- iOS 19 could make it easier to connect multiple devices to public wi-fi
- Prior to that we expect iOS 18.5 to land in the next few days
- iOS 18.5 is a minor update but with some new features and adjustments
iOS 19 is probably an important update to Apple’s smartphone operating system. We have already heard, for example, that it may include a revised interface and support for new AI integrations like Google Gemini, but now we hear about a smaller but potentially very useful feature that could also be added.
According to Apple Watcher Mark Gurman, who writes in his Bloomberg newsletter (via 9to5Mac), iOS 19 will take some of the pain out of joining public Wi-Fi networks.
If you have ever joined public Wi-Fi, you know that this often involves filling out a web form which is a minor disadvantage. But if you want to connect multiple devices, fill out that form on all of them, which adds to the level of inconvenience. With iOS 19, you may only need to fill it in once.
According to Gurman, once you have completed the form on a device, this registration is synced with all your other Apple devices, making it a little faster to get them online.
As with any unannounced feature, of course, we would take this with a pinch of salt, but Gurman has an excellent track record for Apple information. We may find out for sure whether this feature is set for recording in June, as it is when the iOS 19 is likely to be announced – even if the finished version of iOS 19 probably won’t roll out until September.
iOS 19 is not the next update
However, you do not have to wait so long for new software as iOS 18.5 is expected to launch immediately.
There is no confirmed date yet, but iOS 18.5 RC (release candidate) was rolled out to beta users on May 6, which based on previous form means we could see the finished version the next day or two.
This will not be a massive overhaul of iOS, but it contains a few new features, including a new screen time feature that warns parents if the screen code is successfully entered on a child’s device. Since screen time contains different parental controls, this alarm ensures that the parents know if the limitations have somehow been bypassed.
iOS 18.5 also includes adjustments to the mail app and screen Settings, among other things, and of course it is sure to contain different bug fixes. So it’s definitely worth downloading when it lands.
