iOS 26 is gaining two new Wi-Fi features, including Captive Assist and Wi-Fi Aware.
MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered a reference to Captive Assist within the code for the first iOS 26 developer beta, but Apple has yet to enable the feature. It should be available by the time the software update is released later this year.
In his Power On newsletter last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was working on a feature that would sync captive Wi-Fi network sign-in information across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This means that if you are asked to fill out a web form on one Apple device before connecting to a public Wi-Fi network at a hotel, airport, or coffee shop, that information would automatically be shared with your other Apple devices.
Ultimately, this Captive Assist feature will make connecting to public Wi-Fi networks more convenient across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe.
Next, iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add support for Wi-Fi Aware, which is essentially the industry-standard equivalent of the Apple Wireless Direct Link technology behind AirDrop and AirPlay. Apple is making a Wi-Fi Aware framework available to developers, allowing for App Store apps to offer peer-to-peer connections between Wi-Fi devices, without an internet connection or access point. Wi-Fi Aware will allow for third-party apps to offer new built-in features for high-speed file transfers, media streaming, screen sharing, and more.
Apple was required to support Wi-Fi Aware on the iPhone and iPad in the EU, under the terms of the Digital Markets Act. In fact, the European Commission specifically stated that iOS and iPadOS must allow for AirDrop and AirPlay alternatives by the end of next year. As noted by 9to5Mac, the Wi-Fi Aware framework seems to satisfy those requirements. Apple has actually gone a step further by making the Wi-Fi Aware framework available worldwide.
Apple says the following devices support the Wi-Fi Aware framework:
Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3.
AirDrop
Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts.
iOS 26.2...
Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times.
The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said.
While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time.
Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October.
There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
Starting this Wednesday, November 19, the feature will be available to residents of Illinois.
The announcement confirmed that the...
Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone.
iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
Friday November 14, 2025 3:23 pm PST by Juli Clover
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio.
MacBook Air (Early 2026)
The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook...
Sunday November 16, 2025 6:49 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that Tesla plans to add Apple CarPlay support to its vehicles "in the coming months."
This is easily the biggest news for the regular version of CarPlay in years, should Tesla actually follow through with offering the system in its vehicles.
As noted by Gurman, this would be a stunning reversal for Tesla and its CEO Elon ...
For me, as somebody who does not update iOS, iPadOS, or MacOS, the interoperability has been incredibly good. OS X El Capitan, a 2015 release, works perfectly with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, iPadOS 15, iOS 12, iOS 14, iOS 10. Literally every software combo I have has performed flawlessly, I’m grateful to Apple for that.
Hopefully they don’t destroy the current protocol. I don’t care about improvements if that means that my entire group of devices will be mutually incompatible in the future. The cornerstone of AirDrop for me is OS version interoperability. I lose that, and it’s useless, considering I don’t update anything.
Captive Assist within the code for the first iOS 26 developer beta ('https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/get-ios-26-developer-beta-iphone/'), but Apple has yet to enable the feature
It already is active.
This means that if you are asked to fill out a web form on one Apple device before connecting to a public Wi-Fi network at a hotel, airport, or coffee shop, that information would automatically be shared with your other Apple devices.
Not exactly. It works similar to autofill. When you enter in details on the captive portal login page such as a password or access code, the device will remember it and on other devices you will get an "Autofill from XXX Device" option when on the same page.
As you see, I now get the "Autofill from iPhone 17 Air" option after signing in on my phone.
