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captive.apple.com is preventing me from connecting to my wifi

When I attempt to log into my wifi connection, a program called captive.apple.com opens that is a blank window and only allows me to cancel which will return me to wifi login. Can not find anything about this issue anywhere. Can anyone help?

iPad, iOS 9.3.5

Posted on Sep 24, 2016 10:26 AM

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Posted on Nov 13, 2016 6:03 PM

I cannot log in to captive apple when i use my wifi at home

34 replies

Sep 25, 2016 5:39 PM in response to Relay1

Hi. Is your WiFi the kind that requires you to accept terms and conditions and enter a password in a browser (not the normal password in the WiFi settings)? If so, it's opening a Safari window for you to do this. Try Settings > Safari > Clear website data. Then try to connect again.


captive.apple.com appears to be a legitimate website that returns the word "Success", possibly to confirm that an internet connection exists.

Sep 26, 2016 3:55 PM in response to norm123

Thanks for the fast reply. Tried both suggestions, neither worked.


Some additional information, I am attempting to connect to an extender to my router. I can connect to the router but cannot connect to the extender due to the "captive.apple.com" popping up after I enter the password for the router/extender. The screen is BLANK and the only option is to Cancel. I have completely reset to factory defaults and set the extender up again. I have tried everything I can find to no avail. Sorry I was not more clear in the original post.

Sep 27, 2016 6:50 PM in response to Relay1

You said yes to both questions, but didn't mention a device that connects successfully. I want to be sure that the DHCP and internet access are working through the extender. As I mentioned before, that captive.apple.com url just returns a web page with the word "Success" on it. The iPad may be trying to access it to verify the internet connection, though it does sound strange. Your devices are obviously not having success.

Sep 27, 2016 7:05 PM in response to Relay1

This https://grpugh.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/an-undocumented-change-to-captive-networ k-assistant-settings-in-os-x-10-10-yosem… article applies to computers, not iPads, but seems to describe what's going on. Your iPad thinks you need to use this mini-browser to connect to the extender. It sounds like there's some problem with configuration, perhaps with DHCP. Is the extender successfully connecting to the router?

Sep 27, 2016 7:23 PM in response to Relay1

Finally found a clear explanation here https://forums.untangle.com/web-filter/36528-why-my-sons-ipad-trying-goto-captiv e-apple-com-my-wifi-when-no-other-ipad.h…. Apparently, iOS tries to access that url to confirm that it has internet access. If it does not, it assumes it's on a captive network and opens the mini-browser for you to login on. If you were on a captive network, presumably the router would send the login page. You are not, so nothing happens, as you describe. The conclusion is that the iPad is not getting an internet connection from the extender.

Sep 29, 2016 4:05 AM in response to Diana.McCall

I'm very grateful for the help. I have tried all of the above to no avail. Went through a factory default reset on both the main and extend routers. I do not have any other device to try to connect to the extender. Both iPad's and the iPhone exhibit the same results. It appears the problem may lie with the settings/configuration of the main router. If not, I may have to live with the issue.

I will be tied up for some time and will not be able to continue investigating this until I am finished. If not able to find a corrective action, will re-post. Again, thanks for the great assist...

captive.apple.com is preventing me from connecting to my wifi

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