Apple updates AirPort Utility app with iOS 13 compatibility

Following complaints of incompatibility with iOS 13, Apple on Monday issued an update to its AirPort Utility app, allowing users of devices running the latest operating system to control and manage the now discontinued first-party routers.

Release notes accompanying AirPort Utility version 1.3. note "general stability and security improvements," but the update is thought to address wider compatibility problems with iOS 13.

Users of Apple's AirPort management tool have complained of app crashes since iOS 13 launched in September. Specifically, the app would hang or crash when a device password was entered in the AirPort authentication prompt.

Subsequent iOS point updates, released over the past few weeks, did not rectify the situation, suggesting the AirPort Utility app was to blame.

What security updates are included in today's update remains unknown.

With Apple no longer producing AirPort base stations, updates for the company's first-party device management software have been few and far between. According to the App Store, AirPort Utility was last updated in September 2018.

The company continues barebones support of the AirPort line, though many customers have switched to faster routers marketed by third-party firms like Linksys, Netgear and Synology. In August 2018, for example, Apple pushed out a firmware update that delivered AirPlay 2 support to 802.11n AirPort Express base stations.

More recently, Apple in May issued an AirPort firmware update with security fixes, which was followed by patches for 802.11n AirPort Base Station and Time Capsule units in June.

Apple's AirPort Utility update is a free download from the iOS App Store.

21 Comments

sflocal 16 Years · 6138 comments

About 5 years ago

That's great news. I have a lot of AirPort routers still in use and being managed. Great that Apple still continues to support it. I only wish Apple would get back into the router segment. I have zero faith in what the competitors offer. All junk.

cornchip 11 Years · 1943 comments

sflocal said:

That's great news. I have a lot of AirPort routers still in use and being managed. Great that Apple still continues to support it. I only wish Apple would get back into the router segment. I have zero faith in what the competitors offer. All junk.

Right there with you. News came of Air Port's demise only weeks after I got my first Air Port router - albeit a used one off eBay. it replaced a junky old Belkin i think. Love the Air Port but don't know what I'll do if it ever bites it.

bobolicious 10 Years · 1178 comments

Joining the choir - this tech has been a favourite of mine still running multiple stations here as far back as 2008 hardware and would buy more if only Apple would embrace this again...

This was one of the things that made Apple so appealing to me & perhaps 'for the rest of us'...

My wishlist upgrades would have been simple - USB3 to speed non-network recovery & remote drive access along with easy (secure) user replacement of the internal drive...

What is Apple thinking winding down this most elegant and effective hardware...?

Rhythmagic 5 Years · 63 comments

Good job. I Knew I could trust yous.

bigtds 10 Years · 167 comments

sflocal said:

That's great news. I have a lot of AirPort routers still in use and being managed. Great that Apple still continues to support it. I only wish Apple would get back into the router segment. I have zero faith in what the competitors offer. All junk.

Build your own router using pfsense or Untangle free router/firewall software loaded on Protectli hardware. Very reliable and highly secure.