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How do I forget xfinitywifi network on iOS?

I used to use the public "xfinitywifi" networks on my iPhone when I was an Xfinity customer, but I have switched to a different ISP now. However, the "xfinitywifi" (and "XFINITY") networks still show up on my iPhone under "My networks", and my phone is constantly auto-connecting to it, which has the impact of instantly disrupting my internet connection.

Unlike every other network on my iPhone, there is no option to "Forget this network" (which seems super scammy). I have turned off "Auto-join" dozens of times, but it keeps reconnecting -- I think because it's constantly finding new "xfinitywifi" networks.

I contacted Xfinity support and they were... less than helpful. All they did was pointed me to the same support article that said to deselect "auto-join" and then ignored me and logged off when I reiterated that that didn't work and that I actually want to forget the network.

I have tried:

de-selecting auto-join (many times)
restarting phone
Reset Network Connections (forgot all my other networks, but xfinitywifi persists)

I have an iPhone XR running iOS 14.4.1

Any ideas?

iPhone XR, iOS 14

Posted on Mar 23, 2021 5:13 PM

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Lawrence Finch

Community+ 2025

Level 10

229,008 points

Posted on Mar 30, 2021 1:43 PM

Reset Network Settings remove all “knowledge” of all Wi-Fi networks. A It will not connect to any networks after doing that unless you manually reconnect. It will still LIST all networks it sees, but it will not connect to any of them. You should also go to Settings/Wi-Fi, tap on Ask to Join Networks, and verify that it is off or Ask.

By chance do you still have an xfinity profile on the phone? Go to Settings, Scroll to the bottom, and look just below VPN. Do you see Profiles? If you do, tap on it, tap on the xfinity profile, and delete it. The other possibility is if you have a Mac that still lists the Xfinity Wi-Fi network.

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27 replies

sberman

Level 10

272,436 points

Mar 30, 2021 2:50 PM in response to misterkatz

misterkatz wrote:

It may have just been that I took the screenshot too quickly after it joined, and so the icon hadn't changed yet.

Let’s compare the two screenshots you posted in the post we’re talking about.

The first, time tagged 14:00, clearly has you connected to xfinitywifi.
The second, time tagged one minute later at 14:01, shows you using LTE.

misterkatz Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 30, 2021 4:51 PM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:

misterkatz wrote:

It may have just been that I took the screenshot too quickly after it joined, and so the icon hadn't changed yet.

• Let’s compare the two screenshots you posted in the post we’re talking about.

The first, time tagged 14:00, clearly has you connected to xfinitywifi.

• The second, time tagged one minute later at 14:01, shows you using LTE.

Okay, I just did it again and screen-shotted along the way, waiting a minute between each step.

1) 16:38: select "Reset Network Settings", then phone goes to black screen with Apple logo and progress bar

2) 16:39: phone comes back to home screen, and I immediately unlock, go to settings > WiFi and this is what I see -- the phone is immediately automatically connecting to xfinitywifi (LTE in top-right, not yet WiFi)

3) 16:40: the phone has connected to xfinitywifi (wifi logo in top-right); note that it also shows XFINITY in "My Networks", but it doesn't show my home wifi in "My Networks"

4) 16:41: I clicked the "i" next to xfinitywifi and this is what I see - Auto-Join is back on, and there's no option to "forget this network"

5) 16:47 (few-minute delay as I was transferring these screenshots and typing this message): I disconnected from xfinitywifi, once again turned off "Auto-Join" and notice that my phone still shows xfinitywifi and XFINITY in "My Networks". On both, if I click the "i", there's no option to "Forget This Network".

Please, please, somebody: how do I forget these networks??? Why is Apple allowing Xfinity to create wifi networks that can't be removed?

Lawrence mentioned something about my Mac? Can you tell me more about what that might be?

misterkatz Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 31, 2021 9:22 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence Finch wrote:

Well, I’ve exhausted all of my ideas. If I can find anything that might help I’ll post back.

I appreciate your efforts, Lawrence. I'm pretty flumoxed myself. If I find any solutions I'll come back and post them!

misterkatz Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 23, 2021 5:24 PM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:

Try Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings

Ah yes, that's what I did, (just mistyped "Connections" instead of "Settings")

misterkatz Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 23, 2021 5:44 PM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:

At Settings > General > Profiles & Device Management.

I don't see "Profiles & Device Management" under Settings > General

sberman

Level 10

272,436 points

Mar 23, 2021 5:53 PM in response to misterkatz

misterkatz wrote:

I don't see "Profiles & Device Management" under Settings > General

Excellent. Therefore, your iPhone does not have any profiles. That’s a good thing.

misterkatz Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 23, 2021 6:55 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence Finch wrote:

Connect to it, then go to Settings/Wi-Fi and tap on the i next to the network name and tap Forget this network.

That's not an option. See screenshot:

Mar 23, 2021 6:58 PM in response to misterkatz

If it says join this network you are not connected to it.

Mar 30, 2021 12:56 PM in response to misterkatz

In those screen shots you are not connected to it.

misterkatz Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 30, 2021 1:33 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence Finch wrote:

Settings/General/reset - reset network settings.

I already did that, to no avail -- see above (my initial post, under "I have tried", clarified in the following 2 posts)

Mar 30, 2021 2:21 PM in response to misterkatz

On that screen turn off Auto Join.

Mar 31, 2021 6:35 AM in response to misterkatz

Well, I’ve exhausted all of my ideas. If I can find anything that might help I’ll post back.

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How do I forget xfinitywifi network on iOS?