Having to manually type in a Wi-Fi password is inconvenient, especially for mobile users on the go.

How about the option to automatically sign in without requiring any input?

No? Well, you can!

If you have been using Wi-Fi on your Laptop, Android, or iOS device for some time now, it’s possible that the “Automatic sign-in” option has already been enabled by default. 

In case it isn’t, though, don’t worry! I’ll go over it in detail in this article.

How to Automatically Sign In to Wi-Fi on Android

It is extremely easy to automatically sign in to a Wi-Fi network on any Android device — just head over to your device’s Settings menu, and select Network & Internet from the list. From there, start by entering into Wi-Fi Preferences. Once inside the Wi-Fi preferences section, you’ll be able to flip a toggle switch near the bottom of your screen labeled Connect to open networks.

By default, this option should already be enabled, but if it isn’t, then don’t worry! It’s just as easy to turn it on manually. In addition, having this option turned on will allow you to sign in without being prompted for a password. 

If this feature was already enabled, then you should be automatically signed in whenever your device is within range of any open Wi-Fi network.

Wait! If it is possible to automatically sign in, does this mean that the Wi-Fi network’s password is stored on your device?

Your passwords are stored locally on your Android device. However, you won’t be able to view them unless you have root access. 

The Android operating system stores a list of networks that you have previously connected to in the datamiscwifi directory in order to display them as options when attempting to connect again.

Why Does my Android Not Automatically Connect to Wi-Fi?

If your device isn’t connecting to Wi-Fi, it could be due to one or more of the following reasons:

1- Wi-Fi Network Authentication 

If your device is not connecting to a WPA or WEP encrypted network, then you will have to enter the password manually in order for it to connect. If this is the case, then consider the fact that your Android may need assistance from your carrier in order to gain access due to possible authentication issues with the encryption being used. 

2- Your Auto-Connect Settings Aren’t Enabled

Your device isn’t automatically connecting to the Wi-Fi network because you haven’t activated that function. But you can follow the steps I’ve mentioned below to fix that.

How to Automatically Sign In to Wi-Fi on iOS

Similar to Android, it’s possible to have your iPhone automatically sign in to a Wi-Fi network. Start by going into the Settings menu and entering into Wi-Fi, then switch the Auto-Join toggle to on. 

That’s it! Now, whenever your device comes within range of any open Wi-Fi network that you’ve already configured, it will automatically authenticate and attempt to connect without requiring an additional prompt or password. 

In addition, iOS provides a way for users to manage their list of preferred networks via the following steps:

1. Go into the Apple menu
2. Under System preferences, select the Network option
3. Now, select Wi-Fi and tap on Advanced
4. You should now be able to see and manage your preferred networks list

Be very careful before making any updates lest you accidentally remove stored Wi-Fi network information from your device entirely. 

As a result, automatic sign-in will no longer occur until you manually enter your passwords for each saved network you’ve modified.

How Does iOS Prioritize Auto-Join on Wireless Networks

Your iOS device will always prioritize auto-joining your most preferred wireless network, then the private network you’ve recently connected to or joined; if that’s not available, it will look for private networks, and finally open public networks.

iPhone Wi-Fi Auto-Login Missing

If your iOS device isn’t automatically joining a captive Wi-Fi network, do the following:

1. Tap Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Locate the network you want to join.
3. Tap on it.
4. If you’re having trouble connecting, check that Auto-Join is enabled and try again.

How to Share Your Wi-Fi Password From Your iPhone or iPad

If you need to share your Wi-Fi network’s password with different iOS devices, you can do so through the following steps.

1. Unlock the device that is connected to the Wi-Fi network.
2. On that device, go into the Network, then Wi-Fi settings
3. Locate the network you want your new device to connect to, then tap on Share Password
4. Tap Done

How to Automatically Sign In to Wi-Fi on Mac

In order to automatically sign in to Wi-Fi on your Mac, you have to follow these steps:

1. On your Mac, click the Apple menu (i.e., the Apple logo)
2. Now go into System preferences 
3. Click on Networks,which should display a list of networks
4. Locate the Wi-Fi network you want to auto-join and click on it
5. This should show a box labeled Automatically join this network; make sure to tick it

Disabling auto-join on your Mac comes down to deselecting that box.

How to Automatically Sign In to Wi-Fi on Windows

Connecting to a Wi-Fi network from your Windows 10 laptop is simple. You just have to do a few steps that will get you set up in no time.

The first time you connect, Windows will ask for a Wi-Fi network name and password, so it can be added to your list of available connections. Here are the steps you have to take:

1. Click on the Network icon located on the far right side of the taskbar.
2. Select a network from the available wireless networks list and tick the Connect automatically box.
3. Now, click on the Connect button
4. Enter the password, if necessary, to connect to that particular wireless network.

From now on, every time you’re in range of that Wi-Fi network, your Windows Laptop will automatically connect to it.

Can I Automatically Log in to Open Wi-Fi That Requires a Web Login/Password?

A lot of hotels, coffee shops, workplaces, etc., offer free wireless internet to customers or guests but require that you log in first with a username and password; this is usually done through their web portal.

It’s very common in places like airports, conferences, or university campuses.

The authentication/connection process should accept any device that correctly transmits the correct credentials. However, there are still some concerns:

The main issue is that you have to manually go in and type the credentials in the web portal every time you want to connect to the internet.

The best solution to automatically log in to open Wi-Fi that requires web login is by having your browser or password management tool on mobile or desktop, remember the credentials, that way, whenever you want to log in again, you can simply visit the portal, have your browser auto-fill the credentials, and click on connect.

How do I Get to the Wi-Fi Login Page on my Android?

A Wi-Fi login page means that when you try to connect with the Wi-Fi network, the authentication page will come first before allowing you to download and surf on the internet.

Here’s a quick and easy way to get the Wi-Fi login page on your Android device.

If you’re having trouble with connecting to any Public Wi-Fi accounts, such as the one at work or school, then this is for you.

Just follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Now, tap on the Public Wi-Fi network that you’re trying to connect to, then tap Connect.
3. That should bring up the Wi-Fi login screen provided by your organization or workplace, where it asks for both username and password before continuing to use the said connection. 
4. Now, enter in those details accordingly and voilà!
5. You can now surf on your phone without any hassle.

This problem usually happens for those who do not have a Personal Hotspot or tethering plan from their carrier or ISP (Internet Service Provider). 

What You Need to Know About Automatically Joining Wi-Fi Networks

If you have a limited data plan, the best way to avoid going over your monthly usage limit is to turn on Wi-Fi. 

You can usually turn it on by going to Settings > Wireless & networks > Wi-Fi settings and enabling it.

When enabled, your phone will automatically connect to any open wireless network that has been previously connected to or trusted by your phone or tablet.

In other words, even if you’re paying for “unlimited service” from a cellular provider, there’s no guarantee that you won’t be using up your quota.

So, it might be better to just have your device automatically log in to a Wi-Fi network, though there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Is Auto-Joining a Wi-Fi Network Safe?

The auto-join feature is designed to save you time, so you don’t have to go through the process of connecting to a wireless network every time your phone or tablet comes into range.

Since most people usually spend at least some time around their home location, this feature is enabled by default on most Android and iOS devices.

However, there are many reasons why you might want to disable the Wi-Fi auto-connect feature, which defaults to scanning for networks that are close enough for your device to connect with.

The biggest one is that the auto connect feature can interfere with your phone’s connection to its cellular network, so even if you want to remain connected to the 4G or 5G network, your network may automatically switch to the Wi-Fi network, just because it’s the default, that presumably should save your data plan.

This can result in some issues like losing data you were transferring through your cellular network, because of that switch.

Another reason why you might want to shut it off is that the auto-join feature will automatically connect to any open wireless network that has been previously connected to or trusted by your device.

This means that, even if you’re on a secure password-protected network, whether it’s at home or the office, your phone will try to connect itself to an open public network that isn’t password-protected, if the signal is perceived to be stronger, which may result in hackers accessing your data.

How do I Turn Off Auto Login for Wi-Fi?

Some users may prefer to switch off the Wi-Fi auto-connect feature and turn it on when they want to use a wireless network.

On most Android devices, this can be achieved by following these steps:

1. Go into the Settings
2. Tap on Connections
3. Now tap on Wi-Fi, then the 3 dots at the top right corner
4. Select Advanced
5. Toggle the options Turn on Wi-Fi automatically and Hotspot 2.0 to off

How to Turn Off Auto-Join Wi-Fi on the iPhone

Similar to Android devices, you can turn off the Wi-Fi auto-connect feature on an iPhone or an iPad.

1. Open Settings
2. Tap on Wi-Fi, where you should see your list of saved wireless networks
3. Turn off the Auto-Join option
4. This has to be repeated for all the networks you wish to connect to manually.