WiFi networks shared across devices?

[SnowDX]

Last week I connected my iPad Mini to a password protected WiFi network. I purposely did not connect my iPhone.

Today I noticed that my phone is using the password protected network, even though I never set it up to use it.

Is sharing networks across devices an iOS 7 feature? Or has it been around and I just didn't notice? There are only two other WiFi networks that both my iPhone and iPad have been to and on both of those I had to connect my Mini to the network using the password, it wasn't just magically connected as it was on my phone today. But that was back in iOS 6.

 

[Zcott]

Last week I connected my iPad Mini to a password protected WiFi network. I purposely did not connect my iPhone.

Today I noticed that my phone is using the password protected network, even though I never set it up to use it.

Is sharing networks across devices an iOS 7 feature? Or has it been around and I just didn't notice? There are only two other WiFi networks that both my iPhone and iPad have been to and on both of those I had to connect my Mini to the network using the password, it wasn't just magically connected as it was on my phone today. But that was back in iOS 6.

iCloud Keychain shares wifi passwords across devices.

 

[SnowDX]

WiFi networks shared across devices?

iCloud Keychain shares wifi passwords across devices.

That I was aware of but I was not aware it saved WiFi passwords as well. I also was not asked if I wanted to save the WiFi password in my iCloud Keychain like I am with web sites. I also do not see any place where I can opt out of saving a specific WiFi password.

I am going to tell my phone to "forget this network" and see if that works. Although I had never connected to it in the first place so not sure if it will help.

 

[SnowDX]

I went to forget the network and it told me any devices using iCloud Keychain would no longer join the network.

So my options are to either remember to turn off WiFi prior to arriving at this location daily, before my phone connects to the network. Or to enter the password each time on my iPad. The password is long and very difficult to remember and as such a pain in the butt to type in.

 

[Zcott]

I went to forget the network and it told me any devices using iCloud Keychain would no longer join the network.

So my options are to either remember to turn off WiFi prior to arriving at this location daily, before my phone connects to the network. Or to enter the password each time on my iPad. The password is long and very difficult to remember and as such a pain in the butt to type in.

What about de-selecting Auto Join This Network under wifi?

 

[sflomenb]

This is cool! I didn't know that!!

 

[SnowDX]

What about de-selecting Auto Join This Network under wifi?

I don't have the option. Only "forget this network".

 

[benji888]

Last week I connected my iPad Mini to a password protected WiFi network. I purposely did not connect my iPhone.

Today I noticed that my phone is using the password protected network, even though I never set it up to use it.

Is sharing networks across devices an iOS 7 feature? Or has it been around and I just didn't notice? There are only two other WiFi networks that both my iPhone and iPad have been to and on both of those I had to connect my Mini to the network using the password, it wasn't just magically connected as it was on my phone today. But that was back in iOS 6.

This happened to me yesterday, I was out of town eating at a place not been to before, got my iPad on their wifi, put in the password...a minute later I open my iPhone and it's already on the wifi. I'm sure that if I bring my mac there it will automatically log in to their wifi also, as I have iCloud keychain enabled on all 3 devices (OS X 10.9 Mavericks on my macbook pro). It should work across all devices with your iCloud account that have keychain enabled. I find it convenient myself.

What about de-selecting Auto Join This Network under wifi?

I don't have the option. Only "forget this network".

he means in Settings>Wi-Fi>Ask to Join Networks ...but, I don't think that will do it, as "known" networks will still be joined automatically.

Why don't you want your iPhone to use their wifi?

Options I can think of off the top of my head: 1) You could turn off wifi on the iPhone since you don't want to use wifi on it anyway. 2) You could turn off iCloud keychain for the iPhone.

Seems like it would be unnecessary for apple to add the option of being able to not join this wifi network for one device and not others, so, that's why I ask, why do you not want your iPhone on their wifi? I mean, it makes it easier, you don't have to type that password in for every device, just once, ya know?

 

[bripab007]

Here's another reason someone might not want all devices to join a particular network: perhaps they have an older device that only connects to 2.4GHz wi-fi access points as well as a newer device that can connect to 2.4GHz or 5Ghz APs.If you use iCloud Keychain in its current form, your newer device may at times connect to the slower or more congested 2.4GHz AP--an undesirable situation.

Another example: you want your laptop to connect to a hotspot because wi-fi is its only means of communication, but do not want your iPhone/iPad to connect because they have LTE radio that happens to be faster and/or more reliable than this particular access point.

 

[benji888]

Maybe Siri can turn wifi on/off automatically?

alright, fine then, what about...

Anyone know if this is possible? (I know that OS X has "locations" for networks).

• Can you tell Siri to turn off wifi when you arrive at a location, then turn it back on when you leave?

 

[KUguardgrl13]

I noticed the feature as well. I connected my new rMBP to my boyfriend's network, and my phone connected to it as well. Kind of a nice feature for home and work/school networks but maybe not for public hotspots.

 

[SnowDX]

WiFi networks shared across devices?

In my case, personal devices are not allowed on this particular network and every movement on the network is tracked as well which I don't want for my personal device. My phone is a personal device.

The iPad is technically owned by my company but purchased through an individual fund. So I am allowed to use it for personal and business purposes. As such, it's allowed to use the WiFi network. I don't do any personal web surfing on it during the day, only business related.

The Siri suggestion is interesting and I will investigate that. Today I forgot to turn WiFi on when I got home so for four hours I was using data when I would rather be using WiFi.

My spouse is running into a situation similar to the first scenario bripab007 described.

 

[SnowDX]

WiFi networks shared across devices?

And now at home, my iPad is now connecting to our 5GHz network because my iMac is connected to it. I've never connected the iPad to it before as our bedroom is in a location where the 5GHz network has poor service so I purposely use the 2.4GHz network on my iPad. But now it's connecting to the 5GHz before the 2GHz so I have to go in and disconnect and reconnect it.

I'm sure I'm a minority use case but we've got three scenarios between two of us where this new feature is a pain in the butt.

 

[benji888]

...Today I forgot to turn WiFi on when I got home so for four hours I was using data when I would rather be using WiFi...

that's what sucks about turning wifi off, got to remember to turn it back on.

And now at home, my iPad is now connecting to our 5GHz network because my iMac is connected to it. I've never connected the iPad to it before as our bedroom is in a location where the 5GHz network has poor service so I purposely use the 2.4GHz network on my iPad. But now it's connecting to the 5GHz before the 2GHz so I have to go in and disconnect and reconnect it.

I'm sure I'm a minority use case but we've got three scenarios between two of us where this new feature is a pain in the butt.

I've seen a couple other threads on this, but not a major lash back, so, yeah, more of a minority use case, but still a valid one, and will only be more valid, as these kinds of situations will only increase.

I think the solution for you is to turn off iCloud Keychain for your mobile devices until Apple gives us some kind of option to prefer or not log in to certain networks for individual devices. We need to be able to set our wifi preferences according to location (make your suggestion here: http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html)

Also, at home, on that iPad, go to the 2.4GHz network (Settings>Wifi>(network name), click on the blue i in a circle on the right, and click on "Forget this Network". Be sure you have "Ask to Join Networks" turned off also.

 

[bripab007]

I think the solution for you is to turn off iCloud Keychain for your mobile devices until Apple gives us some kind of option to prefer or not log in to certain networks for individual devices.

Essentially, that's not a solution.

 

[dontpannic]

Today I forgot to turn WiFi on when I got home so for four hours I was using data when I would rather be using WiFi.

"Siri, remind me when I leave work to turn on WiFi"
"Siri, remind me when I arrive at work to turn off WiFi"

Go into reminders, set them to recur, job done.

That's what geofenced reminders are for.

Or of course, you could download Trigger and use NFC ta....... oh, maybe not lol

 

[SnowDX]

"Siri, remind me when I leave work to turn on WiFi"
"Siri, remind me when I arrive at work to turn off WiFi"

Go into reminders, set them to recur, job done.

That's what geofenced reminders are for.

Yes this is what I ended up doing because Siri won't allow me to set up what I really want, which is "Siri, disable WiFi when I arrive at work" and "Siri, enable WiFi when I leave work".

 

[benji888]

Essentially, that's not a solution.

How is that not a solution? iCloud Keychain is new, only been available for weeks now, are you relying on it that much already?

If you turn off iCloud Keychain for the iPhone, then you can tell it to forget that wifi network, and, with ask to join networks turned off it won't connect automatically to that network anymore. Easiest solution IMO