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Fix Wi‑Fi that has wrong password saved

We'll forget the network, clear the wrong password, and reconnect with the correct one.

Troubleshooting · Wi‑Fi & networking
5–10 min
What you'll need
  • The correct Wi‑Fi password (from router label, admin page, or ISP)
  • The device that has the wrong password saved
Step 1 of 5

Quick triage — pick your path

Quick triage — pick your path

Choose the option that matches what you see. You can jump straight to that section.

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Steps

Goal: Forget the network and reconnect with the correct password.

  • Confirm you have the correct password from the router label, admin page, or ISP.
  • Open Wi‑Fi settings on the device. Find the network and choose Forget or Remove.
  • Good: The network is no longer in the saved list. Proceed to Reconnect.
  • Bad: Option not found—check your OS for “Forget” or “Remove network” in Wi‑Fi settings.

Reconnect

Goal: Connect with the correct password.

  • Select the network from the Wi‑Fi list. When prompted, enter the correct password. Check caps lock and extra spaces.
  • Good: The device connects. Proceed to Verification.
  • Bad: Still fails or reconnects with wrong password—proceed to Restart.

Restart

Goal: Clear stuck credential state on the device.

  • Restart the device. After restart, forget the network again if it reappears. Reconnect and enter the correct password.
  • Good: The device connects. Proceed to Verification.
  • Bad: Still uses wrong password—power-cycle the router or see Reset network settings.

Reset network settings

Goal: Clear all saved networks when other steps fail.

  • On iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset Network Settings. On Android: Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi‑Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. On Windows: Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset.
  • Confirm you have the correct password before resetting—you will need to reconnect to all networks.
  • Good: After reset, the device connects with the correct password. Bad: Problem continues—contact device manufacturer or IT.

Verification

  • The device connects to Wi‑Fi and stays connected.
  • The device uses the correct password (no “incorrect password” or authentication errors).
  • You can open a website or run a speed test at fast.com.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Forget network Remove the network from the device so it stops using cached credentials.
  2. Reconnect with correct password Enter the correct password when prompted.
  3. Restart and power-cycle Restart the device; power-cycle the router if needed.
  4. Reset network settings Reset Wi‑Fi settings on the device (clears all saved networks).

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Device model and OS version
  • Whether "Forget" removed the network from the list
  • Whether the device reconnects automatically with wrong password after Forget
  • Steps already tried

Have you forgotten the network on the device?

Forgetting removes the saved wrong password so you can enter the correct one.

Open Wi‑Fi settings. Find the network and choose Forget or Remove. Good: network is no longer in the saved list. Bad: option not found—check your OS for "Forget" or "Remove network."

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Forget the network

On Windows: Manage known networks > Forget. On Mac: Wi‑Fi > Advanced > remove network. On phone: tap network > Forget. Confirm the network is gone from the saved list.

Done

Did reconnecting with the correct password work?

Enter the correct password when the device prompts. Check caps lock and spaces.

Select the network. Enter the correct password when prompted. Good: device connects. Bad: still fails or reconnects with wrong password—restart the device and forget again.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Fixed

The device is connected with the correct password. Other devices may need the same steps if they have the wrong password saved.

Done

Restart device and retry

Restart the device. After restart, forget the network again if it reappears. Reconnect with the correct password. If it still uses the wrong password, power-cycle the router or reset network settings.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

How do I remove a saved Wi‑Fi password?
Forget or remove the network from the device. On Windows: Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks > select the network > Forget. On Mac: System Preferences > Network > Wi‑Fi > Advanced > remove the network. On phone: Wi‑Fi settings > tap the network > Forget.
Why does my device keep using the old password?
The device caches the password. Until you forget the network, it will keep trying the old one. Forget the network, then reconnect and enter the new password when prompted.
What if I do not know the correct password?
Check the router label for the default, or log into the router admin (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) to view or reset it. If your ISP set up the router, contact them.

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