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Cisco Meraki Integration
Connect CaptiFi to your Cisco Meraki wireless network using Meraki's click-through splash page. This is the simplest integration of all — no API keys, no controller credentials, no RADIUS.
Quick setup
Most venues complete this in under 15 minutes. You only need your Meraki Dashboard login and your CaptiFi site ID.
Prerequisites
- Cisco Meraki MR access point(s) online in your Meraki Dashboard
- Dashboard admin access for your organisation/network
- CaptiFi account at my.captifi.io. Choose Cisco Meraki in the set-up wizard and its Configure your controller step shows your splash URL, with the site ID filled in, and the walled garden list with copy buttons. If your account is already set up, the same values are under My Locations.
How It Works
- A guest connects to your guest SSID
- Meraki redirects them to your CaptiFi splash page (passing a one-time grant URL)
- The guest completes the splash form
- CaptiFi sends the guest's browser back to Meraki's grant URL — Meraki authorises the session automatically
No server-to-server API calls are involved — it's all handled in the guest's browser.
Step 1: Set the Custom Splash URL
- Open the Meraki Dashboard → Wireless → Configure → Splash page
- Select your guest SSID from the dropdown at the top
- Under Custom splash URL, select "Or provide a URL where users will be redirected"
- Enter:
https://app.captifi.io/guest/meraki?site_id=YOUR_SITE_IDReplace YOUR_SITE_ID with your CaptiFi site ID (the wizard's Configure your controller step shows the full URL with a copy button).
- Under the splash URL settings, switch Include the client MAC address in the splash URL on, so CaptiFi can recognise returning guests
- Click Save
Step 2: Configure Access Control
- Go to Wireless → Configure → Access control
- Select your guest SSID
- Configure:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Security | Open (no encryption) |
| Splash page | Click-through |
| Captive portal strength | Block all access until sign-on is complete |
- Click Save
Step 3: Add Walled Garden Domains
The walled garden allows guests to reach CaptiFi's servers before they authenticate. Without it, the splash page cannot load.
- Still in Access control, scroll to Advanced splash settings
- Set Walled garden to Walled garden is enabled
- Add these entries to Walled garden ranges:
app.captifi.io
site.app.captifi.io
*.captifi.io
network-auth.com
*.network-auth.com
fonts.googleapis.com
fonts.gstatic.com- Click Save
Don't skip the network-auth.com entries
network-auth.com and *.network-auth.com are Meraki's own authorisation hosts. Without them, guests can complete your splash page but Meraki never grants them access.
Step 4: Test
- Wait 1–2 minutes for the configuration to push to your access points
- Connect a phone to your guest SSID
- The CaptiFi splash page should appear automatically
- Complete the form — you should be granted access and redirected
- Check your CaptiFi dashboard: the guest appears under Guests, and while you are still in the wizard the Check the connection step turns green as the phone reaches the splash page and signs in
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Splash page not appearing | Verify Splash page is set to Click-through and the custom splash URL is saved on the correct SSID |
| Blank or broken splash page | Check all seven walled garden entries are present — fonts.googleapis.com and fonts.gstatic.com are needed for page assets |
| Guest completes form but is never authorised | Add network-auth.com and *.network-auth.com to the walled garden — the grant redirect goes through Meraki's own domain |
| "Configuration Error" message | The site_id in your splash URL is missing or wrong — copy it again from your CaptiFi dashboard |
| Guest completes form but no internet | Ensure Captive portal strength is "Block all access until sign-on is complete" and the SSID firewall isn't blocking post-auth traffic |
| Works on some APs only | Confirm all MR access points are online and broadcasting the guest SSID; configs can take a couple of minutes to push |
| HTTPS sites not triggering redirect | Guests may need to visit an HTTP site first (e.g. http://example.com) to trigger the portal |
Session Length
With click-through splash, the session duration is controlled by Meraki's splash frequency setting (Access control → Splash page → Splash frequency). Set it to how often you'd like returning guests to see the splash page (e.g. every day, every week).
Next Steps
Need Help?
- Email: support@captifi.io
- Live Chat: Available on captifi.io
- Meraki Documentation: Splash Page Overview