macOS Sequoia Bug: Chrome Fills Local Network Settings with Duplicates — and Breaks Network Access, Fix

If you’ve been running macOS Sequoia (starting with version 15.0) and suddenly notice Google Chrome listed multiple times under Privacy & Security > Local Network, you’re not alone. Users say that Chrome repeatedly prompts for local network access, and each approval appears to create an additional duplicate entry in the Privacy & Security settings, as you can see in the screenshot below. Many users have encountered this issue — and it’s more than cosmetic. Despite toggling permissions to “Allow,” Chrome often fails to connect to devices on your local network.

In this article, I list two fixes.

Note: We have previously covered other Chrome-related issues affecting macOS Sequoia.

What’s Actually Going Wrong?

Here’s what users report:

• Each Chrome update results in a new Local Network entry.
• Denying access once causes Chrome to lose the ability to connect locally — with no reliable way to reverse it.
• The toggle switches do nothing, even when set to “Allow.”
• Uninstalling Chrome doesn’t remove the entries.
• Chrome can’t access devices like routers, NAS drives, or local servers — but Safari can.

This bug also appears to affect other apps, such as Microsoft Edge, HQPlayer, and Windows App.

Why This Happens

Apple brought Local Network privacy permissions from iOS to macOS — but they’re not working as intended here. Every time Chrome updates (which happens silently in the background), macOS may treat it like a brand-new app, generating yet another permissions entry.

Worse, if you click “Don’t Allow” once, macOS may permanently block access, and toggling it back on in Settings doesn’t fix it. Several AppleCare technicians have confirmed this is a macOS-level bug, not a Chrome issue.

How to Fix It (Two Proven Methods)

Both of the following solutions require restarting your Mac in Safe Mode and running a Terminal command to reset system permissions. One method preserves your Chrome data, while the other does a full clean reset.

Before You Begin: Booting into Safe Mode

To apply either fix, you’ll need to start your Mac in Safe Mode. First, figure out what type of Mac you have:

Safe Mode performs several important checks and maintenance tasks on a Mac. We explained this before: What Does Safe Mode Do on Mac?

Step 1: Identify Your Mac Type

1. Click Apple menu  > About This Mac
2. Look for:
   • Chip → Apple Silicon (e.g. M1, M2)
   • Processor → Intel-based Mac
   • See this article for more detailed article: How to Know If Your Mac Has Apple Silicon or Intel Chip

Step 2: Use the Right Safe Mode Instructions

For Apple Silicon Macs:

1. Go to Apple menu > Shut Down
2. Wait until the Mac is fully powered off (screen black, all lights off)
3. Hold the power button until you see “Loading startup options”
4. Select your startup disk
5. Press and hold Shift, then click Continue in Safe Mode
6. Log in. You should see “Safe Boot” in the menu bar

For Intel-based Macs:

1. Restart or turn on your Mac and immediately hold down the Shift key
2. Release Shift when you see the login screen
3. Log in (you may need to log in again)
4. You should see “Safe Boot” in the menu bar

Step 3: Verify Safe Mode is Active (Optional)

1. Hold Option, then go to Apple menu > System Information
2. In the sidebar, click Software
3. Look for Boot Mode:
   • Safe = Safe Mode
   • Normal = You’re not in Safe Mode

Note: We previously explained how you can start your Mac in Safe Mode.

Method 1: Reset Permissions Without Deleting Chrome Dat

This option resets the network permissions without touching your Chrome profile (bookmarks, extensions, saved passwords, etc.).

Steps:

1. Boot your Mac into Safe Mode
2. Move Google Chrome from /Applications to the Trash (We previously explained how you can delete Chrome from your Mac.)
3. Don’t touch your user data in ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome
4. Open Terminal (use Spotlight: Cmd + Space → type “Terminal”)
5. Run this command:

   sudo tccutil reset SystemPolicyNetworkVolumes

6. Enter your Mac password and hit Enter
7. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network — Chrome should be gone
8. Restart your Mac normally
9. Download and reinstall Google Chrome
10. Open Chrome and try visiting a local IP (e.g. 192.168.1.1)
11. When prompted, click Allow for local network access
12. Chrome should now show up once in the list — and local access should work

Method 2: Full Clean Reset (Best for Persistent Issues)

If Method 1 doesn’t work, this more thorough approach almost always does — but it fully resets Chrome, including removing stored data unless you’re syncing with a Google account.

Steps:

1. Shut down your Mac and uncheck “Reopen windows”
2. Boot into Safe Mode
3. Move Google Chrome to Trash and empty the Trash
4. Open Terminal and run:

   sudo tccutil reset SystemPolicyNetworkVolumes

5. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network to confirm Chrome is gone
6. Restart your Mac normally
7. Reinstall Chrome
8. Launch Chrome and access a local IP
9. When prompted, click Allow
10. Chrome should appear only once in the settings, with full local access

Important: If you miss or decline the permission prompt, you’ll need to redo the entire process.