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 Sep 25, 2016 5:39 PM

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.

33 replies

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 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...

Dec 3, 2016 1:13 PM in response to Nindefelagund

Hi. When iOS connects to WiFi, it asks Safari to load that URL from the internet. One of three possibilities then occurs:

1. You are on a "captive" network that requires you to view a web page, and possibly login, the network sends its login page, you agree, the network allows your request to go through, and iOS cancels Safari.

2. You're on a normal home or business network, the request is completed, and iOS cancels Safari.

3. You have no internet access, or the router blocks the URL. Safari remains open, displaying the URL that failed to load, a blank page. This situation is not expected by iOS and should "never" occur.


You are experiencing the third situation. You need to check that your router can access the internet, and the URL is not being blocked by the router. If that's OK, try restarting the router, then Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Data, then try to connect again.


Are you trying to connect through a WiFi extender (repeater)? Some users have reported this happens with an extender.

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

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