With the developer beta of iOS 11 out in the wild, new features of the operating system have been coming to light throughout the week, including an unobtrusive volume indicator and new AirPods controls. In iOS 11, users will also be able to easily join a Wi-Fi network thanks to a new password sharing process between trusted devices, which should reduce the hassle of joining new networks.
The feature allows one iOS device with knowledge of a Wi-Fi network's password to grant access to a separate iOS device that still needs the password in question. 9to5Mac detailed an example where an iPad was already on a Wi-Fi network, while an iPhone still required the Wi-Fi password to connect.
All devices must be running iOS 11, and it appears that macOS High Sierra will support the feature as well.
Images via 9to5Mac
After navigating to Settings > Wi-Fi and choosing the right network, the iPhone user is greeted with the traditional password screen (seen above), but on iOS 11 when the iPhone is brought near the iPad, a card on the iPad notifies its user that the iPhone wants to join the network (seen below).
The iPad user can then tap and send their password to the iPhone, which recognizes the password, fills out the information, and connect to the Wi-Fi. As Apple notes, the iOS device or Mac with knowledge of the network's password must be unlocked for the transfer process to work.
There are plenty more iOS 11 tidbits to discover in the wake of the official unveiling this week at WWDC, so be sure to check out the MacRumors iOS 11 roundup to find out everything we know about the newest version of iOS.
Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
In his Powe...
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We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
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The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models.
"All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
"Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today.
"I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching.
In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...
What about corporate situations where we don't want our end users having or knowing the password? Is there any way as an IT administrator to disable this for our network?
Corporate wifi should be using radius type authentication not PSK.
If someone wants access to your network, you don’t have to tell them the password. You can ask for their device and type the password in yourself. Then they have access to the network but don’t know your password. This seems to bypass that bit of security as now anyone with access to your network could theoretically grant access to additional people.
This is not secure at all. For example, if the person has activated iCloud Keychain, the Wifi password may be synced to a Mac where it can simply be viewed in Keychain Access.
That said, if you’re that concerned with securing your network, either properly vet those you grant access to, use a different authenticion method, guest network, etc.
What about corporate situations where we don't want our end users having or knowing the password? Is there any way as an IT administrator to disable this for our network?
After everyone realizes they will lose all their 32 bit free & other games, they will realize that IOS 11 is as Steve Jobs once said, "A Bag of Hurt."
Just like when steve removed support for legacy 16 bit Mac apps... Or when microsoft removed win 3.1 app support.. you can't support old software forever :P
How would that be any different than verbally telling someone the password? They could then verbally tell someone else...
If someone wants access to your network, you don’t have to tell them the password. You can ask for their device and type the password in yourself. Then they have access to the network but don’t know your password. This seems to bypass that bit of security as now anyone with access to your network could theoretically grant access to additional people.
That said, if you’re that concerned with securing your network, either properly vet those you grant access to, use a different authenticion method, guest network, etc.
After everyone realizes they will lose all their 32 bit free & other games, they will realize that IOS 11 is as Steve Jobs once said, "A Bag of Hurt."
Yeah, I checked and out of the many dozens of apps on my phone, ONE of them wasn't ready to go, and I hadn't used that app in many many months. I think somehow society will live on.
