With the developer beta of iOS 11 out in the wild, new features of the operating system have been coming to light throughout the week, including an unobtrusive volume indicator and new AirPods controls. In iOS 11, users will also be able to easily join a Wi-Fi network thanks to a new password sharing process between trusted devices, which should reduce the hassle of joining new networks.
The feature allows one iOS device with knowledge of a Wi-Fi network's password to grant access to a separate iOS device that still needs the password in question. 9to5Mac detailed an example where an iPad was already on a Wi-Fi network, while an iPhone still required the Wi-Fi password to connect.
All devices must be running iOS 11, and it appears that macOS High Sierra will support the feature as well.
Images via 9to5Mac
After navigating to Settings > Wi-Fi and choosing the right network, the iPhone user is greeted with the traditional password screen (seen above), but on iOS 11 when the iPhone is brought near the iPad, a card on the iPad notifies its user that the iPhone wants to join the network (seen below).
The iPad user can then tap and send their password to the iPhone, which recognizes the password, fills out the information, and connect to the Wi-Fi. As Apple notes, the iOS device or Mac with knowledge of the network's password must be unlocked for the transfer process to work.
There are plenty more iOS 11 tidbits to discover in the wake of the official unveiling this week at WWDC, so be sure to check out the MacRumors iOS 11 roundup to find out everything we know about the newest version of iOS.
Tuesday September 3, 2024 12:07 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
iOS 18 has been in beta testing for nearly three months, and the software update will finally be released for all compatible iPhones soon. Apple should reveal iOS 18's exact release date during its September 9 event, with the most likely possibility being Monday, September 16. Below, we have highlighted eight key new features included in iOS 18. Note that Apple Intelligence is not coming...
Wednesday September 4, 2024 3:19 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple is introducing a new camera-based "Capture" button on at least some iPhone 16 models this year, and a new rumor claims that Apple's own silicone cases will have a design that is specially made so as not to impede the use of the capacitive button's multiple functions. Several rumors have suggested that the iPhone 16 models are going to have an all-new button that's designed to make it...
Tuesday September 3, 2024 12:59 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple did not mention CarPlay when it unveiled iOS 18 in June, but the update includes a handful of new features for the in-car iPhone system. iOS 18 includes some changes to the Messages app, Settings app, and Siri on CarPlay. The update should be widely released later in September. Below, we recap CarPlay's key new features on iOS 18. 1. Contact Photos in Messages App iOS 18 adds...
Friday September 6, 2024 5:01 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple is "shaking up its color palette" for its iPhone 16 lineup this year, according to well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. Early iPhone 16 Pro dummy models via Sonny Dickson According to Gurman, the iPhone 16 Pro models will come in a Gold Titanium to replace Blue Titanium, while the Black, White, and Natural Titanium options that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro will remain...
Sunday September 1, 2024 4:30 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple has announced that on Monday, September 9 it will hold its annual fall event, which means we are just days away from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. ...
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared his final expectations for Apple's "It's Glowtime" event, providing some new tidbits and clarifications about the new devices set to be announced on Monday. iPhone 16 Pro Along with larger 6.3- and 6.9-inch display sizes, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will have bezels that are "now about a third slimmer" for a "sleeker overall look." The...
Wednesday September 4, 2024 10:50 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
iOS 18 has been in beta testing for nearly three months, and the software update should finally be widely released later this month. Below, we outline when to expect iOS 18 to be available on all compatible iPhones. iOS 18: Beta Testing Wraps Up In his Power On newsletter last weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said iOS 18 beta 8 will likely be the final developer beta version for the...
What about corporate situations where we don't want our end users having or knowing the password? Is there any way as an IT administrator to disable this for our network?
Corporate wifi should be using radius type authentication not PSK.
If someone wants access to your network, you don’t have to tell them the password. You can ask for their device and type the password in yourself. Then they have access to the network but don’t know your password. This seems to bypass that bit of security as now anyone with access to your network could theoretically grant access to additional people.
This is not secure at all. For example, if the person has activated iCloud Keychain, the Wifi password may be synced to a Mac where it can simply be viewed in Keychain Access.
That said, if you’re that concerned with securing your network, either properly vet those you grant access to, use a different authenticion method, guest network, etc.
What about corporate situations where we don't want our end users having or knowing the password? Is there any way as an IT administrator to disable this for our network?
After everyone realizes they will lose all their 32 bit free & other games, they will realize that IOS 11 is as Steve Jobs once said, "A Bag of Hurt."
Just like when steve removed support for legacy 16 bit Mac apps... Or when microsoft removed win 3.1 app support.. you can't support old software forever :P
How would that be any different than verbally telling someone the password? They could then verbally tell someone else...
If someone wants access to your network, you don’t have to tell them the password. You can ask for their device and type the password in yourself. Then they have access to the network but don’t know your password. This seems to bypass that bit of security as now anyone with access to your network could theoretically grant access to additional people.
That said, if you’re that concerned with securing your network, either properly vet those you grant access to, use a different authenticion method, guest network, etc.
After everyone realizes they will lose all their 32 bit free & other games, they will realize that IOS 11 is as Steve Jobs once said, "A Bag of Hurt."
Yeah, I checked and out of the many dozens of apps on my phone, ONE of them wasn't ready to go, and I hadn't used that app in many many months. I think somehow society will live on.
