macOS and iOS displays a list of the Wi-Fi networks in your area, whether they are private or not. This can be helpful, but how often are you able to really use a private network you can see but know nothing about?
Macworld reader Michael is irritated by the huge list of Wi-Fi networks around him whenever he tries to connect in iOS. He’s in a densely populated city, and neighbors’ networks are all around him. Since he’s connected to his own network and he’ll never connect to any of the others, is there a way to make them not appear in his list?
It’s a good question and one I honestly never thought about in 17 years of writing about Wi-Fi. The network scanning features built into Wi-Fi user interfaces on every platform I can think of that let you select a network are designed to maximize what you see. They weren’t created for crowded network environments, and a re-think would make a lot of sense, since we mostly don’t want to connect to any network, nor see them.
However, for now you’ve got to ignore it. When you click the Wi-Fi menu in macOS or visit Settings > Wi-Fi in iOS, you’ll always see the currently connected network at the top, but all the other networks will always appear.
There is one not-so-convenient-and-easy way you could solve this problem. Install a wire mesh in the floor, ceiling, and the inside portion of your home’s exterior walls to create a Faraday cage, which blocks penetration of a lot of forms of electromagnetic fields—which includes radio signals—and you’ll likely only see other networks when you open the front door.
Ask Mac 911
We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com including screen captures as appropriate, and whether you want your full name used. Every question won’t be answered, we don’t reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.