How to launch/open Captive Network Assistant app

I found something that may explain my I can’t open the Captive Network Assistant app. I operates in background every time a Captive Network is detected to bring up Mac’s own sign-in page. Apparently mine isn’t doing it.

This what I found poste elsewhere in 2020:

To avoid such confusing situations to their users, Apple came up with a feature called Captive Network Assistant. This feature unnecessitates opening a browser and causes the device to automatically prompt the user to provide credentials using a pseudo browser.Aug 10, 2020

So, I don’t get the Captive Network’s sign-in page, nor the Apple one that Captive Network Assistant is suppose to bring up instead. Doesn’t explain 1) why computer thinks I am connected when not, or 2) why same problem existed before on my iphone, but the iOS system (although can’t find a captive network assistant on my iphone.

Not sure where this leaves me, except unable to connect for next 2 months except on Apple’s smallest phone, the iPhoneSE.

First, thank you very much for answering. I have had this problem for 6 years. We spend a few months here every winter, and I’ve struggled with internet connection. Through 3 Macs (MBA, MBP, and now MBA M-1). Posted many times and had one answer many years ago.

Problem originally was with both MacOS and iOS on iPhone, but about 4 years ago, iOS fixed it. On iPhone, I click on captive network, network sign-in page opens. I enter UN and PW. It remembers it and does it automatically thereafter.

Not on new MBAir. I click network, MBA shows connected and does nothing more. My VPN, mail connection doctor and Safari say, No Internet connection.

I used to have workarounds. Turning computer on-and-off was best. No more. Bookmarking network sign-in on Safari also worked at times. No more.

And this happens, on both public wifi sign-in spots and on our in-home wifi with own router.

I haven’t tried Clearing History on Safari. Will when home system is back up and report.

I have Ventura 13.0 but can’t upgrade w/o connection.

But what about Captive Network Assistant. Why doesn’t it open? Read elsewhere that it will force the sign-in page to open. Is there a trick to open app?

Something is different in the iOS and MacOS in how each responses to captive networks. Apple fixed one, but not the other. Or so it appears to this locked out Applephile.

Thanks. This was useful information. Didn’t know I had pop-ups blocked. Unblocked the captive sign-in website, but got same result.

Again computer thinks it’s signed in to internet and shows it’s connected. But in fact not connected.

What does Mac Captive Network Assistant do? I have it, but can’t open. Read on other sites that it will manually force the captive sign-in page to open. Is that so? Since it’s part of the MacOS I assume it has a function.

Thanks for info.

Thanks. I'll give it a try. Next time.

Had a breakthrough today. At home wifi came back online today, although same captive network. computer connected to it, AUTOMATICALLY. I'm connected and online. but none of these fixes has held. Next time can't connect to next work, I try change to DNS.

Wifi Recommendations did not appear. Assume means didn't detect an issue, such as basic one that computer says I'm connected when I'm not. think that's the basic problem. my MBA doesn't detect that it must still open the captive network's sign-in page. When I've run diagnostics, it concludes that no internet connection. Correct.

will check these suggestions. Thanks. but I'm in country that monitors email and internet searches. No real access w/o an VPN. but good to know problems.