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Android: Turn Public Network Notifications On or Off

Your phone keeps popping up a notification whenever it spots a strong open Wi-Fi network nearby, even if you have no intention of connecting. This alert comes from Android's network scanning feature and can get repetitive if you pass the same hotspot every day. Turning it off stops the interruption without touching your saved Wi-Fi connections.

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Step 1 of 5: Tap on **Settings**

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Tap on Settings

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Android 14 · Android 14
Turn Public Network Notifications On or Off – Android 14: step 1 – Tap on Settings
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Android

Turn Public Network Notifications On or Off auf Android

Android scans nearby Wi-Fi networks in the background and flags open, high-signal hotspots with a notification. This behavior is controlled by the Notify for public networks option inside your network settings, not by any individual app you have installed.

The feature is meant to help you find free internet on the go, but it becomes a distraction if you regularly pass the same open network, for example near your workplace or along your daily commute. Disabling the toggle removes the popup entirely while leaving your saved Wi-Fi networks and mobile data connection untouched.

Where to find the setting

Go to Tap on SettingsTap on Network & internetTap on InternetTap on Network preferencesEnable or disable Notify for public networks. Switch it off to stop the alerts, or back on if you want Android to keep suggesting open networks nearby.

If notifications stop but your phone still connects automatically to open networks, check whether Wi-Fi auto-connect is enabled separately, since that behavior runs independently from the notification toggle.

Frequently asked questions

No. The Notify for public networks toggle only controls the popup alert. Auto-connect to open networks is a separate setting and needs to be disabled on its own if you also want to stop your phone from joining networks by itself.