Disable Network Profile History Logs via Regedit

Windows automatically records every network connection you make and stores this data within network profile logs and registry entries for future identification. If you want to enhance privacy or prevent Windows from keeping a record of past Wi-Fi and Ethernet networks, you can turn off this tracking directly through the Windows Registry. This guide provides a straightforward method to disable automatic network profile history logging using the Registry Editor (regedit).

Steps to Disable Network Profile History Logging

  1. Open Registry Editor
    • Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
    • Type regedit and press Enter (or click OK).
    • Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).
  2. Navigate to the Network Profile Event Log Key

    • Paste the following path into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor and press Enter:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WINEVT\Channels\Microsoft-Windows-NetworkProfile/Operational
  3. Modify the Log Setting
    • In the right-hand pane, locate the DWORD (32-bit) value named Enabled.
    • Double-click Enabled to edit it.
    • Change the Value data from 1 (enabled) to 0 (disabled).
    • Click OK to save the changes.
  4. Restart the System
    • Close the Registry Editor.
    • Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Removing Existing Network Profile History (Optional)

Disabling the operational log stops Windows from recording new connection events, but it does not delete previously stored networks. To clear past network profiles:

  1. In the Registry Editor, navigate to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles

  2. Under the Profiles key, you will see subkeys with unique GUIDs (e.g., {XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX}).

  3. Select any GUID subkey to view its ProfileName in the right pane.

  4. Right-click and Delete any specific profile subkeys you no longer want stored on your system.