Support
Get help with Hotspot Guide
Email: support@hotspotguide.app
I read every message and respond within 24 hours. If you’re at the gate right now and stuck — include what you’re seeing and what checks are failing, and I’ll help you get online.
Common questions
The login page still won’t load after running diagnostics
Try these in order:
- Turn off iCloud Private Relay — System Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Private Relay. This is the #1 cause on hotel and airport Wi-Fi.
- Disconnect your VPN — VPNs intercept all traffic, including the portal redirect. Disconnect, join the portal, then reconnect.
- Switch DNS to automatic — System Settings → Wi-Fi → (your network) → Details → DNS. Remove custom entries like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8.
- Use “Force Login Page” — The button in the Diagnose tab opens
http://captive.apple.com/hotspot-detect.html, which forces the OS captive portal intercept. - Forget and rejoin the network — Sometimes the OS caches a stale state. Forget the network in Wi-Fi settings, then rejoin.
Why does the app need Location permission?
Apple gates Wi-Fi SSID access behind Location authorization for third-party apps. Without it, Hotspot Guide can’t read the network name — the curated venue database and connection history can’t match your hotel or airport. Your location data never leaves your Mac; it is never sent to any server.
The credential vault isn’t autofilling
The vault autofills based on SSID. If the network name changed, or if you’re at a different property in the same chain using a different SSID, the saved entry won’t match. Open the portal browser manually, log in, and save a new entry for the current SSID.
The speed test isn’t running
The speed test and packet loss measurement require a real internet connection. If you’re behind a captive portal that hasn’t been authenticated yet, those sections will be unavailable. Fix the login page first, then run the speed test from the Get Online tab.
Hotspot Guide says I’m online but my browser still shows the portal
Some portals use aggressive DNS interception that persists even after authentication. Try:
- Flushing your DNS cache: open Terminal and run
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder - Closing and reopening Safari
- Switching to a different DNS resolver temporarily (then switching back)
Privacy
Hotspot Guide collects no analytics, sends no telemetry, and has no cloud component. All diagnostics run locally on your Mac. Saved credentials are stored in the macOS Keychain under your account and are never synced to iCloud or any third-party server.
Report a bug or suggest a feature
Email support@hotspotguide.app with:
- Your macOS version (Apple menu → About This Mac)
- What you expected to happen
- What actually happened
- Screenshots of the Diagnose tab if relevant
Feature requests are very welcome — this app exists because I got tired of tethering every time a Marriott portal misbehaved.