Wi-Fi

Mac joins the wrong Wi-Fi network

The Mac joins known networks on its own. When several known networks are in range, it can select one that you do not want.

Applies to: macOS 13 Ventura and later for the System Settings steps.Checked: 29 October 2026

Symptoms

  • The Mac joins a neighbor's guest network or an old network.
  • The Mac joins your phone's hotspot when home Wi-Fi is available.
  • After wake or restart, the Mac is on a different network.

Likely causes

  • Auto-join is on for a network you do not want. Each known network has its own Automatically join this network setting.
  • Hotspot auto-join. With Ask to join hotspots, the Mac can join a Personal Hotspot when no known Wi-Fi network is found.
  • Different names for each band. Apple says that different band names make devices connect unreliably, or to the wrong network.
  • Common default names. Apple says that common default names make devices more likely to join the wrong network.

How to check

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Wi-Fi. Look at the Known Networks list.

  2. List the known networks from Terminal.

    networksetup -listpreferredwirelessnetworks en0

  3. Hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon. Make sure of the name of the current network.

How to fix it

  1. In System Settings > Wi-Fi, click Details next to the network that you do not want.

  2. Turn off Automatically join this network. The Mac keeps the network, but does not join it on its own.

  3. To remove a network, click Forget This Network.

  4. To remove a network from Terminal, enter its name.

    sudo networksetup -removepreferredwirelessnetwork en0 "Old Network"

    Needs an administrator password.

  5. To control hotspots, change Ask to join hotspots in System Settings > Wi-Fi.

  6. If you manage the router, give it a unique name, the same for all bands.

With Kilobat

  1. List the saved networks in order of preference.

    kilobat wifi known

  2. Join the network that you want.

    kilobat wifi join "Home"

Questions

Can I change the order of known networks?

The Wi-Fi settings on macOS 13 and later do not show a way to sort the list. Use the auto-join setting of each network instead.

Does Forget This Network remove the password?

Yes. You must enter the password again to join the network.

Sources

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with man <name> in Terminal.