Local Network Access iPhone – Learn How to Set it Up

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Local Network Access iPhone

The Local Network Access feature of the iPhone is a security feature that iOS 14 devices users enjoy. This article will show you what a Local Network Access iPhone means and how to toggle it. You’ll also see whether the feature works in iOS 11, 12, 13, and 15.

Key Takeaways

  • Local Network Access is iOS personal security introduced in iOS 14 to allow or deny apps to access your local network.
  • To set it up, go to settings> privacy> Local Internet> Apps management.
  • “Deny Access” is a good default setting. However, some vital apps need LN access—like Chromecast and Hulu.

Also, this article will be handy if you’re having trouble connecting to your Chromecast, Apple TV, and anything else from your iOS device. Enough of the intro. Let’s get to it. 

What Does Local Network Access Mean on iPhone?

Local Network Access on iPhone means you gain control over your web activity. It means that Apple developed a personal security toggle for iOS devices starting from iOS 14, including iPads and iPhones, following the security concern where web companies can track your activity using in-built app plug-ins. So if you had an iPhone 7, you must have received the update.

Local Network Access forces any application that wants to access or interact with a device on your local internet to ask for permission before browsing your network.  Here’s what I mean. 

Apps with access to the local network you are part of may collect information about nearby devices. The aim is a sort of advertisement profiling whereby an app uses metadata advertising plug-ins built into the application by the developers. 
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It goes out on your network, feels around, and looks for different devices in your network. Such devices may include your Roku, Apple TV, or Chromecast. The plug-in uses the information from these devices by comparing it with the same information when you’re using a different application. 

So if your Local network is unique enough, combined with everything it can gather, it figures out who you are and creates an advertisement profile that helps advertisers pop up ads specific to you.

That’s the privacy concern that a Local Network Access addresses. With LNA, you can tap okay for the apps you’re okay accessing your network and deny access for any fishy unclear apps. 

Related: How Do I Find My Network Security Key? (Simple Steps!)

Should I Enable Local Network on iPhone?

Yes, you should enable Local Network on your iPhone. That’s because you get the apps to request access to your network instead of connecting directly, thus infiltrating your privacy.

App developers usually customize a message explaining why their Application wants to access. For instance, a streaming application may look for a connected screen. 

You can tap ok to allow or deny access in such a case. But for an unclear app wanting access, tap “don’t allow.” And you can change LNA whenever you want to allow or revoke access to your network.

Related: Best Mesh WiFi System – 6 Options For All Budgets And Needs

How Do I Give Local Network Access on iPhone?

To give Local Network access on iPhone, follow the following simple steps. 

  1. Open settings.
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    2. Scroll to the blue hand denoted as privacy.
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    3. Click privacy and then Local Network. 
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    4. The screen following tapping LN is a list of Applications requesting to communicate on your local network. Go ahead and allow the ones you want and leave the rest. 
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Related: How to Turn Off Safesearch on iPhone – A Step-By-Step Guide

What Happens When You Allow an App to Access Local Network?

When you allow an app to access the Local Network, the app can see the devices in the network, control those devices and take information about devices in the network. In short, it allows apps to communicate, scan, and take info on connected gadgets in the home network.

Certain Apps need Local Network access for you to benefit from their services. So it is crucial to give them access. Examples of apps to allow access would include:

  • Chromecast
  • HULU
  • Airport Utility
  • Apple Music,
  • Apple TV app 

Other apps you may deny access to, unless necessary, include: 

  • Amazon
  • Alchemy
  • AirVisual,
  • BestBuy,
  • Background.

You can change the settings always whenever you change your mind about the app to allow or deny it at any time.

Local Network Access iPhone Chromecast

With an iPhone or iOS 14, the problem of accessing Chromecast and getting to work is quite common. 

Now Chromecast is a device to stream to, not a streaming device on its own like an Apple TV or other set-top boxes. So you require your phone, sometimes two phones—one for casting and the other as a hotspot when you don’t have a local network.

So for some reason, it could be that when you tried a different media player like Hulu or Netflix, the little Chromecast button didn’t appear on your screen. That’s what I’m talking about, and it is, most likely, an issue with your device’s Local Network Access. 

Here’s how to restore communication to your Chromecast from your iOS 14. This process should do the trick for any streaming issue, especially with Chromecast audio devices, Roku gadgets, Sonos, and Apple TVs.

  1. Tap Settings
  2. Click on Privacy
  3. Tap Local Network
  4. Turn on Chromecast. That should do the trick. 

Local Network Access iPhone Not Working

What if the LN acts out and cannot restore communication with Chromecast or any other app? In that case, reset the phone and restart your router. To perform the iPhone reset, follow the instructions below.

  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to General
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    3. Click on Reset
    4. Hit Reset All Settings
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    5. Enter your password

Then recheck it. If it doesn’t work, it is time to consider a new Chromecast and iPhone. 

This feature shouldn’t fail on your iOS device. Therefore, ensure your device is Local Network access enabled. So far, Apple has enabled Local Internet on iOS devices from 7 to 15.

Related: How to Spy on Devices Connected to My Wi-Fi? Follow These Steps

Local Network Access iPhone iOS 12, 13, 15 &16

iPhone iOS 12, 13, 15 &16 also have the Local Network feature. To manage Local Network access on these devices, follow the instructions below:

  • Tap Settings
  • Click on Privacy
  • Select Local Network
  • Choose Apps

Now you can select which apps have Local Network Access.

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