How to delete a Wi-Fi network on a Samsung phone: all the methods and nuances

Deleting a saved Wi-Fi network on your smartphone Samsung It may be needed in a variety of situations, from changing a router password to connecting to a network with new settings. Despite the apparent simplicity of the task, users often encounter difficulties—especially when using older versions of Android or custom firmware. In this article, we'll cover all the current methods for deleting networks, including hidden nuances for different models. Galaxy.

It is important to understand that the process may differ depending on the version. One UI (Samsung shells) and device models. For example, on Galaxy S24 Ultra With Android 14, the path to settings will be slightly different than on Galaxy A12 With Android 12, we'll look at the general methods and also specifically address cases where the network can't be removed using standard tools.

If you've previously tried deleting a network, but it continues to appear in the list of available networks, or your phone automatically connects to it, this article will provide solutions for these issues as well. We'll also cover how to completely reset all saved networks if you need a clean Wi-Fi setup.

Why might I be unable to delete a Wi-Fi network on my Samsung?

Before moving on to the instructions, it's worth understanding the possible reasons why the network is not being deleted:

• 🔄 System cache — sometimes network data is stored in the Wi-Fi module cache, and simply deleting it through the menu is not enough.
• 🔒 Device policies — on work phones with MDM (Mobile Device Management), the ability to delete corporate networks may be blocked.
• 📱 Firmware from the operator - some telecom operators (for example, Beeline or MTS) modify the settings menu by hiding individual items.
• 🛠️ Bugs in One UI — Rarely, but bugs do occur when a network remains in the list even after deletion (relevant for beta versions of firmware).

If you encounter one of these issues, the standard solution may not work. In such cases, you'll need alternative methods, which we'll discuss below.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with corporate profiles (for example, through Microsoft Intune or Knox) Some networks may be protected from deletion. In this case, please contact your IT administrator.

Method 1: Standard deletion via Wi-Fi settings

This is the simplest and most common method that works on most devices. Samsung under control Android 10–14 (including Galaxy S23, A54, Z Flip5 etc.). Follow the step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the app Settings (gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Go to the section Connections (or Network and Internet on some models).
3. Select Wi-Fi.
4. Click the gear icon ⚙️ next to the name of the network you want to delete.
5. In the menu that opens, tap Delete (or Forget the network).
6. Confirm the action in the dialog box.

If the point Delete No, try holding your finger on the network name in the main Wi-Fi list—on some firmware versions, the context menu appears this way.

The network is not currently connected|You have administrator rights (if the phone is corporate)|The phone is not in power saving mode (may block changes)|The problem is not related to a hardware failure of the Wi-Fi module-->

On devices with Android 9 and later (For example, Galaxy S9 or Note 9) the path may differ slightly:

Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → [Long press on the network] → Remove

Method 2: Deleting via the "Saved Networks" menu

In some versions One UI (e.g. 5.0–6.1) has a separate section for managing saved networks. This is convenient if you need to delete several networks at once or if the standard method doesn't work. Here's how:

1. Open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner ⋮ (menu).
3. Select Additionally or Advanced settings (the name depends on the model).
4. Scroll down and find the item Saved networks (or Network management).
5. From the list, select the network to delete and click Delete.

This method is especially useful if the network isn't displayed in the main list (for example, if it's hidden or the router is disabled). You can also see all the networks your phone has ever connected to, even if they're currently unavailable.

Method 3: Reset network settings (if the network is not deleted)

If the previous methods did not help, you can use resetting network settingsThis will remove All saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords will be deleted, and mobile internet and Bluetooth settings will be reset.Use this method only as a last resort!

Instructions for One UI 4.0–6.1 (Android 12–14):

1. Open Settings → General Management.
2. Select Reset.
3. Tap Reset network settings.
4. Confirm the action by entering the PIN code or pattern.
5. Wait for the device to reboot.

On older versions (eg. One UI 2.5 on Galaxy S20) the path could be like this:

Settings → Device Maintenance → Reset → Reset Network Settings

⚠️ Note: After resetting, you will have to re-enter passwords for all Wi-Fi networks, as well as set up APN for mobile internet (if you are using non-standard operator settings).

Method 4: Uninstall via ADB (for advanced users)

If the network stubbornly refuses to be deleted, and resetting the settings for some reason is undesirable, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB)This method requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line skills.

Here are the step-by-step instructions:

1. Turn on Developer mode on the phone:
   • Go to Settings → About phone → Software information.
   • Click 7 times on Build numberuntil the "You are now a developer" notification appears.

adb devices

adb shell cmd wifi list-networks

adb shell cmd wifi forget-network X

This method is guaranteed to remove the network at the system level, but requires caution. Incorrect ADB commands can damage the device.

What to do if the network keeps appearing after deletion

Sometimes, even after deleting a network, it may reappear in the list of available networks. This may occur for the following reasons:

• 📡 The router is broadcasting a network with the same name (SSID) — the phone automatically connects to it if the password was previously saved.
• 🔄 Auto-connection function — the option to automatically connect to known networks may be enabled in the Wi-Fi settings.
• 📱 Error syncing with Samsung account - if you use Samsung Cloud, networks can be restored during synchronization.

Solutions:

1. Turn it off Auto-connection in Wi-Fi settings (path: Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Advanced → Auto-connect).
2. Reboot your router—sometimes it continues to distribute old network settings.
3. Disable Wi-Fi sync on your Samsung account:

   Settings → Accounts & Backup → Samsung Cloud → Sync Settings → Turn off Wi-Fi

If the problem persists, check if you have any Wi-Fi management apps installed on your phone (such as WiFi Master Key or NetMaster). They can override system settings.

Once a month|Only when problems arise|Never cleaned|Don't know how to do it-->

How to delete all Wi-Fi networks at once (complete wipe)

If you need to delete all saved networks (for example, before selling a phone or after purchasing a used device), you can use one of the following methods:

Method 1: Via the saved networks menu

If there are few networks (up to 10–15), it is easier to delete them one by one Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Saved Networks, as described in Method 2.

Method 2: Reset network settings

How to do this is described in detail in Method 3This method will remove not only Wi-Fi but also other network settings.

Method 3: Via ADB (for advanced users)

You can delete all networks with one command:

adb shell cmd wifi forget-all-networks

After executing this command, the phone will "forget" all saved Wi-Fi networks.

⚠️ Note: Clearing your networks completely can be inconvenient if you frequently connect to multiple access points (for example, while traveling or at the office). Before resetting, make sure you have backups of your passwords.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about deleting Wi-Fi networks on Samsung devices