No prompt for public wifi username and password

I work in coffee shops a lot, and I always struggle to connect to the internet. I can connect my MacBook Pro to the network with no trouble, but I never get the prompt for a username and password. In order to use the internet I need to reboot, open my browser, and type something into the url bar. Then it finally takes me to the wifi login page.

I don't have the same issue with secure networks. It's only public networks that require login details.

This is simply the way the WiFi router has been set up. Security settings need to be changed to allow login via WEP password. However this would prevent just anyone from using it without first obtaining the network name and password from staff. Usually the "owner" would change that password every week. The "Public" setup is popular because it times out leaving bandwidth for other users and lets face it, users in a coffee shop often don't bother to log out. So you may see it as a pain but from the administrators point of view it saves a lot of work.
Having said all that you shouldn't have to reboot or do you mean "relaunch" the browser?

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure I was clear about the issue.

I understand how the network is set up and why. When I buy my coffee I am given a piece of paper with a username and password so I can use the wifi. I sit down, connect to the network and...nothing. There should be a prompt for username and password so I can log in, right? That's how it works on my phone, but my mac never gives me the prompt. I have to reboot the computer and type something in to the browser to get a prompt so that I can log in.

No.

It's called this.

Most coffee shops have 2 internet service providers DSL OR Cable if there using a DSL system most that are run by AT&T And Verizon Require you to be a customer to get wireless access for free or they charge you from a website on which you have to log into.

They do this from access points located at Starbucks and other coffee venues.

If they have a cable service most likely there using a outdated router or modem router combo that cannot keep up with the high demand of the network.

It's irregular. Some places cause a separate pop-up window to appear to let you log in, others require you play the game of trying to go somewhere in your web browser ... perhaps a few times ... before the sign-in page appears.

Under no circumstances will rebooting the computer have anything to do with it. That's just an extra thing you made up that you think you have to do, but it is not necessary.

ferrarr said:

Have you tried turning wifi off/on? Might be a quicker solution.

Click to expand...

I often run into the same issue as the OP and this is how I deal with it. It works almost every time.

I suspect your problem is that your mac is remembering the network and settings.. When you go back and try to connect it is "holding" the settings from the last time but the router has already cleared you out.

Resetting your computer clears the cache and now forces your computer to request a new ip address instead of trying to use the last ip and settings it had when on the network.

A quicker and easier fix that might work would to open your system preferences -> network -> advanced -> TCP/IP tab and click "Renew DHCP Lease". That will force your computer to request a new ip address. Won't hurt and might just save you resetting your computer.

That is if what Ferrarr suggested doesn't work because it should do the same thing.

Lisa

I've had this same problem carry forward via Time Machine from an older macbook pro to my current one, through OS updates as well. It just happened to me again this morning and I would love to resolve it.

At a new (to me) coffee shop, my iPhone connected without a problem. I joined the network, got the password prompt, entered the password, and was on the network. So it's clearly an issue with my computer and not the network itself.

On my laptop, I joined the network but never got the password prompt. Sometimes going to a specific router address (192.168.n.n:nnnn) works for me in other locations, but none of the ones I tried worked at this location.

I renewed the DHCP lease, deleted the network and tried connecting again, and even rebooted. Nothing worked.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.