Manually Enable Local Network Access

Question

Level 1

4 points

Manually Enable Local Network Access

On MacOS Sequoia 15.5 (24F74). I'm trying to use VMWare Fusion but it seems not to have access to any of my local network, presumably because of the new "Local Network Access" privacy feature. Unfortunately, no combination of uninstall/reinstall causes VMWare to prompt me to allow access to the local network, and since there's no manual way to add entries to that list (even though there is a "+" button in other sections!) I seem to be completely unable to use the tools I need for work. Needless to say I'm extremely frustrated.

Is there any way I can manually grant apps access to my Local Network? Is there a way to force it to prompt me for access?

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.5

Posted on May 26, 2025 9:31 AM

Reply

Answer 1

etresoft

Level 9

57,518 points

May 26, 2025 9:52 AM in response to hazel-lee

This is probably not related to the new local network security settings.

Virtual machines are different. They actually define their own network entirely. From VMWare's perspective, the "local" network is just itself. Your "local" network is remote to VMWare.

The virtual machine software should have some mechanism to define how networking between the host and guest work with respect to local networks. Most people just want internet access and that's relatively easy. But local networks may require more advanced routing and interactions.

Reply

Answer 2

hazel-lee Author

Level 1

4 points

May 26, 2025 10:14 AM in response to etresoft

Yes, in this case I'm using "Local Network" in the correct sense, I'm not talking about the VM's network. VMWare has ~3 "Modes" that its networking works in including NAT, Bridged, and Host-Only. On MacOS 14 "NAT" mode properly connected the VM to the internet, and now on 15 it doesn't. The biggest thing I can think of that changed is the local network security settings. "Bridged" mode also doesn't work, although the VM should be able to send pings/receive a DHCP address from the router, it isn't, which is telling me that MacOS is probably intercepting it somewhere.

Reply