Quick fix: Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks. For each network you don’t want auto-connection: click it → uncheck Connect automatically when in range. For unknown open networks: Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → ensure Connect to suggested open hotspots is Off.

Your laptop opportunistically connects to open Wi-Fi networks — coffee shops, neighbors’ unsecured guest networks, public hotspots. You don’t want that. Beyond security risk, captive-portal sign-ins interrupt your work. Windows has two settings that control this — auto-connect per known network and auto-suggest for unknown open networks.

Symptom: Windows 11 auto-connects to open Wi-Fi networks (coffee shop, public hotspots) unintentionally.
Affects: Windows 11 (and Windows 10) laptops.
Fix time: ~5 minutes.

What causes this

Two Windows features cause this. Per-network auto-connect: each known network has a “Connect automatically” flag. Networks you connect to once get this enabled by default. Auto-suggested open hotspots: an Windows feature (now mostly retired but lingering in older builds) that connects to Microsoft-curated lists of public hotspots. Both can be disabled separately.

Method 1: Disable auto-connect on specific known networks

For networks you’ve previously connected to.

Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks.
The list shows every saved Wi-Fi network.
For each one you don’t want to auto-connect: click it.
Untick Connect automatically when in range.
Click Save.
If you want to remove the network entirely: Forget instead. Windows then asks for password each time you want to connect.
For networks you actively want auto-connect (home Wi-Fi): leave the toggle on.

This is the targeted approach for known networks.

Method 2: Disable suggested open hotspot connections

For unknown open networks Windows might suggest.

Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi.
Find settings like:
- Connect to suggested open hotspots — toggle Off
- Paid Wi-Fi services — toggle Off
- Hotspot 2.0 networks — toggle Off (unless you specifically use airport/airline Hotspot 2.0 services)
If Hotspot 2.0 section isn’t visible, your Windows build may not have it (older builds only).
Open Settings → Network & internet → Mobile hotspot → Turn on remotely. Toggle Off — prevents Bluetooth-paired devices from triggering hotspot.

This blocks auto-suggested unknown networks.

Method 3: Set a Wi-Fi connection priority list via netsh

For users who want a fixed priority order.

Open Terminal (Admin).
List Wi-Fi profiles:
```
netsh wlan show profiles
```

Set connection mode for each profile. To stop a network from auto-connecting:

netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Coffee Shop WiFi" connectionmode=manual

To enable auto-connect for a preferred network:

netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Home WiFi" connectionmode=auto

Set priority order:

netsh wlan set profileorder name="Home WiFi" interface="Wi-Fi" priority=1

Lower priority number = higher preference.

Windows tries auto-connect to higher-priority networks first.

This is the scriptable approach for fleet deployment or fine control.

How to verify the fix worked

Walk into a coffee shop or area with open Wi-Fi networks. Windows doesn’t auto-connect.
Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks. Each network you wanted off shows “Connect manually” or doesn’t auto-connect.
Run netsh wlan show profiles name="NetworkName" in Terminal. Connection mode shows Connect manually.

If none of these work

If Windows still auto-connects to open networks, three causes apply. Saved profile still has auto-connect: check Manage known networks again — sometimes the toggle reverts after sync from another device. Disable Wi-Fi profile sync in Settings → Accounts → Windows backup. OEM utility: some laptops have Wi-Fi connection managers (Intel Wi-Fi Connection Utility, Lenovo Vantage) that override Windows. Disable in those tools. Group Policy: managed PCs may have policies forcing connection to certain hotspots. Contact IT.

Bottom line: Disable auto-connect per known network plus the suggested-hotspots toggles. Windows stops opportunistically connecting to open Wi-Fi.