Local network

An app cannot find devices on the local network

macOS 15 Sequoia and later ask before an app connects to devices on your local network. If you deny it, the app cannot reach them.

Applies to: macOS 15 Sequoia and later.Checked: 29 October 2026

Symptoms

  • An app cannot find a printer, NAS, camera or smart device that other apps find.
  • A connection to a local IP address waits and then fails in one app only.
  • The same command works in Terminal but not in the app.
  • You clicked Don't Allow on an earlier prompt from the app.

Likely causes

  • Local Network access is off for the app. The app's switch in Privacy & Security > Local Network is off.
  • The app is not in the list yet. macOS adds an app after it first asks for local network access.
  • A launch agent. Apple's technote says that daemons and Terminal tools are exempt, but launch agents are not.

How to check

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security.

  2. Click Local Network. Find the app in the list.

  3. Run the same test from Terminal. Terminal tools do not need this permission. If Terminal works, the permission is the likely cause.

    ping -c 3 192.168.1.20

How to fix it

  1. In Privacy & Security > Local Network, turn on the switch for the app.

  2. Quit the app and open it again.

  3. If the app is not in the list, open it and start the action that uses the local network. Then click Allow at the prompt.

  4. If your organization manages the Mac, ask your IT team. They can manage this setting.

With Kilobat

  1. Kilobat lists devices that the Mac talked to on the local network recently.

    kilobat devices --bonjour

  2. Kilobat's own device discovery in the dashboard is part of Pro.

Questions

What counts as the local network?

Apple's technote says Wi-Fi and Ethernet networks, plus multicast and broadcast addresses. VPN and cellular networks do not count.

Does Safari need this permission?

No. Apple's technote says that traffic from Safari and web views does not need local network access.

Sources

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with man <name> in Terminal.