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Getting Rid Of A Wireless Network On A Mac
By Dave Taylor
Expert Author
Article Date: 2008-09-04
When I first got my Macbook (actually, it's an iBook, I think) I tried to connect to a neighbors wireless network, before I got my own network set up. Problem is, every time I start up my computer, it wants to connect to her wifi network, not my own. How do I fix this?
Dave's Answer:
By default, Macs have a nice habit of remembering every wireless network you ever join, whether it's six months ago or 17 minutes earlier. This is usually no problem, except sometimes you can get into a situation where it detects one network faster than another and without asking you automatically connects to the wrong 802.11 net.
There are two ways to fix this problem, both of which are done at the very same spot in the Mac OS X system: System Preferences --> Network --> Airport.
You can get to that spot from the Apple menu, of course, but I prefer actually taking a shortcut:
The last item is the shortcut. It's fast and it takes you directly to:
The solution isn't on this screen, however. You need to click on "Advanced...":
That's the ticket!
If you want to tweak things so that one network is selected in preference to another when both are present, you can simply click and drag the names of the networks to the order you prefer. For example, you might want to have your home network the top priority so that if it's ever around, you're connected instantly.
If you'd rather just axe networks that you don't want, that aren't relevant anymore or that are from your neighbor, simply click once to select the specified network then click on the "-" button. Poof! Gone.
Finally, if you'd rather that your Mac OS X system didn't automatically remember every single wireless wifi 802.11 network you join, simply uncheck "Remember any network this computer has joined."
When you're done tweaking and fiddling, just click "Okay" and close the System Preferences window.
Done!
Comments
About the Author:
Dave Taylor has been involved with the Internet since 1980 and is
internationally known as an expert on both business and technology issues.
Holder of an MSEd and MBA, author of twenty books and founder of four
startups, he also runs a strategic marketing company and consults with firms
seeking the best approach to working with weblogs and social networks. Dave
is an award-winning speaker and frequent guest on radio and podcast
programs.
AskDaveTaylor.com
http://www.intuitive.com/blog/
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