registry related hangups on enterprise networks. 

Regardless of reason, in most cases utilizing the forget function via the WiFi menu and reconnecting resolves this issue.

Mac/OSX Users

1. Click on the WiFi icon at the top right of your top menu bar. Select “WiFi Settings”
   You can additionally do this via the "System Settings" via the Mac Menu Icon on the top left corner.
   
   
   
   
2. Click "Open Network Preferences" and navigate to the "Advanced" tab.
   
   
3. Find the desired network click the “...” icon and select “Forget this network"
   
   
   
   
4. Once you have forgotten the old network, simply click the SSID to enter the passphrase and regain access.