How to get rid of an "accept incoming network connections" popup

The specific option is managed by your Security Preferences (as indicated by the message): System Preferences -> Security and Privacy -> Firewall.

Under Firewall Options you have the ability to control/deny incoming connections to individual apps.

The brute force approach to stopping the messages would be to disable the firewall completely, but that may not be preferable. Instead it may be sufficient to add Word to the list of permitted apps (although it's not clear to me at the moment why Word would need incoming connections, nor why granting access doesn't populate this list).

I have Word enabled to receive incoming connections (green dot against it in System prefs>Firewall>options).

But still, every time I open it, I get this annoying pop up as shown above by LabDoc.

I can't see any reason why Word wants these incoming connections, so I say deny, and the box goes away. But it comes up again the next time I use Word.

If I say "accept" the box goes away but comes back again the next time I use Word.

It's getting on my nerves.

This has only happened to me since the most recent update of OSX, Version 10.12.1 Sierra.

How do I prevent the pop-up?

I also use Microsoft office but updates are coming weekly so set it to automatically , it never happened in my system , please click on question mark as in screen shot what does it say , some answer will be written .

Yes, but the problem we're having is that we click "trust", and the program in question then appears in the list as "allow," but we're STILL asked every time if we want to allow it. I get this for iTunes, Rosetta Stone, and Dukto. Even though I've said Allow every time, and they all show up as allowed.

This is a MacOs bug. I've filed a report, but it's still happening under Sierra (it started, for me, under Yosemite if i remember correctly).

Hello !

Please open system preferences > security & privacy > open the pad lock by entering admin name & password .

Click on firewall > firewall options ,select the box block all incoming connections .

You can follow the screen shot settings , the reasons are given in it , and that are self explanatory.

Thanks !

Hi Camelot

I do have the same issue as LabDoc using a network scanner (Canon MX925).

All Canon utilities are authorised in the firewall panel - as you seem to present that as the solution.

Unfortunately, that option will not make the "confirmation" message to appear.

This is particularly cumbersome as the scanner is not in the same room as the mac... so I need to run between both devices to feed the scanner and then allow the incoming connection, and back for the next scan, ...

would you have other hints ?

It doesn't work for me. In iTunes preferences, I have "Share my library.." unchecked. See image. But I still have this problem.

I continue to get this message EVERY TIME I start up my Mac. It's not for iTunes or Word, but I get it for my Logitech mouse and when I launch Hearthstone. Both of these apps have exceptions in my Firewall pane. I've set them to always allow, always block, deleted them, re-added them, it doesn't matter. I get the alert EVERY TIME since El Capitan.

OS version 10.11.1

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)

2.9 GHz Intel Core i5

8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

EXACT SAME here. Every time I launch iTunes or Dukto, I'm asked whether to allow or deny connections. In the firewall preferences, I see that both are set to "allow".

Additionally, iTunes complains that my "firewall settings prevent [me] from using some iTunes features." But walking through the steps listed, a) there's nothing for me to change, and b) it still complains.

El Capitan 10.11.6

sorry, but what does that solve? it will add more restrictions, blocking all connections, not fix the problem of macOS repeatedly failing to "Allow" connections.

it is clearly written in the screen shot : if you check the box block all incoming connections - you can. use basic internet services like internet protocol security , Dynamic host control protocol and Bonjour .

And if stealth mode is enabled : there are less chances that some one could ping via network using internet control message protocol ( ICMP ) .

An article for stealth mode : macOS Sierra: Prevent others from discovering your Mac

One more article is there for your question why this pop - up appears you can read it : macOS Sierra: Prevent unwanted connections by using a firewall

Thanks !

I have the same problem as Peter Jaques - see my query above.

All the incoming network connections are "allowed" in the Firewall options box (all green).

Despite this, Word repeatedly shows a box giving me the option to "allow" or "deny" incoming connections.

If I were to block all incoming connections, this would not solve the problem.

The problem seems to be that Word is ignoring the "allow" settings in the Firewall options box, or somehow not seeing them, and so keeps asking - every single time I use it.

The pop-up box appears every time I use Word, whatever the settings of the Firewall options.

This is very annoying.

How can I stop the pop-up box appearing?

Yes you can uncheck block all incoming connections and stealth mode and can check rest of two options .

So , for the safety reason this pop - up appears would you like to deny or allow and its asking your permission .

I will give an example if one use adobe flash payer , and internet plugins are on , WEBGL is set ask , when ever youtube is opened , it will ask permission from the user would like to deny , trust , so we click on trust .

Unfortunately I don't know how to fix the continuous prompting to allow the incoming connections.

But I think I know why Word asks each time you launch it. As I recall, Word is checking to see how many other users in your local network are also running Word. The single user license lets just one user in a household run Word at a time.

The Word license check is done by attempting to connect to other computers in your local network looking for any others that are currently running Word.

This may be the reason you are seeing this connection request for Word.

This is a MacOs bug. I've filed a report, but it's still happening under Sierra (it started, for me, under Yosemite if i remember correctly).

For me, it started with Sierra.

Well done submitting a bug report. Would it help if I supported your bug report as in "I have this problem too"?

If so, can you post a link to the bug report?

Best wishes, and let's hope they fix it.