Windows 10: How to remove Multiple Network Connections?

If there's a way, I haven't found it.

I configure routers for a living. Every time a new one comes online and throws me a DHCP address, Windows 10 creates a new "Network [nnn]" entirely unbidden.

I was up to "Network 283" before I decided to do something about it.

I ended up having to cruise through all these keys by hand. I couldn't even select a range and delete them at one stroke (regedit wouldn't let me select multiple keys). It helped to be able to speed-delete them using fn-del and CR to confirm, but having to do this sort of network garbage-collection by hand, one by one, is really, really primitive. Somebody up in Redmond ought to be ashamed.

 

This solution walks you through the steps to accomplish exactly what you want...
networking - Prevent Windows From Creating New Network Names when Tethering with Android - Super User

 

"You can try this if you don't mind the network icon not showing that you're connected."

Ouch. Sounds like a non-starter in an environment where basic troubleshooting is the main thrust.

 

Sorry, my bad. It was the second and third solutions listed on that page that stopped the problem for me. I guess someone moved the one in first position to the top since last I visited.

 

The second and third claim to be deprecated. I tried the one about disabling automatic proxy detection, and found that Windows 10 no longer even offered that option (at least not where the poster described it being).