When you connect to a Ethernet or wired network for the first time, Windows automatically creates a network profile and assigns generic names like Network 1, Network 2, etc. finally stores it on your computer as a known network. A wireless network profile will use the SSID of the wireless network (ex: router) . Some users and administrators may dislike the non-descriptive network connections names and want to rename , delete or clear redundant network profiles (names). After Windows 7 , Microsoft removed Netork Profile rename option therefore you will not find any option whatsoever in the Settings app or Control Panel to change the network name. It is still possible to edit network profile names to make them more descriptive but the only effective way to Rename or remove the connections in Windows 11, Windows 10 and Windows 8 is by using the registry editor. (valid in all Windows versions)

What is New (Tuesday, March 22, 2022)

1.[FIXED] – After a Network Profile has been deleted, some Values leaves in a registry key
2.[ADDED] – Language support
3.[ADDED] – Windows Vista support
4.[ADDED] – Some Improvements in coding

How to Change the Active Network Profile Name

You can check the current name in the Network and Sharing Center on Windows , press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type one of the following commands and press Enter.

control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter
explorer.exe shell:::{8E908FC9-BECC-40f6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D}

The name of the network is displayed at the very top of the page.

Windows Users have three main options to change a network name ;

1. Using Local Security Policy (It is only available in professional versions of Windows)
2. Using the Windows Registry
3. Using Network Profile Name Changer which is a Portable freeware

Delete / Rename Network Connections In Windows by using Registry

Go to the following key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles
The Profiles folder will provide a list of all the network connections with a unique ID , Each network location is represented by a subfolder therefore you need to click on each to check the ProfileName until you find the network name that you want to change. To rename a network location, click on the corresponding subfolder and edit the key named ProfileName. Input the new name for the network location. You can also delete individual subfolders to remove Network connections.

Using Network Profile Name Changer to Delete / Rename Network Connections

Registry way is not Straightforward for Novice Windows users , to simplify the whole Process you can use Network Profile Name Changer.

1. After download and unzipping , run the program , It will list all you Network Profiles
2. Choose one of the Network Profile then use Rename or Delete button

You can also right click any network profile and perform the same action from the context menu or double click any of the listed Item to rename it.

With the context menu, you can rename any network Profile, change a Network Profile from Public to Private or vice versa, open a network Profile registry key or delete a network Profile easily.

Note: If you delete all Network profiles or if the profile you have edited, cannot be recognized by the system, turn off the adapter you connect to the internet and turn it on again, or disconnect and reconnect to the internet, the problem will be solved.

Supported languages: English ,Turkish , German , Hungarian , Polish , Bulgarian , French , Korean , Brazilian (Portuguese) , Russian , Japanese , Italian , Arabic , Chinese (Simplified) , Swedish , Romanian , Greek , Spanish

Supported operating systems: Windows 11 , Windows 10 , Windows 8.1 , Windows 8 , Windows 7 (x86 & x64) , Vista

File: NetPnc.exe │ Virustotal
MD5: 177aa667b9c7be766ae53888b3c3fd73
SHA1: 541084c57d0cd96f8e23326e304e9faf3d77cff2