iPhones Will Soon Be Able to Bypass CAPTCHAs Automatically

Massive update coming to the iPhone with iOS 16

Apple’s upcoming iOS 16 operating system update for the iPhone will include a major new feature that will make it possible for the device to automatically resolve CAPTCHAs.

More specifically, Apple has developed a way that allows websites to automatically verify the device when an Apple ID is enabled, especially running the whole process in the background without users being required to prove they are humans.

In essence, the implementation relies on a Private Access Token that is generated after several verifications are met, including a check for an Apple ID. The website receives the Private Access Token, which confirms that a human is using the device, and then grants the access without the need for a CAPTCHA to be resolved.

Needless to say, the new feature requires websites themselves to add support for the new feature, and as it turns out, Cloudflare and Fastly have already implemented support for automatic verification.

Feature announced at WWDC

Apple engineer Tommy Pauly introduced the new feature at WWDC, explaining that it’ll be baked into iOS 16 when the new operating system update launches later this year.

“This is going to save a lot of people, a lot of time, and your customers will appreciate being trusted. Private Access Tokens let servers avoid CAPTCHAs, like you just saw, by using technology being standardized in the IETF Privacy Pass working group. Apple is working with companies across the industry to make this possible,” he said.

iOS 16 is already in preview right now, but the testing builds are exclusive to developers for the time being. Apple plans to ship a public beta at some point in July, with the final release expected to go live, as per the company’s typical release calendar, in September.

The iPhone 8 and newer will all receive the new operating system update.