What to know

  • Apple is reportedly developing a feature for iOS 19 that syncs captive Wi-Fi network data across your devices.
  • This could let you connect to hotel, airport, or café Wi-Fi on all your Apple devices after logging in once.
  • The feature aims to reduce the need to re-enter credentials or complete web-based logins on each device.
  • It is expected to work through iCloud Keychain, similar to how Wi-Fi passwords are currently shared.

Apple is working on a new feature for iOS 19 that could make connecting to public Wi-Fi networks much easier. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the update may allow your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to automatically sync captive Wi-Fi network data between each other.

Captive Wi-Fi networks are common in places like hotels, airports, and coffee shops. These networks usually require you to log in through a web page or enter a room number and password before you can access the internet. Right now, even if you connect on one device, you have to repeat the login process on each of your other Apple devices.

The new feature in iOS 19 could change this. If you log in to a captive Wi-Fi network on your iPhone, your iPad or Mac could automatically get the same login data. This means you would not need to enter the same information again on your other devices.

The syncing is expected to use iCloud Keychain, which already stores and shares Wi-Fi passwords securely between your Apple devices. The update would extend this to include the extra data needed for captive networks, such as tokens or cookies from the login page.

This change could save you time and make it easier to get online when traveling or working in public spaces. It also reduces the hassle of repeatedly entering credentials or navigating login pages on each device.

Apple has not officially announced this feature yet. More details may be shared at the company’s upcoming developer events or in future beta releases of iOS 19.

Via: Mac Rumors