To change local network access on iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and turn the switch on or off for each app. Apps appear in this list only after they ask for permission, and you can change your choice at any time.
These steps cover iPhone models running iOS 14 or later, including iOS 27. On iOS 14 and iOS 15 the menu is called Privacy instead of Privacy & Security. iPad uses the same path on iPadOS 14 and later.
What Local Network Access Does
Your local network is the Wi-Fi network in your home or office and everything connected to it, such as a smart TV, Chromecast, Roku, printer, speaker, game console, or smart-home hub. Local network access lets an app search that network for devices and talk to them directly.
Before iOS 14, apps could scan your network without asking. Now the first time an app tries to look for devices, iOS shows a pop-up saying the app would like to find and connect to devices on your local network. Developers can add their own reason to the pop-up, such as finding a TV to cast to or finding other players for a local game. You choose:
- Allow gives the app access.
- Don’t Allow blocks it. Apple suggests this choice when you’re unsure why the app needs access.
The pop-up appears only once per app. After that, the switches described below are the only place to change the decision.
How to Turn Local Network Access On or Off
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security (Privacy on iOS 14 and 15). A list of privacy categories opens, starting with Location Services.
- Tap Local Network. You see every app that has asked for local network access, each with its own switch.
- Turn on the switch next to an app to allow access, or turn it off to block access. A green switch means the app is allowed.
- Return to the app and try the feature that uses a nearby device, such as its Cast button or printer search. If you turned access on, the device should now appear in the app’s list.
Each switch affects only one app. Turning one off doesn’t change any other app, and there is no single switch for the whole list. To block every app, turn off each switch.
For example, an app needs this permission when you cast Fandango (Vudu) to a Chromecast from an iPhone.
Change It From the App’s Own Settings Page
You can also reach the same switch from the app’s entry in Settings. This is handy when you’re already looking at other permissions for that app.
- Open Settings.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Apps, then tap the app’s name.
- Turn Local Network on or off. The switch appears only if the app has already asked for access.
On iOS 17 and earlier, the app is listed directly near the bottom of Settings, so tap its name there in step 2.
Both routes control the same permission, so a change in one place shows up in the other.
Which Apps Need Local Network Access
Leave access on for apps whose main job involves a device on your network. Turn it off for apps with no clear reason to scan your network, like a shopping or news app.
If you aren’t sure why an app wants access, ask the app’s developer.
| App type | Why it asks | What happens if you turn it off |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming apps (YouTube, Netflix, Fandango) | Finds a Chromecast or smart TV to cast to | The Cast button can’t find your TV |
| Remote and setup apps (Google Home, Roku) | Finds and controls the device | The app can’t see the device to set it up or control it |
| Printer and scanner apps from the maker | Finds the printer for scanning, ink levels, or setup | Maker-specific features stop; AirPrint still works |
| Multiplayer games | Finds players on the same Wi-Fi | Local multiplayer stops; online play is unaffected |
| Apps with no device feature | No clear reason | Usually nothing you would notice |
Google’s Local Network permission guide for Chromecast says you can’t cast from an app when its switch is off, and it tells you to turn on the switch for each app you want to cast from. Allowing the Google Home app doesn’t allow YouTube or Netflix. For the full setup, follow the steps for casting your iPhone to a Chromecast.
What Still Works When You Block an App
Blocking local network access doesn’t cut an app off from the internet. The app can still load content, sign you in, and stream over Wi-Fi or cellular data.
Apple also says a blocked app can still reach nearby devices through system services: AirPrint, AirPlay, AirDrop, and HomeKit. These are handled by iOS itself, not the app. For example, you can still print from a blocked app through the Share menu with AirPrint, as covered in adding a printer to an iPhone, and you can still use Screen Mirroring to an Apple TV.
Why the Permission Exists
An app with local network access can collect information about the devices around you. Over time, that data can show which networks you join and when, which could be used to build a profile of you. That’s the reason to say no to apps that don’t need nearby devices.
To see what data an app says it collects, open its page in the App Store and scroll to App Privacy. Developers report these details themselves, as Apple’s App Store privacy information page explains.
When the App Isn’t in the List
The app isn’t in the Local Network list. The list shows only apps that have asked. Open the app and start the feature that looks for a device, such as tapping Cast or searching for a printer. The pop-up should appear. If it never does, the feature may use Bluetooth or a cloud connection instead, which have separate permissions.
There is no Local Network option at all. The setting was added in iOS 14. Check your version in Settings > General > About. On iOS 14 and 15, look under Settings > Privacy.
The app is allowed but still can’t find the device. Check these in order:
- The iPhone and the device are on the same Wi-Fi network. Check the network name in Settings > Wi-Fi. An iPhone on cellular data won’t find a device on your home Wi-Fi.
- You aren’t on a guest network. Many routers keep guest devices apart from each other even though both have internet. On a Linksys E1000 you can turn off the guest network on the E1000.
- The device is powered on and connected. A router feature called AP isolation, which stops devices on the same Wi-Fi from talking to each other, is one cause of casting failures.
- Turn the app’s switch off and back on, then close and reopen the app.
You want every app to ask again. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy. This resets all location and privacy permissions, not just Local Network, so every app will ask again for location, camera, and the rest. Your apps and data stay on the phone. Use it only when you want a fresh start on permissions.
How to Confirm the Change Worked
Go back to Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and check the switch. Then open the app and try its device feature. With access on, your TV, printer, or speaker should appear in the app’s device list. With access off, the app’s own device search should come up empty, while AirPlay and AirPrint keep working.
Local Network Access Questions
Does turning off Local Network block the app from the internet?
No. The permission only controls whether the app can find and talk to devices on your Wi-Fi network. The app keeps its internet connection.
I tapped Don’t Allow by mistake. How do I fix it?
Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and turn on the switch for that app. The pop-up won’t appear again, so this is the only way to change the decision.
Is it safe to allow local network access?
It is reasonable for apps that clearly need it, like a streaming app casting to your TV or your printer maker’s app. Apple’s concern is apps that scan your network with no clear purpose, since that data can reveal where you are and which networks you use.
Will turning off Local Network delete the app or its data?
No. It changes one permission. You can turn it back on at any time. For a similar privacy check, see which iPhone apps can access your photos.
Is Local Network the same as Bluetooth access?
No. Bluetooth has its own list at Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth. Some accessories use both, so a setup app may ask for each one.
For the pop-up, what blocking access does, and the settings path in one place, read Apple’s If an app would like to connect to devices on your local network article.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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