How to Turn On or off the Local Network Access Feature in Microsoft Edge
You can turn the local network access feature in Microsoft Edge on or off in Settings Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions Local network access. The local network access settings control how websites connect to smart devices on your home network, such as printers and streaming boxes. Added in version 98, the feature stops unfamiliar sites from finding or controlling your gear without permission.
Managing this setting helps you block risky web apps from reaching your local devices. You can switch the main setting on or off in a few clicks. This tutorial also shows how to allow or block individual sites, so you don’t have to change the main setting for every website you visit.
The steps are the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro. If your PC is managed by an employer or school, an administrator may have locked the setting. In that case it will look greyed out or show a message that your organization manages it. Only your IT department can change it then.
Open Microsoft Edge Settings Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions Local network access, then toggle the Ask before accessing switch on or off. Turning it off stops Edge from prompting before websites access your home network devices; turning it on restores the permission prompt.
Step 2Managing Permissions for Specific Websites
These steps open the local network access settings in Edge, where you can turn the feature on or off and allow or block specific websites from talking to devices on your home network.
- Open Microsoft Edge. Use the taskbar icon or the Start menu. You should see a normal browser window.
- Open the Settings menu. Click the three horizontal dots (
...) in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the menu that appears, select Settings. The Settings page opens in a new tab.
- Select Privacy, search, and services. Click Privacy, search, and services on the left side of the Settings page. The page on the right changes to show privacy options.
- Open Site permissions. Scroll down the page until the Permissions section appears, then click Site permissions. You should now see a list of permission types, such as location and camera.
- Open Local network access. Scroll down the list of site permissions until Local network access appears, and click it. If you can’t find it, your copy of Edge may be out of date. Update Edge from the About Microsoft Edge page in Settings, restart the browser and try again.
- Check the main switch. The Local network access page has a main switch labeled Ask before accessing (recommended). Keep it On so that Edge asks for permission before any website can access the local network.
- Switch it off only if you want to turn the feature off. The prompt goes away and Edge stops asking you first. To undo this, come back to this page and switch it on again. No restart is needed. If the switch is greyed out, your organization manages it.
- Look at the list of sites. Individual websites appear in a list below the main switch, showing whether each one is currently allowed or blocked.
- Click Add next to Allowed to allow a site. Use this for a site you trust to reach your local devices.
- Type the website’s address and confirm. Use the full address, like
https://my-smart-home-app.com. The site now appears in the Allowed list. - Click Add next to Blocked to block a site. Use this for a site you never want near your local devices.
- Type the website’s address and confirm. The site now appears in the Blocked list.
- Remove a site later with the menu beside its entry. Edge will then go back to asking you about that site.
Reference:
Summary
How do I disable LNA Edge?
Chrome users can find similar controls by navigating to experimental flags or enterprise policies if managed environments require it.
Frequently asked questions
How to allow Microsoft edge to access network?
To let Edge reach devices on your home network, open Settings, select Privacy, search, and services, then Site permissions, and choose Local network access. Turn on the main switch. To allow only one site, add it under Allow so other sites stay blocked.
How to enable local network access in edge?
Open Edge Settings, select Privacy, search, and services, then Site permissions, and click Local network access. Turn on the main switch. Sites can then reach devices like printers on your network, and you can still block individual sites.
Sure that nightly is permitted to access the web, how cna I do?
Open Edge Settings, go to Privacy, search, and services, then Site permissions, and select Local network access. Under Allow, click Add and enter the full web address of the Nightly site. Save it, and Edge will permit that site only.
How to allow local network access in edge?
Go to Settings, then Privacy, search, and services, then Site permissions, and select Local network access. Switch on the main toggle to let sites reach devices on your network. For one site, add it under Allow instead of changing the main setting.
How to disable local network access in edge?
Open Settings, go to Privacy, search, and services, then Site permissions, and select Local network access. Switch the main setting off. Websites will no longer reach devices on your home network. If the setting is greyed out, your organization manages it.
How to disable local network access flags?
Don't use the experimental flags page at edge://flags for this. Turn the feature off in Settings instead: Privacy, search, and services, then Site permissions, then Local network access. Switching off the main setting is the supported method, and changing flags can cause unexpected behavior.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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