Prioritize Wireless Networks in Mac OS X

Open Wi-Fi networks are everywhere, if you’re stationed in an area with tons of them you’ll probably want to prioritize your own network to be the top wireless network to join so you don’t accidentally end up on someone elses unsecured network. Prioritizing is also a good idea if you use Personal Hotspot in public so you don’t end up on an open public access point.

The simplest way to prevent a Mac from joining one network over another is to set priority, giving your preferred wifi routers precedent over the others.

How to Set Wi-Fi Network Priority in Mac OS X

We’ll show you exactly how to get Mac OS X to prioritize certain wifi networks above other routers when multiple networks are within range:

1. Open System Preferences from the  Apple menu and click on “Network”
2. Click the lock icon in the corner to unlock the settings
3. Now click on “Advanced” and then choose the “Wi-Fi” tab
4. Click on the wireless network you want to connect to primarily and drag it to the top of the list, arrange the other networks by priority
5. Click “OK” to save the changes and close out of System Preferences

Whatever the topmost wi-fi network is will be the first to be joined, assuming it’s available. If the topmost network isn’t available the next one down will become the preferred network, and so on. With the iPhone Hotspot example you’d probably want that to be at the very top of the list.

For an additional layer of security and to prevent a Mac from inadvertently joining the wrong network, you can check the “Ask to join new networks” box within Network preferences. This will cause OS X to behave more like iOS and ask you before it joins whatever wi-fi network is open and available, though the wifi pop-ups can get annoying.