How do I force the captive portal login page to open?

Open your browser and go to a plain, unencrypted http:// address such as http://neverssl.com. The captive portal intercepts unencrypted traffic and redirects it to the login page. HTTPS sites are not intercepted, which is why they hang instead of redirecting.

Why won't the WiFi login page load?

Usually because your browser is trying to reach HTTPS sites, which a captive portal cannot redirect. Other causes are a cached DNS entry, an active VPN, or a browser that auto-upgrades every address to HTTPS. Visiting a plain http:// address, turning off any VPN, and forgetting then rejoining the network resolves most cases.

What is the captive portal URL?

There is no single fixed URL because each network runs its own portal. The reliable way to reach it is to request any http:// page and let the network redirect you. Devices also probe known check URLs (Apple uses captive.apple.com, Android uses connectivitycheck.gstatic.com) to trigger the portal automatically.

How do I open the captive portal on an iPhone or Android?

On both, first tap the network name in WiFi settings, which reopens the portal in many cases. If nothing appears, open a browser and visit an http:// address like http://neverssl.com. On iPhone, disabling 'Use Private Address' for that network can also help; on Android, tap the 'Sign in to network' notification.

The login page loads but won't let me connect. What now?

This is usually a VPN, an ad blocker, or a browser blocking cookies interfering with the portal's authorization step. Disable those temporarily, or try a different browser. If it still fails, the issue is on the network operator's side rather than your device.

How to Open the Captive Portal Login Page (When It Won't Show Up)

You connect to the WiFi at a cafe, hotel, or airport, the login screen is supposed to pop up, and nothing happens. The fastest fix is to open your browser and visit a plain, unencrypted address such as http://neverssl.com. The network will intercept that request and redirect you straight to the login page.

Here is why that works, plus step-by-step fixes for each device when it doesn't.

The 10-second fix: open a browser, type http://neverssl.com (note the http, not https), and press go. If a login page still doesn't appear, work through the device-specific steps below.

Why the login page doesn't appear on its own

A captive portal works by intercepting unencrypted web traffic and redirecting it to the login page. The problem is that almost every modern site and browser now defaults to HTTPS, which is encrypted. A portal can't cleanly redirect an encrypted request without triggering a certificate warning, so instead of a login page you just get a site that hangs or times out.

Your device tries to solve this automatically. When it joins a network it quietly requests a known check page in the background (Apple uses captive.apple.com, Android uses connectivitycheck.gstatic.com). If that request gets redirected, the device knows a portal is present and pops the login window. When that automatic check fails, for example because of a cached DNS record or a VPN, you have to trigger the portal manually. That is what visiting an http:// address does.

Step by step, by device

iPhone and iPad

Open Settings > WiFi and tap the network name again. This alone reopens the portal in many cases.
If nothing appears, open Safari and go to http://neverssl.com.
Still stuck? In Settings > WiFi, tap the i next to the network and turn off Use Private Address, then rejoin.

Android

Pull down the notification shade and tap the Sign in to network notification.
If there is no notification, open Chrome and visit http://neverssl.com.
Under Settings > Network & internet > WiFi, tap the network, and if you see a privacy or MAC setting, switch it to use the device MAC and reconnect.

Windows

Windows usually shows a notification to sign in. If it doesn't, open your browser and visit http://neverssl.com.
Disconnect and reconnect to the network from the WiFi menu to re-trigger the check.
If your browser forces HTTPS, try another browser or an InPrivate window.

Mac

macOS normally opens the portal in its own login window. If it closed too early, click the WiFi icon, turn WiFi off and on, and rejoin.
Open Safari and go to http://neverssl.com to force the redirect.

If it still won't open

Turn off any VPN. A VPN routes your traffic past the portal, so the redirect never reaches you.
Disable ad blockers or content blockers for the session. They can break the portal's scripts.
Forget the network and rejoin. This clears a half-finished session that the device thinks is already authorized.
Try a different browser. Some browsers aggressively upgrade every address to HTTPS, which prevents the redirect.
Type an IP-based or plain HTTP address you know is unencrypted, rather than searching, since search results are HTTPS.

If none of that works, the problem is almost certainly on the network's side rather than your device, such as a misconfigured portal or an access point that isn't redirecting properly. At that point the venue's staff or IT are the ones who can fix it.

FAQ

How do I force the captive portal login page to open?: Open your browser and visit a plain http:// address such as http://neverssl.com. The portal intercepts unencrypted traffic and redirects it to the login page; HTTPS sites are not intercepted, which is why they hang.
Why won't the WiFi login page load?: Usually because your browser is only trying HTTPS sites, which a portal cannot redirect. A cached DNS entry, an active VPN, or a browser that auto-upgrades to HTTPS can also block it. Visit a plain http:// address, turn off any VPN, and rejoin the network.
What is the captive portal URL?: There is no single fixed URL; every network runs its own. Request any http:// page and let the network redirect you, which is how the portal is meant to be reached.
How do I open the captive portal on an iPhone or Android?: Tap the network name in WiFi settings to reopen it, or visit http://neverssl.com in a browser. On iPhone, disabling Use Private Address for that network can help; on Android, tap the Sign in to network notification.
The login page loads but won't let me connect. What now?: A VPN, an ad blocker, or a browser blocking cookies is usually interfering with the authorization step. Disable those temporarily or try a different browser. If it still fails, the issue is on the network operator's side.

Want to understand what's happening behind that login screen? Our explainer on what captive WiFi means covers the mechanics in plain English, and if you run a venue, what a captive portal is for hospitality operators shows how to set one up so guests never hit these problems in the first place.