iOS 19 Likely to Sync Captive Wi-Fi Data Between Devices - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 19 Likely to Sync Captive Wi-Fi Data Between Devices

Apple is developing a new feature that will synchronize captive Wi-Fi portal login information across devices, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iphone wi fi
The system will allow users to enter login details for captive Wi-Fi networks – commonly found in hotels, airports, and coffee shops – just once, then automatically sync that information across their iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices.

"When you go to a new hotel, office building or gym, you're often asked to fill out a web form on all your devices before you can access the internet," Gurman reports. "This new feature will let you enter that information on one device and have it synched to your other products."

This time-saving addition should eliminate the frustration of repeatedly logging into the same network portal across multiple Apple devices.

Apple is reportedly readying the feature in time for WWDC 2025, suggesting it will likely arrive with iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

Popular Stories

Mac Pro Feature Teal

Apple Shelved Two Mac Pro Models, Including an Intel-Based One

Monday July 20, 2026 6:30 am PDT by
Apple developed two Mac Pro models in recent years that never made it to market, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman revealed that Apple internally developed two unreleased Mac Pro projects codenamed J170 and J190 before ultimately discontinuing the machine altogether. As for new Mac Pro hardware, there were two additional models developed by...
Jony Ive and Laurene Powell Jobs

Apple Likely Left Jony Ive Out of Its OpenAI Lawsuit on Purpose

Monday July 20, 2026 7:19 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple's decision not to name its former design chief Jony Ive in its trade-secret lawsuit against OpenAI was likely a deliberate one, shaped in part by the company's relationship with Laurene Powell Jobs. Apple's roughly 40-page complaint refers only to unnamed "former Apple leaders" rather than calling out Ive, even though he leads design on OpenAI's hardware...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple

Apple to Overhaul Mac Lineup With 11 New Models

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to refresh every Mac it sells over the next two years, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The plans come amid a Mac resurgence, with sales projected to climb for a third consecutive year, partly thanks to a growing following among users who lean on the machines for demanding, agent-based AI workloads. The wave of new Macs will begin this fall with a refreshed...

Top Rated Comments

kiranmk2 Avatar
17 months ago

I'm curious how this impacts paid captive wi-fi, specifically those found on aircraft. Currently if the airline charges for wi-fi you'd have to pay a fee for each device. Does this get around it? I would imagine paid wi-fi operators would be able to tell based on the device's MAC address or something similar.
For your use case, specifically, it looks like Starlink will become the default inflight WiFi service as it is just so much faster than the incumbant systems, and I believe Starlink forbids airlines from charging customers for it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bradman83 Avatar
17 months ago
I'm curious how this impacts paid captive wi-fi, specifically those found on aircraft. Currently if the airline charges for wi-fi you'd have to pay a fee for each device. Does this get around it? I would imagine paid wi-fi operators would be able to tell based on the device's MAC address or something similar.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zilchfox Avatar
17 months ago

You know what would be great? The option to dismiss the captive wifi screen beyond "choose other network" which takes you straight to settings, or "use without internet" which connects you to a useless wifi network.
You can— swipe up on the home bar (similar to closing an app), and you will resume where you left off instead. On devices with a Home Button, just simply press it to dismiss.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cicalinarrot Avatar
17 months ago
Proprietary wifi log-in is still one of the tech-related experiences I hate the most, it makes me feel like it's 2008.
Hope this makes it a little less painful.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
211 Avatar
17 months ago
There is this issue I have had since the 1st iPhone that when you try to connect to a password protected WiFi and you choose to cancel it, it still links to the WiFi, but won’t work as I didn’t provide the password. I then have to go back to forget WiFi, otherwise it won’t disconnnect
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
17 months ago

Would any sane person actually use public WiFi when they know the guy sitting next to them could be sniffing their keystrokes and passwords, reading their email? I never use public WiFi.
You can use public wi-fi safely as long as you use a reputable VPN provider to encapsulate all your traffic as it traverses the public network.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)