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"Connect Automatically" boxes checked for all wifi in range. Can't uncheck!

Anonymous
2021-05-04T19:24:38+00:00

When Windows 10 on my XPS 13 9360 shows nearby networks that are available, whether neighbors' or business', they are checked as "connect automatically".

When I uncheck, the box checks again.

It never used to do this. Since it's been happening, it's taken my laptop much longer to connect to my own wi-fi network. Most of the time I have to just connect manually.

So far, I haven't found any solution on the Microsoft discussion boards that work.

Help, please!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-05-06T00:40:23+00:00

    Thank you, Franco.

    Both Hotspot 2.0 and Random are unchecked. I even restarted the computer and there is no change. I still see all wi-fi in range - 19 of them, not including two of mine. ALL of them are neighbors. All of them I have never accessed or added. ALL of them have "Connect Automatically" selected. I cannot uncheck them. Each time I do, it checks the box automatically.

    Unfortunately, your first suggestion does not apply because all the networks showing up on my available networks list I've never used. So they don't show up in my Manage networks list.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-05-04T20:09:28+00:00

    Thank you, Franco.

    I do want it to connect automatically to my network. I don't want it trying to connect automatically to every wi-fi network it detects like my neighbors' house.

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  3. franco d'esaro 24,991 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-05-04T20:01:31+00:00

    Hi Ashley81 ,

    If you do not want to automatically connect to your wi-fi network, go to Network Connections, right click on the Wi-fi Connection> Status> Wireless Properties, in the Connection tab, clear all the check boxes. Turn off your PC.

    To reconnect, turn the PC back on, select your wi-fi network from the list and press the Connect button. Clear the checkbox: Connect automatically.

    If, on the other hand, you do not want your PC to automatically connect to free or known wi-fi networks, go to Settings> Network and Internet> WI-FI, deselect the options on the side, Hotspot 2.0 networks and Random Hardware Addresses.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. franco d'esaro 24,991 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-05-06T09:29:41+00:00

    Hi,

    It is normal for your computer to detect all those wi-fi networks in the area, those networks cannot be eliminated.

    In any case, if those networks are protected and you have never connected to them, your PC will not be able to connect to those networks. To change that checkbox of all those networks, you will need to connect to those networks and then go to their respective Properties and then uncheck the option, Automatically connect if in the field.

    The procedure you follow is invalid if you cannot access the Properties of those networks.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. franco d'esaro 24,991 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-05-05T09:35:13+00:00

    Hi,

    go to Settings> Network and Internet> WI-FI, click on Manage known networks on the side, select all the network profiles, except your network, and then choose Unregister.

    So if you do not want your pc to automatically connect to free or known wi-fi networks, go to Settings> Network and Internet> WI-FI, uncheck the options, Hotspot 2.0 Networks and Random Hardware Addresses on the side.

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