App asks for local network permission even when the app doesnt support it

None of my app's functionalities make use of local network. However, on launching the app on an iPad running iOS 18.2.1, I see an iOS prompt asking for local network permission by the app with a null usage description.

I know since the app does not have Privacy string for local network, I see the null message.

But my app does not use of local network so I am confused why I see this alert.

Answered by DTS Engineer in 821420022

I touch on this in TN3179 Understanding local network privacy, see the Unexpected local network alert section, but the answer isn’t very satisfactory.

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Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

I touch on this in TN3179 Understanding local network privacy, see the Unexpected local network alert section, but the answer isn’t very satisfactory.

Share and Enjoy

Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

Thanks Quinn for the response. I will look up the TN link you provided. That said, is there a reason why this permission prompt would come on an iPad but not come on an iPhone? I have an iPhone running iOS 18.1 and it does not come up on that but it comes up on the iPad I have which runs on 18.2.1. Anything to do with OS version.

is there a reason why this permission prompt would come on an iPad but not come on an iPhone?

Not something I can think of specifically, but it doesn’t surprise me. It’s rare for an iPad to have WWAN, and thus Wi-Fi does more of the heavy lifting. And Wi-Fi is a broadcast-capable interface, which means that local network privacy applies there.

You could try disabling WWAN on your iPhone to see if you can reproduce the problem there. However, I suspect that’s just a distraction. You have a device on which you can reproduce the problem reliably, so debug the problem with that device.

Share and Enjoy

Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

App asks for local network permission even when the app doesnt support it
 
 
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