Editing list of preferred networks

Is it possible to edit the list of preferred networks in System Preference > Network > Wifi > Advanced?
I travel a lot and have hundreds of saved networks with passwords. There are some in my hometown that I want to get rid of, but I can't find a way to delete them. It would be great if you could search for networks by name to find any delete them also since manually scrolling through a list of hundreds is cumbersome. By default OS X seems to prefer open networks, which is really annoying because most open networks require authentication, while there are other encrypted networks nearby that OS X knows the password to.
I realize it's possible to drag them in to a different order, but with hundreds this would take a long time.
Thanks in advance,
Mike

What happens if you select the Wi-Fi network and click the minus sign? Deletes it for me.

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Location-specific preferred networks lists

I would like to have a different list of preferred networks, depending on my location. I think it worked this way in 10.6.
Now, in 10.8, the networks I've listed in Location A still show up in the list for Location B.
Do I need to reset something, or is this how it works now?
Thanks.

In all honesty Apple messed up on iCloud from the very start and now can't fix it.
There might be a setting but if iCloud is like everything else Apple has done they don't give the User many setting options. Apple's way or no way.
I personally don't use it as I found it severly lacking in function. You have just pointed out another.
TechAddict wrote:
All devices are synced and using iCloud Keychain. I think that's where the networks have copied across from because when I go to remove them it says they will be deleted from the keychain for all devices. The MBP is listing every network now that my mobile devices have ever connected too. 95% of those are in different countries so it's not an 'in the area of' issue.
Going to have a rummage to see if there are any iCloud Keychain settings anywhere. You'd think theere would be an option that shows the networks that THIS computer has connected to (as the settings screen actually states) and an option to show (or copy across) all the networks that EVERY device you own have ever connected to. They are disticntly different. My MBP have NEVER connected to most of them.

AirPort - Preferred Network Order

I have a MacBook Pro running Leopard (10.5.2). Here's the situation:
I'm a university student, and I connect to one of several wireless networks, depending on where I am. Usually, Leopard connects to the proper network because there's only one available. However, when I am on campus there are two separate wireless networks. When I am in class, I connect to one (we'll call this network "class"), and when I am at work, I connect to the other (we'll call this one "work"). The "class" network SSID is broadcast, but the "work" network SSID is not. Neither network requires a password to join.
I have set my network preferences as follows: "Ask to join new networks" is checked in the Network Preferences pane when I click on "AirPort". When I click the "Advanced" button, I have the "work" network at the top of the list of preferred networks. "Remember any network this computer has joined" is checked, but "Disconnect from wireless networks when logging out" and "Require Administrator password to control AirPort" are not.
The "work" network is faster, so I want to connect to it whenever possible. However, it has a limited range compared to the "class" network, so most of the time I connect to the "class" network.
I have placed the "work" network at the top of the "Preferred Networks" list, but the problem is that after a couple of days it drops all the way to the bottom of the list. It appears to me like Leopard is re-ordering the preferred networks based on usage, which is totally not what I want. Is there a way to force Leopard to leave my preferred networks list alone?
Message was edited by: sworisbreathing
Message was edited by: sworisbreathing

I have a MacBook Pro running Leopard (10.5.2). Here's the situation:
I'm a university student, and I connect to one of several wireless networks, depending on where I am. Usually, Leopard connects to the proper network because there's only one available. However, when I am on campus there are two separate wireless networks. When I am in class, I connect to one (we'll call this network "class"), and when I am at work, I connect to the other (we'll call this one "work"). The "class" network SSID is broadcast, but the "work" network SSID is not. Neither network requires a password to join.
I have set my network preferences as follows: "Ask to join new networks" is checked in the Network Preferences pane when I click on "AirPort". When I click the "Advanced" button, I have the "work" network at the top of the list of preferred networks. "Remember any network this computer has joined" is checked, but "Disconnect from wireless networks when logging out" and "Require Administrator password to control AirPort" are not.
The "work" network is faster, so I want to connect to it whenever possible. However, it has a limited range compared to the "class" network, so most of the time I connect to the "class" network.
I have placed the "work" network at the top of the "Preferred Networks" list, but the problem is that after a couple of days it drops all the way to the bottom of the list. It appears to me like Leopard is re-ordering the preferred networks based on usage, which is totally not what I want. Is there a way to force Leopard to leave my preferred networks list alone?
Message was edited by: sworisbreathing
Message was edited by: sworisbreathing

OS 10.8.5 Wi-Fi doesn't find "Preferred Network"

We installed a new modem provided by Comcast that has built in wireless. After naming and establishing the password for the network, I successfully connected via my MacBook Pro, which detected it. Once connected I accessed the "Advanced Settings" screen in the Network control panel.
Under the first "Wi-Fi" tab I dragged the new network to the top of the list of "Preferred Networks." I also confirmed that the "Remember networks this computer has joined" check-box was selected.
Yet each time the computer wakes from sleep or is restarted the Wi-Fi utility scans for networks and doesn't connect to any. When I click on the control bar icon for Wi-Fi the network appears -- usually at the bottom of the list -- and when I click on it the computer connects immediately.
Obviously this defeats the point of remembering preferred networks and is a nagging time-suck at the start of each work session. Has anyone else experienced this problem and discovered a solution?
Thanks!!
Joseph
Washington, DC

Hello Joseph_DC
If you are having issues with it not connecting after waking from sleep, the check out the article below to troubleshoot the issue further. Check in the section Symptom: The network connection drops unexpectedly and there will be a solution just for that issue and will continue with going into Keychain Access the
iPhone: Troubleshooting No Service
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4429
Regards,
-Norm G.

Airport preferred networks no longer auto-connect

So I am wondering if there are other OSX users that are running into a similar problem I am finding.
I travel a lot and there are a few hotel hotspots that get added to my list of preferred networks.
But as the list grows, even by one, I no longer auto connect to my home network and now my work network.
I know how to clear up the problem but it is annoying that it happens in the first place.
I like to get a show of hands of others that run in to the problem.
cheers,
Noah

So I am not the only one.
I've noticed that if I connect my Macbook Pro to my home Network using Airport and then decide to move the computer close to the 4 port router and hook up via Ethernet (the need for speed), the next time I use wireless I have a **** of a time trying to get it to connect wirelessly. On one occasion I spent an hour trying to get it to connect and when if finally did I couldn't see that I did anything different. It was like the MBP was going "Yeah OK buddy, I'll connect when I am good and ready". Damit, the MBP nearly became a frisbie.
Chris

Why does Safari ask me this every time I open my Macbook? "NONE OF YOUR PREFERRED NETWORKS ARE AVAILABLE. CHOOSE THE WI-FE NETWORK YOU WANT TO JOIN FROM THE LIST BELOW. "

Why does Safari ask me this every time I open my Macbook? "NONE OF YOUR PREFERRED NETWORKS ARE AVAILABLE. CHOOSE THE WI-FI NETWORK YOU WANT TO JOIN FROM THE LIST BELOW. "

Open System Preferences > Netwwork then click Advanced then select the Wi-Fi tab.
Under Preferred Networks, if you see more than one network name listed, click and drag yours to the top then click OK.
Quit and relaunch Safari.

Un-link list of preferred WiFi networks between devices

I have one wifi network for internet access, and another one for TimeCapsule. TimeCapsule is for my MacBook. But I DON'T WANT MY iPad TO JOIN THE TimeCapsule network. The issue is: when I tell my iPad to "Forget this network", it also dissappears from my MacBook! Can anyone advice me how I can un-link the lists of preferred WiFi networks between different devices?
Thanks!

thanks for your reply, but this isn't exactly the issue.
One network is simply hosted by TC, which provides a (hidden) wifi network for my MBP.
Independent of that, there's a public wifi network in the room. My iPad should simply ignore the TC network, and connect to the public wifi. I never entered the TC network details on my iPad, but (I'm assuming) because of iCloud keychain sharing, it automatically picks up the TC network, and because this signal is stronger, connnects to it. when I tell the iPad to "forget this network", my MBP also fogets it, and if I set it back up on the MBP, ...
I could just disable iCloud on my iPad, but that's annoying for other reasons.
I'd be very grateful if you hab any suggestions!

Preferred network list...

Hi there - I have had a new MacBook Pro for a few weeks now and it is great! - a god improvement over my ageing PowerbookG4.
anway - I have wireless 'b' network at home in use by various macs and PC's - the MBP was fine and registered my home wifi network as a preferred network, but in the past two days it has decided it doesn't want to have it as a preferred network and always asks me if I want to connect manually. this is getting annoying as everytime I shut the lid or logout or whatever, it drops off the network and asks me if I want to connect on reopeneing.
How do I go about putting it back on the prefferred list?
I have opened network options in the system pref - and the advanced tab - the network SSID is listed there - but still it doesn't want to connect by default.
my networ kit is a Linksys router (cable broadband conection) with an airport express downstairs to use airtunes. The network is secured using 128bit WEP.
thanks for any help as this is doing my head in!!

Thats just it - I don't have the option to click a "by default join.." button anywhere. the MBP is running OSX 10.5.1 - I think this is one of the 'new' things in leopard a I am sure I had that option on my powerbook
thanks,
Graham

Deleted preferred networks reappear

Upon installing Mavericks, and turning on iCloud keychain, I noticed that all wifi networks I had ever connected to appeared in the preferred network list on my Macbook.
There were quite a few I naturally wanted to delete, so I removed them. Also my devices were trying to connect to networks I thought I had removed.
It didn't take me long to notice that my Macbook was trying to connect to some of these old networks again, and upon looking at the list - all deleted entries had reappeared.
Another symptom seems to be that if I tell my iPhone not to auto-connect to a public hotspot (BT WIFI for example), if my Mac ever comes near that hotspot it auto connects - as will my iPhone subsequently.
I have tried editing the com.apple.airport.preferences.plist file manually, deleting the Mac's WiFi service and recreating, and resetting network settings on all my Apple devices.
I have even looked at the Keychain app on my Mac, but it doesn't seem to be storing my wireless networks from what I can see.
From my Google-ing, it doesn't sound like anyone else is having this issue..
Any ideas?
Thanks!

Back up all data. Open the iCloud preference pane and uncheck the Keychain box. You'll be prompted to delete the local iCloud keychain. Confirm. Also disable it on the other devices. Delete the unwanted preferred networks from all devices. Then follow one of the procedures described in this support article to set up iCloud Keychain.

"None of your preferred networks is available" annoyance.

The spousal unit has an iBook G3 running the latest OSX. There have been no problems up until now.
After a few days of network problems in the house which necessitated replacement of the cable modem, her computer continually pops-up the message, "None of your preferred networks is available" whenever the lid is opened. Of course, I have selected the preferred network, asked that it be remembered, etc., etc., but the problem persists, regardless of what I do. I've run permissions, erased the selection in keychain, deleted all other networks in the selection list, reset, rebooted, etc.
Surely this is a bad plst problem or some other file needs to be discarded and allowed to rebuild . . . or whatever. Anyone have any ideas?

hdansmith wrote:
Where is this .plist located?
Thanks
It's in the local user's Library->Preference folder
You drag it onto your desktop (don't trash it immediately) and then log out and back in. Rebooting is probably better - and system creates a new default .plist to replace it.
Message was edited by: nerowolfe

Closing lid/rebooting loses Airport preferred network

I'm having trouble getting Airport to hold its default network (i.e. which one to join) between powerups/sleeps etc.
There are a few visible wireless routers in my area, but my one has a hidden SSID. Joining my network manually is no problem - I just select 'Other' from the drop-down Airport menu on my menu bar, enter the name and password of my wireless network and I'm on - no problem.
Soon as I power down or close the lid for a second - then re-open - it won't rejoin that network. I just want it to select it and be on by default all the time. Each time I have to manually reconnect. What am I doing wrong?
Adrian

I am pasting a solution from "Centurion" that was in another thread that solved the same challenge for me; I hope it helps for you too.
I came upon this earlier:
So I reinstalled OS X.4.5 and it fixed the problem BUT I then applied the patch to X.4.6 and the problem came right back.. So, what is the deal, I'll tell you. For some reason, after installing X.4.6 OSX corrupts your saved WPA/WEP password in a cache. So when you initially connect it doesn't work, but after you turn it off, then on again, it fetches the uncorrupt password from the keychain and it works. Want proof? Ok, do this:
- Go to System Preferences
- Click Network
- Highlight AirPort and click Configure
- Choose "By default, join: Preferred networks"
- Select your access point and click edit
- Click on "show password"
At this point you should see a crazy corrupt password.. Proof that it is jacked up. Now:
- Exit that window back to the access point list
- Remove your access point with the "-" button
- Launch your keychain and delete your access point keychain entry.
- Reboot
- Go back to the "By default, join:" page and click the "+" this time to add your access point. Enter the correct password, save, reboot, BAM, FIXED!

Macbook Pro no longer auto-connects to preferred network

The title says it.
While my computer connects automatically to some (maybe all but one) of my preferred networks, it now does not connect, annoyingly, to the one I use the most often (let's call it NET).
I've triple checked that it's preferred and should connect automatically, and the computer remembers the password, so that if I manually select NET, it connects no problem. But:
a) It won't auto-connect to NET, and
b) If I turn my computer on, when it presents the list of networks to me, I have to wait for it to reload the list, cause if I click on NET originally, it doesn't connect, and I have to refresh the list and try again.
c) Figured that might mean that it's just taking longer to load the networks and is showing me a list before it's actually picked up on the networks, but waiting forever doesn't make it autoconnect; it just refreshes the list.
Any ideas? This is a huge pain.

No idea. You could try deleting the file
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
... and restart your Mac.
To find that file quickly, select the above path (triple-click the line), control-click to bring up the contextual menu, and select Services > Reveal. Drag that file to the Desktop, or directly to the Trash.
This will completely erase your AirPort network preferences, requiring that you select your Wi-Fi network and authenticate again.
What OS X version are you using, and are you using an Apple AirPort Base Station, or a third party product?

Hi, how do i stop my macbook pro not to automatically connect to a wifi connection that is not my preferred network? i want to automatically connect my macbook to my preferred network everytime i turn on my laptop. thank you.

hi, how do i stop my macbook pro not to automatically connect to a wifi connection that is not my preferred network? i want to automatically connect my macbook to my preferred network everytime i turn on my laptop. thank you.

System Preferences > Network > WiFi
To give a network the highest priority, drag the name of the network to the top of the list. This is the network your computer will attempt to join first.
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13797

List of Wireless Networks disappear/don't show

I'm having major problems with my Macbook Pro. It has all the latest upgrades for Leopard (just checked again for updates - nothing more available). This was a native installation of Leopard - not an upgrade from Tiger.
When I FIRST start my laptop, it connects to the #1 preferred network. But I have 2 routers at home (and I live in an apartment so there's about 12 networks around me) and I often need to switch depending on which end of my condo I am in (concrete walls suck for signals). Any how this is not a signal issue however, as this problem happens when I am in the same room as my router.
When I click the Airport button on the top, the dropdown menu comes out, and fora split second it displays all the networks. But after about half a second (which is NOT enough for me to find and click another network I need to hook into) the list disappears, and truncates to the one I am already on.
So from there I tried "Join Other Network" and it opens a new window, asking me to enter a Network name and what not. When I click on "Show Networks", it used to display all the available networks, but it displays NOTHING - not even the network I am already connected to, using fast and normal internet.
So basically I need to turn my Airport off, open the preferences, change the order of preferred networks on the list of saved networks, and then turn it on again.
Now here's the killer - 50% of the time, after reconnecting, or after waking up from sleep mode, my laptop will FAIL to find internet connection from any of my two routers (while my roomates are doing fine) even with the proper IP addresses and Subnet masks assigned. it basically looks like a healthy connection but I get no internet browsing, email, MSN, nothing.
So basically every time I move from my living room to my bedroom, there's a 50% chance I need to reboot my computer. And there's a 100% chance I need to stumble around settings to make sure my computer finds the right router.

Try the following:
1. Delete Preferred Network(s)
o System Preferences > Network > AirPort > Advanced > AirPort tab
o Under "Preferred Networks," delete the network(s) you regularly use from the list.
2. Delete AirPort Keychain Entries
o Launch the "Keychain Access" application located in Applications/Utilties.
o Click on the "Kind" filter at the top, and look for any "AirPort network password" entries...and delete them.
o Restart, or log out then back in.
3. Add Preferred Network(s)
o System Preferences > Network > AirPort > Advanced > AirPort tab
o Add the preferred network(s) using the "+" button.
o Restart or log out then back in.

Preferred Networks by Location in Mavericks

Back in Snow Leopard, preferred WiFi networks were stored separately, in different lists according to the location chosen.
That worked great because I have 2 routers at home, one for my ISP and one for my VPN.
When connected trough the ISP router, the DNS Servers are chosen automatically.
If I want to connect trough the VPN router, I must specify the DNS Servers, for example OpenDNS.
So I had 2 locations, one for each router.
When I chose either one of the locations, it automatically connected me to its respective router.
It also worked for assigning Static IP addresses for the computer, a different one for each router.
The problem with Mavericks is that all Preferred Networks are listed together, and not grouped by Location as it was in OSX 10.6
Now It's a mess. I have to manually choose my desired network.
The problem is that if the other network comes out first in the list, the computer will connect to it.
If it doesn't match my chosen location, I will then have incompatible IP and DNS settings for that router.oes
Does someone else have this problem?
Is there a way to revert to the way Snow Leopard handled Preferred Networks?
Thanx!

I wish I would have taken a screenshot. The "kind" option is back after a reboot. Grrr.

Editing list of preferred networks

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