Stop the Wi-Fi join pop-ups on your Mac

Why it happens

When your Mac can't find a network it already knows, it can offer nearby ones for you to join. Ask brings up a pop-up, Notify just sends a quiet notification, and Off stays silent so you choose networks yourself. Networks you've joined before are still joined automatically whichever you pick.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, and click Wi-Fi in the sidebar.

2. Scroll down to Ask to join networks and choose Off, or Notify if you'd still like a gentle heads-up.

   Wi-Fi

3. When you want a new network, click Wi-Fi in the menu bar or Control Center and pick it from the list.

Still not fixed?

1. If the pop-ups are about your iPhone's or iPad's hotspot, set Ask to join hotspots to Never on the same page.

   Wi-Fi›Ask to join hotspots

2. If your Mac joins a network you don't want, click Details… next to it and turn off Automatically join this network, or forget it.

   Wi-Fi›Details…

3. A sign-in page that pops up at a hotel, café or airport is different. It's the network asking you to log in or accept its terms, and it appears whenever you join one of those networks.

4. If the pop-ups keep coming with Off chosen, restart your Mac. If they still appear, or Wi-Fi keeps dropping, contact Apple Support.