Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Sign up and unsubscribe
Via the app (recommended)
Go to download the app. Your device (Android or iOS) will automatically connect to wifi. Other devices can then be registered with the login details from the app (under menu > my account).
Via the website
Request an account via the website. You will receive an SMS with login details. Then register your devices manually for wifi.
Via SMS
Send an SMS with publicroam to 0970 10 260 261 (or add country code +31 970 10 260 261). You will receive an SMS with login details. Then register your devices manually for wifi.
Publicroam does not charge any fees for SMS. Depending on your subscription, your telecom provider may charge costs. Please check with your provider for more information.
I cannot log in / my device does not connect
We recommend downloading the publicroam app. Do you still want to sign up without the app? Then follow the checklist below to see where it goes wrong.
Step 1. Did you request a publicroam account?
Yes => go to step 2
No => request a publicroam account
Step 2. Did you receive an SMS with login details from publicroam?
Yes => go to step 3
No => go to I did not receive an SMS with login details
Step 3. Have you previously connected to a wifi network with publicroam?
Yes => go to step 5 (skip one step)
No => go to step 4
Step 4. Is the SMS with login details you received less than 48 hours old?
Yes => go to step 5
No or don’t know => request a new publicroam account
Step 5. Are you close enough to a wifi network with publicroam?
Check the list of wifi networks on your device. The network ‘publicroam’ must be visible with at least 3 signal bars
Yes => go to step 6
No => make sure you are close to a wifi network with publicroam (see publicroam locations)
Step 6. Is your device trying to automatically connect to publicroam?
Yes => go to step 7
No or don’t know => go to reset everything
Step 7. Check whether you entered the correct wifi settings
See device-specific instructions at login help.
NOTE: username and password must match exactly.
Step 8. Have you tried everything and it still doesn’t work?
There may be a service disruption. Please contact us
If you use the publicroam app
You can unsubscribe via the app (Menu > My account > Terminate account)
If you do not use the publicroam app
Send an SMS with the text stop to 0970 10 260 261 (sometimes it only works with the country code, then use +31 970 10 260 261). Do this from the mobile number (06) you previously used to sign up for publicroam. You will immediately receive an SMS confirming that your account has been terminated.
This also withdraws your consent for processing your data. We store your data for up to 6 months after cancellation and then permanently delete it.
Via the app (recommended)
Go to download the app. Your device (Android or iOS) will automatically connect to wifi. Other devices can then be registered with the login details from the app (under menu > my account).
Via the website
Request an account via the website. You will receive an SMS with login details. Then register your devices manually for wifi.
Via SMS
Send an SMS with publicroam to 0970 10 260 261 (or add country code +31 970 10 260 261). You will receive an SMS with login details. Then register your devices manually for wifi.
Publicroam does not charge any fees for SMS. Depending on your subscription, your telecom provider may charge costs. Please check with your provider for more information.
You will receive the SMS with login details (username and password) immediately after requesting an account. The sender of the SMS is ‘publicroam’.
No SMS received? Choose one of the following options:
I requested an account via the website
– Request an account again via the sign-up screen
– Check that you provided the correct mobile number. The SMS is sent to this number.
I requested an account via SMS
– Request an account again by texting publicroam to 0970 10 260 261 (sometimes it only works with the country code, then use +31 970 10 260 261).
Do you get a message that an account already exists for this number?
– Send an SMS with the text stop to 0970 10 260 261 (sometimes it only works with the country code, then use +31 970 10 260 261). Do this from the mobile number you previously used to sign up. You will immediately receive an SMS confirming that your account has been terminated. Then request a new account.
If you still do not receive an SMS after these steps, please contact us at support@publicroam.nl or call us at 030 – 307 44 99
If you use the publicroam app,
Your login details are in the app (Menu > My account > Login details)
If you do not use the publicroam app
Your login details are in the SMS you received after requesting an account. You can find the SMS on your smartphone in your SMS messages (not in WhatsApp). The sender of the SMS is ‘publicroam’.
Didn’t receive an SMS with login details?
Then see: I did not receive an SMS with login details.
If you use the publicroam app
Your login details are in the app (Menu > My account > Login details)
If you do not use the publicroam app
Your login details are in the SMS you received after requesting an account. You can find the SMS on your smartphone in your SMS messages (not in WhatsApp). The sender of the SMS is ‘publicroam’.
Can’t find the SMS with login details?
Then download the publicroam mobile app via the app store. Open the app and select ‘I already have an account’ at the top of the sign-in screen. The app will make you connect automatically.
Don’t want to use the mobile app? Then follow these 2 steps:
1. Send an SMS with stop to 0970 10 260 261 (sometimes it only works with the country code, then use +31 970 10 260 261). Do this from the mobile number you previously used to sign up for publicroam. You will immediately receive an SMS confirming that your account has been deleted.
2. Request a new account via the homepage of publicroam. Don’t have internet on your phone? Then send an SMS with publicroam to 0970 10 260 261 (sometimes it only works with the country code, then use +31 970 10 260 261); you will then receive an SMS with login details.
Check whether you are at a location where publicroam is available. See https://publicroam.com/en/locations/
Are you at a publicroam location? Then enter your details again.
Not sure or does this happen more often? Please contact publicroam support at 030 – 307 44 99 or support@publicroam.nl.
If you received your login details via SMS, you must log in with a device within 48 hours to a wifi network with publicroam. If you do not, we will delete your login details for security reasons and ask you to request a new publicroam account via the sign-up screen.
If you use the publicroam app, the 48-hour period does not apply. For example, you can also download the mobile app at home and sign yourself up. As soon as you arrive at a publicroam location, you will connect automatically.
Your account is linked to your mobile number. If your mobile number changes, delete the account linked to your old number. Then request a new account with your new mobile number.
Delete your account as follows:
If you use the publicroam app
Go to Menu (top right in the app) > My account > Terminate account
If you do not use the publicroam app
Terminate your account by sending an SMS with the text stop to 0970 10 260 261 (sometimes it only works with the country code, then use +31 970 10 260 261) from your old mobile number. You will immediately receive an SMS confirming the cancellation.
No longer have access to your old mobile number?
Then send an email to support@publicroam.nl including your old mobile number and your username. We will then delete the account linked to your old mobile number.
If you use the publicroam app
Remove the app from your device. The wifi profile for publicroam will then also be removed. Do you have Android 10 or lower? Then you must still remove the wifi profile yourself. Follow the steps below.
If you do not use the publicroam app
Then follow these steps:
iPhone/iPad/Macbook/iMac
– Make sure you are within range of a wifi network with publicroam
– Go to Settings and choose Wi-Fi. Make sure Wi-Fi is on (toggle)
– Tap the ‘i’ next to the publicroam network
– Choose Forget this network
Macbook/iMac (OS version Catalina or earlier)
– Make sure you are within range of a wifi network with publicroam
– Click the wifi icon in the top bar of your Macbook/iMac.
– Choose Open Network Preferences in the dropdown menu
– Select Wi-Fi from the network list (left)
– Click Advanced (bottom right)
– Select publicroam in the list of wifi networks
– Click the minus sign (‘-’) under the list of wifi networks
– Click OK
– Click Apply
Android
– Make sure you are within range of a wifi network with publicroam
– Go to Settings on your Android device by tapping the settings icon (gear)
– Choose Wi-Fi
– Select the publicroam wifi network and press and hold briefly. A choice menu appears.
– Choose Forget network
Check the quality of the wifi network.
You can see this in the overview of wifi networks on your device. The network ‘publicroam’ must be visible with at least 3 signal bars. With poor reception the error message may reappear regularly.
Check whether you have copied your username and password correctly (see SMS or in the publicroam app)
Re-enter the username and password and make sure you copy them exactly as shown in the SMS or in the publicroam app.
Does the message keep appearing?
Then remove the publicroam wifi network from your device and sign up again. Read here how to do that.
At this time you cannot change your password. You don’t need to, because after entering your username and password you will go online automatically everywhere and you will not need to enter your password again.
If you use the publicroam app
Go to Menu (top right in the app) > choose Re-register (red button).
If you do not use the publicroam app
Follow these steps:
1. Send an SMS with the text stop to 0970 10 260 261 (sometimes it only works with the country code, then use +31 970 10 260 261). Do this from the mobile number you previously used to sign up for publicroam. You will immediately receive an SMS confirming that your account has been terminated.
2. Remove the ‘publicroam’ wifi profile from your device. Click here to see how to do that.
3. Request a new account via the sign-up screen. Then sign up again to a wifi network with publicroam.
No. Your account is personal and linked to your mobile number. You may not share your details with others. If it turns out that you are sharing your account, we will close your account.
Yes. You may use your account on multiple devices, as long as you manage them yourself.
Certificates
Publicroam secures guest wifi through certificates. This prevents usernames or data traffic from being intercepted by malicious parties. With the help of certificates, the authenticity of a publicroam guest network is verified. This way, your device automatically connects to any guest network that participates in publicroam (and not to other networks).
If you use the publicroam app
The certificate will be installed automatically.
If you do not use the publicroam app
On some devices (such as iOS and Windows) you must accept a certificate the first time you log in. On other devices (Android) you need to install the certificate yourself.
You can recognize the certificate by:
Name: publicroam.nl
Owner: Publicroam BV
Issued by: Sectigo RSA Extended Validation Secure Server CA
Expires on: 28-03-2026
Serial number: 00 E8 84 5B 0E C6 C4 C1 90 4B C4 99 10 CB 24 54 F4
The easiest way to install the certificate is to download the publicroam app. The certificate will then be installed automatically.
Do you still want to sign up without the publicroam app?
Then follow the steps below:
NOTE: This is only for Android 10 or lower. See here how to install the certificate on higher Android versions
Make sure you are near a wifi network with publicroam. See publicroam locations
Step 1: Open this link on your Android device: https://publicroam.nl/certificate-latest
Step 2: You will see the ‘Certificate name’ screen. Do the following:
Type as certificate name: publicroam
Under that choose: Wi-Fi (under ‘Used for’)
Do you get a message about screen lock? Click OK and set this up.
Step 3: On your Android device go to Settings (gear icon). Choose Wi-Fi
Step 4: Select the publicroam wifi network and press and hold briefly. A menu appears.
Step 5: Choose Manage network settings. Don’t get this option? Then choose Forget network and reselect the publicroam wifi network.
Step 6: Choose the following settings (scroll down):
EAP method: PEAP
Phase 2 authentication: MSCHAPv2
CA certificate: select publicroam and click Save*
Identity: Username (already provided, or see SMS from publicroam)
Anonymous identity: leave empty
Password: Password (already provided, or see SMS from publicroam)
Step 7: Click Connect
Your account is now active with a certificate
—
*Don’t see this option? Then something may have gone wrong during installation. Go back to Step 1. If that doesn’t work or you don’t have time, choose Do not validate or Unspecified. If you then see the message ‘No certificate specified, your connection is not private’, publicroam will still work. Be alert if you are ever asked to re-enter your login details; only do this at a publicroam location. We recommend trying to install the certificate later.
The easiest way to install the certificate is to download the publicroam app. The certificate will then be installed automatically.
Do you still want to sign up without the publicroam app?
Then follow the steps below:
NOTE: This is only for Android 11 and higher. See here how to install the certificate on other Android versions
Make sure you are near a wifi network with publicroam. See publicroam locations
Step 1: Open this link on your Android device: https://publicroam.nl/certificate-latest
Step 2: On your Android device go to Settings (gear icon). Choose Security then Advanced
Step 3: Choose Encryption & credentials, then Install a certificate.
Step 4: Choose CA certificate. You may see the message ‘Your data is not private’, choose ‘Install anyway’. Verify your identity with your fingerprint or pattern. Choose the file pr-nl6.cer. Your certificate is now installed.
Step 5: Go back to Settings. Choose Wi-Fi and tap the gear next to the publicroam wifi network.
Step 6: Tap the pencil icon to edit. Choose the following settings (scroll down):
EAP method: PEAP
Phase 2 authentication: MSCHAPv2
Online certificate status: select Request certificate status and click Save*
Identity: Username (already provided, or see SMS from publicroam)
Anonymous identity: leave empty
Password: Password (already provided, or see SMS from publicroam)
Step 7: Click Connect
Your account is now active with a certificate
—
*Don’t see this option? Then something may have gone wrong during installation. Go back to Step 1. If that doesn’t work or you don’t have time, choose Do not validate or Unspecified. If you then see the message ‘No certificate specified, your connection is not private’, publicroam will still work. Be alert if you are ever asked to re-enter your login details; only do this at a publicroam location. We recommend trying to install the certificate later.
Yes. Publicroam secures guest wifi via certificates. On your first login you must accept a certificate on some devices (such as iOS and Windows). If you follow the steps described at login help, you don’t need to do anything else.
It can occasionally happen that you are asked to accept the certificate again. In that case, check whether you are at a publicroam location. Verify the certificate and accept it.
Do you have an Android device and want to add or renew the certificate?
We recommend downloading the publicroam app. If you don’t want to or can’t, you can also install the certificate yourself.
How do you recognize the certificate?
See the certificate characteristics
You can download the certificate from this link: https://publicroam.nl/certificate-latest
Publicroam secures guest wifi with a certificate. Most devices allow you to accept the certificate directly at signup (e.g. iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Windows). On Android devices you must install the certificate yourself.
If you cannot accept the certificate, publicroam will still work. Publicroam is still safer than open wifi networks that work without a password or with a shared password. However, be alert if you are asked to register your device again; only do this at a publicroam location.
Publicroam’s security certificate is renewed annually. When you connect to wifi via publicroam after that, you may receive a notification. What should you do?
Do you already have a publicroam account?
You will automatically be asked to accept a new certificate when you log in to a publicroam guest network. This is a one-time action.
Before you accept the certificate:
1. Check whether you are at a publicroam location. See all locations
2. Check whether the certificate is from publicroam. The certificate shows ‘publicroam.nl’. The issuer is Sectigo. See all characteristics here
Do you have an Android device and can no longer connect?
We recommend downloading the publicroam app. If you don’t want to or can’t, you can also install the certificate yourself.
Don’t have a publicroam account yet?
Follow the login procedure for your device. See login help.
How do you recognize the certificate?
See the certificate characteristics
Other topics
Send us an email including your mobile number and your username, stating that you want to know what we have registered about you. In general, we will send you the requested data within two weeks. We may ask you to confirm your identity. You can email us at support@publicroam.nl.
Publicroam gives you access to the internet via hundreds of wifi networks with a single account. To prevent abuse, a mobile number is registered.
With publicroam you surf anonymously: the data exchanged with participating guest wifi networks is not directly traceable to you as a person. Organizations that offer publicroam do not, for example, know your mobile number or your email address.
Publicroam has a strict privacy policy. Data is not shared with third parties, except where required by law. In 2020, publicroam won the Privacy Award from Stichting Privacy First.
See the current terms of use and the privacy statement.
Effective date 4 March 2021
Privacy Statement: Addition of the paragraph ‘Publicroam and privacy’ explaining the policy for processing and securing personal data.
Privacy Statement: Addition that further agreements by guest organizations about data processing must always align with publicroam’s policy for processing and securing personal data.
Effective date 12 January 2021
Terms of Use: Addition that an account can also be requested and cancelled via the publicroam mobile app.
Terms of Use: Addition that guest organizations can rely on the terms of use with respect to users.
Terms of Use: Removal of the requirement that you can only use the service with a device with a fixed MAC address.
Privacy Statement: Addition that a publicroam account will be deleted when publicroam has not been used for 12 months.
Privacy Statement: Addition about processing data for sending service messages and newsletters.
Privacy Statement: Addition that guest organizations can provide further explanation in their own privacy statement about how they process data within the framework of the Privacy Statement.
Is the answer to your question not listed?
Please email us your question at info@publicroam.nl or use the contact page.