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:
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In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.
To set up the...
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Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models.
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Under-screen Face ID
Front camera in...
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Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen
A new slider in the Lock...
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Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
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Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows.
One Thing (Free) -...
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With the end of 2025 near, the time has come to look back at the devices and accessories that Apple discontinued throughout the year.
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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.
