Fix Wi-Fi Not Asking for Password in Windows

If your Windows PC connects to a Wi-Fi network automatically and never prompts for the password, the fix is usually to “forget” the saved network and reconnect. This forces Windows to ask for the password again, and you can also adjust a few settings to prevent the issue from recurring.

Why Windows Stops Asking for the Password

Windows stores Wi-Fi passwords in its network profile system. When you first connect to a network and check the “Connect automatically” box, Windows saves the password and uses it every time that network is in range. This is convenient at home, but it becomes a problem when you need to enter a new password—for example, after your router’s password is changed, or when you’re trying to join a public hotspot that requires a fresh login each visit.

The system doesn’t distinguish between “saved password is correct” and “saved password is outdated.” It simply sees a known network and attempts to connect with the stored credentials. If the password no longer matches, Windows may show an error like “Can’t connect to this network” or it may silently fail and reconnect later without asking for the password again.

How to Forget a Wi‑Fi Network in Windows 10 and 11

The most direct fix is to remove the saved network profile. Here’s how:

Click the Wi‑Fi icon in the system tray (bottom‑right corner of the taskbar).
Select “Network & Internet settings” (Windows 10) or “Network & Internet settings” (Windows 11, the gear icon).
In the Settings window, click “Wi‑Fi” in the left menu, then click “Manage known networks” (Windows 10) or “Manage known networks” (Windows 11, under the Wi‑Fi section).
Find the network that isn’t asking for the password, click on it, and select “Forget.”

After forgetting, go back to the Wi‑Fi list, click the network, and check “Connect automatically” if you want it to remember the password again. Windows will prompt you for the password the first time you connect after forgetting.

What to Do If “Forget” Doesn’t Work

Sometimes the network still connects automatically even after you forget it. This can happen if the network is managed by a group policy (common on work or school computers) or if a third‑party Wi‑Fi manager is overriding Windows settings. Try these steps in order:

Restart your PC – This clears temporary network caches and often resolves stubborn profiles.
Run the network troubleshooter – Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters (Windows 11) or Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot (Windows 10) and run the “Network Adapter” troubleshooter.
Check for group policy – If you’re on a managed device, contact your IT administrator. On a personal PC, open Command Prompt as administrator and run gpresult /r to see if a policy is enforcing the network.
Reset the network stack – Open Command Prompt as administrator and run: netsh wlan delete profile name="YourNetworkName" (replace with the actual name). This deletes the profile from the command line, which sometimes works when the GUI forget button fails.

Why Windows Reconnects Automatically Even After You Forget

If you’re using a laptop or tablet with a SIM card or a built‑in cellular modem, Windows may treat the Wi‑Fi as a “provisioned” network. Also, some public networks (like those in hotels or airports) use a captive portal that requires a browser login. Windows may automatically reconnect to these networks because it recognizes the SSID, even if the portal hasn’t been completed. In that case, you need to open a browser and complete the login page, or forget the network and reconnect to trigger the portal again.

How to Stop Windows from Auto‑Connecting to a Network

If you don’t want Windows to connect automatically to a network at all, you can disable auto‑connect for that specific network:

Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks.
Click on the network name.
Toggle off “Connect automatically when in range.”

This way, Windows will still save the password but won’t connect unless you manually click the network. This is useful for public networks where you want to control when you join.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

One common mistake is thinking that turning Wi‑Fi off and on again will force a password prompt. It won’t—Windows still has the saved profile. Another misconception is that changing the router’s password automatically updates Windows; it doesn’t. You must update the saved password on every device.

Also, some users confuse “forget” with “disconnect.” Disconnecting only stops the current connection; the password remains saved. You must use “Forget” to remove the password.

When to Use Command Line Instead of Settings

If the Settings app is not working or you prefer a faster method, you can use Command Prompt to manage Wi‑Fi profiles. Open Command Prompt as administrator and use these commands:

netsh wlan show profiles – Lists all saved networks.
netsh wlan delete profile name="ProfileName" – Deletes a specific profile.
netsh wlan set profileparameter name="ProfileName" connectionmode=manual – Disables auto‑connect for that profile.

These commands work on both Windows 10 and 11 and are often faster than navigating the GUI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Windows laptop connect to Wi‑Fi without asking for the password even after I changed the router password?

Because Windows still has the old password saved in its profile. You need to forget the network and reconnect with the new password. If you don’t forget it, Windows will keep trying the old password and fail.

How do I make Windows ask for the password every time I connect to a network?

Windows doesn’t have a global setting to always ask for a password. You can disable auto‑connect for each network individually (as described above), or you can forget the network after each use. For public networks, you can also set the connection to “manual” via the command line.

Why does Windows reconnect to a public Wi‑Fi without showing the login page?

Windows recognizes the SSID and reconnects automatically, but the captive portal (login page) may not appear because the browser doesn’t detect the need for authentication. Open any browser and try to visit a website; the portal should redirect you. If not, forget the network and reconnect.

Can I recover a Wi‑Fi password that Windows has saved?

Yes, you can view a saved password by going to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks, clicking the network, and selecting “Show password” (Windows 11) or using the command netsh wlan show profile name="ProfileName" key=clear and looking for “Key Content” in the output.

Why does the “Forget” button not appear for some networks?

This can happen if the network is managed by your organization (group policy) or if you’re using a third‑party network manager. On a personal PC, try the command line method. If that fails, check if any security software is controlling your Wi‑Fi connections.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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