How to completely disable Wi-Fi requests on all devices, from smartphones to Smart TVs

Have you noticed that your smartphone is constantly scanning for available Wi-Fi networks, even when your mobile data is turned on? Or that your router is regularly sending connection requests to neighboring hotspots? Automatic network scanning not only drains your battery but can also create security issues, especially if your device connects to untrusted open networks without your knowledge.

In this article we will look at All ways to disable Wi-Fi requests on different types of devices: from Android And iPhone to Windows-laptops, Smart TV and even themselves routersYou'll learn how to disable automatic connections to networks, stop background scanning, and set up priority connections. You'll also learn why it's sometimes better to do not disable requests completely, and what alternative solutions will help save energy without losing functionality.

Important: Some settings may vary depending on the firmware version or device model. If you don't see these menu items, check the manufacturer's documentation or update the firmware.

1. Disabling Wi-Fi requests on Android: from scanning to automatic connection

Smartphones on Android They actively scan the airwaves for known networks, even when Wi-Fi is disabled in the notification panel. This is done to ensure a quick connection when the module is turned on, but it leads to additional battery consumption and potential data leaks.

To Disable background scanning completely, follow these steps:

• 📱 Open Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi
• ⚙️ Click the gear icon (or "More") in the upper right corner
• 🔍 Find the option Scanning is always available (or Search for networks) And turn it off
• 🔄 Reboot your device to apply the changes

On some firmware (for example, MIUI or ColorOS) this item may be called differently or located in a section Advanced Wi-Fi settingsIf the option is missing, it means the manufacturer has blocked it at the system level.

To ban automatic connection to open networks:

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi
2. Select the network you do not want to connect to automatically.
3. Click Forget (or Delete)
4. Disable the option Auto-connection to open networks (if any)

What to do if Android still connects to the network?

If your device is ignoring your settings, try resetting your network settings. Settings → System → Reset → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and BluetoothThis will delete all saved networks and reset the settings to factory defaults.

⚠️ Attention: Disabling Wi-Fi scanning may impair the performance of location services (e.g. Google Maps or Yandex.Navigator), which use nearby network data to determine your location indoors.

2. iPhone and iPad: How to Disable Automatic Wi-Fi Connections

On devices Apple There is no separate option to disable background scanning, but you can disable automatic connection to networks and limit connection requests. This is especially useful if your iPhone constantly clings to weak open networks instead of mobile internet.

Instructions for iOS 15–17:

• 🍎 Open Settings → Wi-Fi
• 🔄 Click on the blue icon i next to the network name
• 🚫 Disable the option Auto-connection
• 🗑️ Click Forget this network, if you want to remove it completely

To block connection to all open networks:

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi
2. Scroll down to the section Connection requests
3. Disable the option Request connection to networks

On iPad With iPadOS These settings are identical, but may be located in a slightly different place in the menu (for example, in the section Cellular communications and networks).

3. Windows 10/11: How to Disable Automatic Wi-Fi Connections

On laptops and PCs with Windows The Wi-Fi module can constantly scan the air, even when you are not connected to the network. This leads to increase in processor load and reduced battery life. Furthermore, the system sometimes connects to weak networks instead of wired internet.

To disable automatic connection:

• 🖥️ Click Win + I and open Network and Internet → Wi-Fi
• 📶 Select Managing known networks
• 🔍 Find the network you don't want to connect to automatically and click Forget

To prohibit connection to open networks:

1. Open Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi
2. Scroll down and disable the option Connect to suggested open access points
3. Also turn it off Paid Wi-Fi services, if you don't use them

For completely disable scanning (not recommended for most users):

1. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager)
2. Find the "Network adapters" section and expand it
3. Right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter (for example, Intel Wi-Fi 6 or Qualcomm Atheros)
4. Select "Properties → Power Management"
5. Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
6. Go to the "Advanced" tab and find the "Roaming Aggressiveness" or "Passive Scanning" option.
7. Set the value to "1. Lowest" or "Disabled"

⚠️ Attention: Disabling scanning in Device Manager can cause problems connecting to new networks. If Wi-Fi stops working, reset the settings to default.

4. Smart TV and media set-top boxes: how to disable Wi-Fi scanning

Televisions Samsung, LG, Sony and prefixes like Xiaomi Mi Box or Apple TV often scan networks in the background, even when you're watching TV via cable or Ethernet. This can slow down the interface and create a load on the router.

General instructions for most Smart TV:

• 📺 Open Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Settings
• 🔍 Find the option Automatic network search or Fast connection and turn it off
• 🔄 If possible, switch to a wired connection (Ethernet)

For TVs Samsung Tizen (2018–2026 models):

1. Click the button Home on the remote control
2. Go to Settings → General → Network → Open network settings
3. Select Wi-Fi Settings → Additional Settings
4. Turn it off Smart Network Switch (if any) and Auto-connect to Wi-Fi

For LG webOS:

Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Connection → Wi-Fi Settings → Disable "Automatically Connect"

On Android TV (For example, Xiaomi Mi TV or Sony Bravia (with Android) the settings are similar to smartphones - see the section about Android higher.

⚠️ Attention: On some TVs, disabling automatic Wi-Fi search may block access to proprietary services (for example, Samsung TV Plus or LG Channels). Before changing settings, check if you are using these features.

5. Router settings: how to block requests from other devices

If your router is constantly receiving connection requests from neighboring devices (which can be seen in the logs as Association Request or Probe Request), it can load the router's processor and create interference with the network. This is especially true for owners of public access points or residents of apartment buildings.

To filter other people's requests, follow these steps:

• 🌐 Enter the router's IP address in your browser (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1)
• 🔐 Log in (default logins: admin/admin (or see the sticker on the device)
• 🛡️ Go to the section Wireless Network → Security Settings (or Wireless → MAC Filter)
• 🔗 Turn on MAC address filtering and add only your devices to the whitelist

For routers TP-Link:

1. Wireless → Wireless Security
2. Enable "MAC Address Filtering"
3. Select the "Allow stations specified in the list to access the network" mode.
4. Add the MAC addresses of your devices (located in the network settings on each device)
5. Save and reboot the router

For ASUS And ROG routers:

1. Open Wireless Network → MAC Filter
2. Set the switch to position Turn on
3. Select mode Accept (allow)
4. Add MAC addresses of allowed devices
5. Apply settings

Additionally, you can disable broadcast SSID (hide the network name), but this will create inconvenience for connecting new devices:

• 📡 In the Wi-Fi settings, find the option Hide SSID (or Hide SSID)
• 🔄 Enable it and save the changes

⚠️ Attention: MAC address filtering doesn't provide 100% protection—advanced users can spoof MAC addresses. For reliable network isolation, use guest Wi-Fi with a separate SSID and speed limits.

6. Alternative solutions: how to reduce Wi-Fi requests without completely disabling

Disabling Wi-Fi requests completely can be inconvenient, especially if you frequently move between networks. Instead, you can use alternative methods, which will reduce the load on the battery and processor without losing functionality.

Optimization methods:

• 🔋 Airplane mode with Wi-Fi enabled: On Android And iOS You can enable airplane mode and then manually enable Wi-Fi. This will disable background scanning for mobile networks and Bluetooth, but will keep Wi-Fi working.
• 📵 Disabling Wi-Fi in Sleep Mode: In the power settings (Android or Windows) you can disable Wi-Fi operation when the device is sleeping.
• 🔄 Using static IP: Set up a fixed IP address for frequently used networks - this will reduce the number of DHCP requests.
• 🛡️ Leak-blocking VPN: Some VPNs (eg. ProtonVPN or NordVPN) allow you to block connections to unsecured networks.

For Windows can be created task scheduler, which will turn off Wi-Fi at a certain time:

1. Open Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc)
2. Create a new task with a scheduled trigger
3. In the action, specify the command:
   netsh interface set interface "Wi-Fi" admin=disable
4. Create a second task to enable:
   netsh interface set interface "Wi-Fi" admin=enable

On Android you can use automation through Tasker or MacroDroid:

• Create a rule that turns off Wi-Fi when connected to a charger (if you always charge at home and use your home network).
• Set up a geofence: Wi-Fi is turned on only in certain places (home, work).

7. Troubleshooting: Why is the device still searching for Wi-Fi?

If after all the settings, the device continues to scan for networks or connect to them, the problem may be due to:

• 🔄 Firmware error: Update your device software to the latest version.
• 📱 Third-party applications: Some programs (eg Wi-Fi Analyzer or Google Maps) forcefully scan networks.
• 🔋 Manufacturer settings: On devices Xiaomi, Huawei or Realme There may be hidden power saving options that override user settings.
• 🛠️ Hardware limitations: On some chips (eg. Broadcom or Mediatek) scanning cannot be disabled programmatically.

How to check which apps are using Wi-Fi:

1. On Android: open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Location and see which programs have access to network data.
2. On Windows: open Task Manager → Network Activity and sort processes by Wi-Fi usage.
3. On iOS: go to Settings → Privacy → Location Services and disable access for unnecessary applications.

If the problem is router, check the connection logs:

1. Log into your router's web interface
2. Open the "System Tools" or "Logs" section (System Log)
3. Find records with Assoc Request or Probe Request - They show which devices are trying to connect
4. If you see other people's MAC addresses, set up filtering (see section 5)

⚠️ Attention: On some routers (especially with firmware from the provider) the function may be enabled Wi-Fi Easy Connect or WPS, which automatically accepts connection requests. Disable it in your security settings.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about disabling Wi-Fi requests

❓ Is it possible to completely disable Wi-Fi scanning on iPhone?

No, iOS doesn't offer this option. At most, you can disable automatic connections to networks and disable connection requests in the Wi-Fi settings. Disabling scanning completely requires jailbreaking, which is not recommended for security reasons.

❓ Why does my phone still connect to other networks after disabling automatic connection?

You probably haven't removed the network from your saved ones. Go to your Wi-Fi settings, find the problematic network, and select "Forget." Also, check if the "Smart Network Switch" option is enabled (on Samsung) or "Wi-Fi Assist" (on iPhone), which automatically switches to mobile Internet when the Wi-Fi signal is weak.

How to disable Wi-Fi requests on your TV Samsung With Tizen?

Go to Settings → General → Network → Open network settings → Wi-Fi settings → Advanced settings and turn it off Smart Network Switch And Auto-connect to Wi-FiIf there are no options, update the TV firmware or use a wired connection (Ethernet).

❓ Is it safe to disable background Wi-Fi scanning on Android?

Yes, it is safe for the device, but it may affect:

• Geolocation accuracy indoors (navigators will be less accurate at determining your location without GPS).
• Automatic connection to known networks (you will have to turn on Wi-Fi manually).
• The operation of some services (for example, Google Play Services or Find My Device).

If these functions are not critical to you, feel free to disable scanning.

❓ Is it possible to block a specific device from making requests to my router?

Yes, for this:

1. Go to your router settings and find the section DHCP clients or Connected devices.
2. Copy the MAC address of the unwanted device.
3. Add it to the blacklist in the section MAC filter (select mode Ban or Deny).
4. Save the settings and reboot the router.

This will block all connection attempts from this MAC address.