If your computer is showing unknown open Wi-Fi Networks with no parental controls or an inappropriate name, you can find below the steps to block Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 10.
Hide or Block Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 10
If you click on the Network button in System Tray, you will see your own Wi-Fi Network along with a host of other unknown Wi-Fi Networks.
Although your computer by default will only connect to your own Wi-Fi Network, there is always possibility of kids or someone in your home connecting to an unprotected Wi-Fi Network.
Depending on your requirements, you can either block all unknown Wi-Fi Networks on your computer, block a Single Wi-Fi Network or block multiple Wi-Fi Networks that are open.
1. Block Wi-Fi Network in Windows 10
1. Type Command Prompt in the Search bar > right-click on Command Prompt in the search results and select Run as Administrator option.
2. On Command Prompt screen, type netsh wlan add filter permission=block ssid=”Name of Wi-Fi Network that you want to block” networktype=infrastructure and press the Enter key on the keyboard of your computer.
In the above command, make sure that you type the actual Wi-Fi Network Name (in SSID field) that you want to block from appearing on your computer.
Once the command is executed, you will see “Filter is added on the system successfully” and the Wi-Fi Network will be blocked from appearing on your computer.
You can repeat the above command, in case there are a few more Wi-Fi Networks that you want to prevent from appearing on your computer.
Note: The above command blocks Wi-Fi Networks based on “Network Name”. If your neighbour happens to rename his/her Wi-Fi network, you will see the new name appearing on your computer.
2. Unblock Wi-Fi Network in Windows 10
At any time, you can unblock WiFi Networks on your computer by running netsh wlan delete filter permission=block ssid=”Name of WiFi Network that you want to unblock” networktype=infrastructure
In above command, make sure that you type the actual Wi-Fi Network Name (in SSID Field) that you want to unblock.
3. Block All Unknown Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 10
Instead of going through the process of hiding individual Wi-Fi networks, you can simply add your Wi-Fi Network to the allow list and block all other unknown Wi-Fi Networks.
This means that only your Wi-Fi Network or approved Wi-Fi Networks will be able to run on your computer and all other Wi-Fi Networks will be blocked.
First whitelist your own Wi-Fi Network by running netsh wlan add filter permission=allow ssid=”Name of WI-FI Network that you want to whitelist” networktype=infrastructure
In the above command, make sure you type the actual Wi-Fi Network Name (in SSID Field) that you want to whitelist.
You can repeat the above command, in case you have other Wi-Fi Networks that you want to add to the Allow list or whitelist.
After Adding your own Wi-Fi Network to the Safe List, the next step is to block all other Wi-Fi Networks on your computer.
To block all Wi-Fi Networks, type netsh wlan add filter permission=denyall networktype=infrastructure and press the enter key.
At any time you can undo this change and allow other Wi-Fi Networks, by running netsh wlan delete filter permission=denyall networktype=infrastructure
Since, this method blocks all unknown Wi-Fi Networks, you won’t be able to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots in case you carry your Laptop elsewhere.
4. View Unblocked and Blocked Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 10
In case you forget Wi-Fi Network names, you can view all the Wi-Fi Networks by running “netsh wlan show filters” command
Once the command is executed, you will be able to see all the Allowed and Blocked Wi-Fi Networks on your computer.