Repeated “Allow Google Chrome to find devices on local networks?” popup

[macrlz9]

I’ve been dealing with an annoying issue for quite a while and am hoping someone has a fix.

I constantly get this macOS Local Network permission popup:

A few details:

• This has been happening for a long time — it’s not specific to macOS Tahoe.
• It only happens with Google Chrome (no other apps repeatedly prompt like this).
• I always click “Don’t Allow.”
• Even after denying it, the prompt keeps coming back.
• I’m not 100% certain, but it seems like it might be triggered when:
• Chrome updates, or
• I switch Wi-Fi networks.

In System Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network, I’ve noticed multiple entries for Google Chrome over time. That makes me wonder if macOS is treating updated versions of Chrome as “new” apps and re-requesting permission.

Has anyone else experienced this?
Is there a way to permanently deny this permission so it stops asking?

I don’t use Chrome to cast to devices or access anything on my local network, so I don’t need this enabled, I just want the prompt to stop recurring.

 

[bhodinut]

Delete Chrome? I rarely use it and when I do it's on one laptop. Google doesn't know when to stop.

 

[macrlz9]

Delete Chrome? I rarely use it and when I do it's on one laptop. Google doesn't know when to stop.

Would love to! I have to use it for work so unfortunately not an option...

 

[bogdanw]

Deleting /Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkextension.plist and starting over might help.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/local-network-access-nightmare.2448144/

 

[Alameda]

Could be the result of a Chrome browser extension you installed.

 

[maflynn]

Could be the result of a Chrome browser extension you installed.

That sounds like a good place to start.

OP, try disabling all extensions, and see if the behavior is resolved - if so, slowly turn on extensions and test to isolate the culprit

 

[Rnd-chars]

Yep, I’ve seen that, too, but only on my work issued Mac.

It seems to happen when Managed Software Center (MSC) pushes a new update and not when updated through Google Chrome directly. Maybe MSC’s update mechanism effectively resets permissions, resulting in the periodic prompt.

 

[BrianBaughn]

If you go to:

chrome://flags/

there are five settings for "Local Network Access Checks". I don't know what switching them to "Disabled" will do, though.

 

[zevrix]

Another piece of pseudo-security drivel from Apple. I get this constantly from various apps. I always click Allow, but after some time the same apps show this idiotic message again. Frankly, I don't even know what this dumb request is about anyway (and don't care.)

I submitted feedback to Apple with a request to add option in System Settings to opt out of "local network" permission requests altogether. This way, users who don't want to be pestered with this nonsense won't have to deal with it. (FB21137213 for those who may want to reference the feedback.)